Songwriting Faculty

Music in Chappaqua began in 1993, with students taking piano lessons in Janet Angier's basement apartment on King Street. With Janet's dedicated approach, patience and enthusiasm, the number of her students grew. She then found other talented, wonderful teachers, and by word of mouth, Music in Chappaqua flourished. Today, the school boasts over 250 students and teaches a variety of different instruments to all age groups. In June 2002, Music in Chappaqua opened a beautiful new school in downtown Chappaqua. Each studio in the school is equipped with the best Steinway & Sons grand piano and the latest computer hardware and software, all designed to enhance the learning process. Music in Chappaqua designed a school where children will want to come, to work hard, to play and to surround themselves with other talented and industrious students and teachers. The studios are cutting edge, exciting, a piece of modern culture, art, architecture and design. What better forum could there be for the development of a budding artist? Finally, music lessons have been brought into the new millennium.

With so many activities to fit in, so many demands on childrens' time, this is a question asked by many parents. What exactly is to be gained for the average child who is unlikely to become a professional musician or follow a career in music? The answer is that music lessons can play a very important role in your child's general development. Playing an instrument, right from the earliest stages, involves many skills - visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic. Unlike many specialized activities, playing an instrument helps develop both sides of the brain at the same time, increasing both intellectual functions and physical coordination, patience and confidence. They aid the child's emotional development by providing an outlet for self-expression. So, music lessons are an enormously valuable educational influence as well as an introduction to the wonderful world of music, and yes, they are fun! At Music in Chappaqua, we believe the rewards are priceless - and they are for life.

A music education is an essential element in a child's development and not just the ability to play an instrument. While not many children are destined to become professional musicians, it is a great asset to be able to sit down with an instrument and amuse oneself, and maybe others - a pleasure that lasts a lifetime. Moreover, there is the cultural value and the civilizing influence of growing up with music - a return to social values, beauty, the good in life. This is what we teach at Music in Chappaqua, not simply the notes!