Top 10 Digital Keyboards & Pianos Recommended in 2025
When it comes to choosing a digital keyboard or piano the team at Piano Lessons NYC always recommends students choose one with 88 weighted keys regardless of their age or level.
AFFORDABLE PIANO LESSONS IN NYC
FOR ADULTS & KIDS FROM BEGINNER TO ADVANCED
Our piano instructors are all classically trained with a minimum of a Master’s Degree level of education and have graduated from highly reputable music schools and conservatories from all around the world including the Royal College of Music (RCM), London, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music and New York University (NYU). Each teacher brings their own unique style of teaching and experience to the piano lesson to help ensure that our students get the best possible piano instruction whilst realizing their full music potential. At Piano Lessons NYC our piano instructors all have the same goal in mind and that is to provide the highest quality education in a fun, energetic and welcoming environment.
Piano Instructor & Studio Manager
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Aden is an award winning pianist and music educator with a Bachelors of Music Degree with Honors from the Istanbul Technical University and was a Dean’s List Honoree. She went on to complete her Masters of Music Degree specializing in Musicology and Music Theory also from the Istanbul Technical University. Her early musical experiences started at Mimar Sinan Conservatory in 2004 in addition to an exchange program at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. In Istanbul, she became a well known music instructor at the Dore Music Academy and Ministry of Education and tutored both children and adults at all levels of their music journey. She has extensive experience preparing students for ABRSM exams, competitions and university entrance auditions. In addition to her teaching schedule she is currently completing an internship as a research scholar in neuromusicology at Mount Sinai in New York City. She has a particular interest in pedagogy and music psychology which she incorporates into each of her piano lessons. Trying to understand and researching music at the intersections of other social sciences is what she enjoys the most.
Founder
Japanese pianist Mayuko holds a Master of Performance (MPerf) from the Royal College of Music, London where she was awarded the John & Jean Redcliffe Maud Prize. In 2015 she completed an Advanced Certificate in Music Education from New York University (Steinhardt) under the direction of Marilyn Nonken. With over fourteen years teaching experience Mayuko’s students have gone on to win several piano competitions & receive great results in both the ABRSM & NYSSMA exams. She has appeared in numerous contemporary related projects including the BBC Proms where her performance was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. She has performed extensively not only in her native country of Japan, but also in the USA, UK, Spain, Finland & Australia. Mayuko is the founder of multiple music studios including Piano Lessons NYC & currently teaches piano to over 50 students privately along with being a ballet accompanist. Mayuko was one of only 40 people selected to participate in the 2016 and 2018 Orléans Concours International Piano Competition in France. Mayuko continues to perform both as a soloist & chamber musician not only in New York City but also in her native country of Japan.
Piano Instructor
Malka is a pianist, composer, & educator from Osaka, Japan. She received her undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from NYU Steinhardt on a full scholarship, graduating with the Outstanding Achievement Award. Malka is an adjunct piano instructor at NYU & is currently pursuing her master’s degree under Eduardus Halim, the Sascha Gorodnitzki Chair & final pupil of the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz. Malka is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Osaka Mayor’s Award, 1st Place in the Arukas Piano Competition, & the Prix Niki de Saint Phalle for Artistic Excellence during her semester in Paris. She has performed in a variety of settings, from esteemed concert halls including Carnegie Hall, & dynamic off-Broadway stages. Her work includes premiering new classical compositions & collaborations in musical theater. She is also the co-founder of the Schmidt Trio, an ensemble dedicated to creating performances that are personal, emotionally honest, & accessible. A certified Steinway & Sons Educator, Malka is equally passionate about teaching & composing, & is committed to helping young artists find connection & meaning through music.
Piano Instructor (Jazz)
Sean is an NYC-based pianist, keyboardist, composer & arranger from Singapore. To him, music is more than a career or hobby — it is a way of life. He began piano lessons at the age of three & is formally trained in classical, improvisational, & jazz piano. He holds ABRSM Grade 8 certifications in both Music Theory & Piano. Sean worked as a medical doctor in Singapore but moved to NYC to fully pursue his passion for music. He has a versatile background spanning multiple musical styles including classical, jazz, pop & worship music. He taught piano & music theory to private students, at Berklee NYC, & has led keyboard workshops in church settings. He holds a Master’s degree from Berklee NYC College. In 2022, he was a Regional Finalist (Singapore and Southeast Asia) in the Pearl River Digital Piano International Certification, earning 1st Runner-Up & a Certificate of Distinction. He has extensive experience performing internationally, including in China, the US, Europe, & Singapore. Sean is especially passionate about pop, improvisational, & jazz piano. He is dedicated to helping students develop creative expression through a personalized approach to their goals & interests.
Piano Instructor
From a young age Elise was drawn to the piano, & soon found her way to choir & composition. She completed her Bachelor & Masters degrees in Music at The Juilliard School where she studied with Melinda Wagner, David Ludwig, & Valerie Coleman. Elise has worked with many esteemed ensembles, including Seattle Symphony, Symphony Tacoma, Juilliard Orchestra, Trio Immersio, Seattle Opera, Dolphins String Quartet, & Talea Ensemble, as well as soloists Paul Demers & Efe Baltacigil. Her works have premiered at the Curtis Institute of Music’s Young Artists’ Summer Program, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Norfolk New Music Festival, & Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival. She has been awarded the Gena Raps Prize & was selected as a winner of the Jon Deak First Music Commissioning Competition & the Juilliard Orchestra competition. As a pianist, she has championed contemporary music & has performed as a soloist at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre & as a chamber musician with The NowBeat Project & The Juilliard Orchestra. She has also premiered her own works in Morse Recital Hall at The Juilliard School & Studzinski Recital Hall at Bowdoin College.
Piano Instructor
Georgii is a NYC based pianist, recording artist, producer, and songwriter. He started taking piano lessons at age 5 accompanying them with an intense course in music theory, music history and chamber ensembles. After winning several piano competitions and participating in concerts as a soloist and accompanist, he got accepted into Tula Dargomyzhsky Art College. In 2018 Georgii moved to the US to study Piano Performance at Southern Adventist University, Chattanooga, TN where he was honored to study with Dr. Peter Cooper. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance in 2021, Georgii moved to New York City to continue his teaching and performing career. Georgii has over seven years of experience in teaching piano and music theory and in 2022 became an official Steinway Educational Partner which further advanced his teaching career. Georgii has a unique approach to every student, tailoring each piano lesson to their level of experience, age and specific goals. Georgii guides his students through the world of music, helping them find their passion and making the process of learning not only resultative but enjoyable as well.
Piano Instructor
Christian is a performer, composer and piano instructor from North Carolina. He began playing the piano at a young age and had a strong interest in composing and improvisation. He studied music at a performing arts high school and received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where his studies included piano pedagogy. He moved to NYC to attend The Juilliard School and graduated with a Master’s of Music degree. He studied with Amy Beth Kirsten and Nina C. Young and other past teachers include Kenneth Frazelle and Timo Andres. Christian continues to seek new experiences as a performer and composer of contemporary music. Currently he is recording an album of new songs and previously his genre-mixing work includes “Broken Records”, an orchestral work premiered by the Juilliard orchestra, “In the Garden”, a set of songs for soprano and mixed chamber ensemble, and “Snap”, a string quartet. He enjoys teaching piano to students’ of all ages and abilities but particularly those who have an interest in songwriting, composition and improvisation.
Piano Instructor (Jazz)
Ross is a pianist, composer, and educator known for his dynamic approach to jazz and improvisation. He began his musical journey studying classical piano and composing early on, guided by his father—a professional bassist who introduced him to music sequencing software. By his early teens, Ross had already composed and produced two full-length albums, arranging music for piano, bass, drums, guitar, and a full horn section. He later earned a full scholarship to Arizona State University, where he graduated with a BA in Jazz Piano Performance. After college, he quickly gained recognition as an educator, leading a group of students to perform at the Berklee City Music Annual Summit in New York. In 2018, Ross moved to New York City to immerse himself in the jazz and avant-garde scenes. He spent several years studying with acclaimed pianist Jacob Sacks, whom he credits as a pivotal influence on his artistic and improvisational growth. During this time, he led his own group, Jazz Recoil, before shifting his focus to solo work and new creative directions. Ross is a passionate educator, dedicated to creative exploration and building meaningful connections through music.
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Music theory is the study of the structure of music. Or more simply put, it’s the language used to talk about the music we hear and play. Learning music theory is one of the most important things a musician can do as it helps them to not only become better performers, but also have a better understanding of the music they are playing and hearing. It also makes musical activities such as performing, composing, improvising, arranging, teaching music, or getting a music degree much easier once one gains a basic understanding of music theory.
During our piano lessons students will learn a range of different music theory subjects. The first thing we teach is notation which covers the staff, clefs, note names, rhythms, rests, intervals, meter and time signatures, key signatures, and dynamics. Students will also be taught about scales and chords (harmony), melodies, phrases, and musical forms. Whether you are an absolute beginner or already know a lot about music theory our piano lessons are individually tailored to cover everything from the most basic scales to the most advanced notation.
Sight-reading by definition is the reading and performing of a piece of written music that the performer has not seen before. It is also referred to as prima vista, which translates to “at first sight,” which is exactly what we teach our students to master: the ability to read and play a piece of music upon first sight. Just like learning to read words, learning how to sight-read music takes a lot of practice and discipline until it eventually becomes second nature. In each of our piano lessons, students are given a range of different tasks and activities to help them increase their sight-reading ability. They not only become adept at playing the notes accurately, but also learn to read and anticipate the changing dynamics in speed and volume as written.
Our exercises focus on honing students’ short-term musical memories to allow them to read ahead while playing a piece so that they play it correctly when they get to that section. Often highly skilled musicians can sight-read silently, meaning they can look at printed music and hear it in their heads without playing or singing it. All musicians are required to have good sight-reading skills as this makes learning new pieces much easier and quicker. As a result students are more likely to try learning new pieces of music by themselves, making them stronger and more well-rounded performers.
In music education, solfège is a method used to teach students pitch and sight singing. At Piano Lessons NYC we teach solfège using the Kodály Method at every level of music education, from beginner through to advance. The study of solfège enables the student to audiate, or mentally hear, the pitches of a piece of music which he or she is seeing for the first time and then to play or sing them aloud. Solfège study not only improves recognition of musical intervals but also strengthens a student’s understanding of music theory.
During our piano lessons, we assign each notes of a scale a particular syllable, and then ask the student to practice them by playing different note sequences using these syllables. The sequences get gradually more difficult in terms of intervals and rhythms used as the student progresses. The seven syllables we use for this practice are: do (or doh in tonic sol-fa), re, mi, fa, sol (so in tonic sol-fa), la, and ti, which makes learning and practicing solfège extremely intuitive for players of all levels.
Whilst music theory, sight-reading, and solfège are all used to train a musician’s ears to recognize intervals and chord qualities, learn how to perform melodies and rhythms accurately at sight, and practice writing down musical examples upon hearing them, Musicianship is about training the student not just to be a player of piano, but to be a true musician.
Many pianists are great technically, but they lack that something special which usually separates the great from the average. Good musicianship involves not only understanding how to use the piano but how to convey your story or message to the audience using emotion, passion and flair, allowing you to interpret a piece of music in an original and inventive way while still remaining true to the written score. During each piano lesson students are encouraged to feel the music they are playing and to improvise rather than to simply follow what the teacher is reciting, helping them to develop their confidence and own unique identity as a musician.
Whether you have an upcoming ABRSM or NYSSMA examination our team of experienced piano teachers are all familiar with the length of time it takes to prepare for each exam and the care needed to ensure that the most appropriate and appealing selection of pieces is presented. Preparing for an ABRSM or NYSSMA exam takes careful planning and an awareness of the importance of including all aspects of the exam in the piano lessons on a regular basis.
Prior to any upcoming examination we help our students choose suitable pieces for the exam and make sure they have selected the right combination from the correct syllabus. We also incorporate at least a few minutes’ aural training and sight-reading into every piano lesson as well as giving them a mock exam well before the actual event. Our students are also encouraged to perform the pieces to their family, relatives, and friends and to work through several sample papers before the exam so that they get used to the sort of questions that will be asked while staying within the time limit. Finally, we help students to develop their confidence in themselves and their abilities through practicing walking into a room and setting up to perform, as these are often the most nerve-wrecking moments before the actual exam.
I’ve truly enjoyed my private piano lessons with Mayuko. I’m not a complete beginner but it’s been 2 decades since I’ve played the piano and she knew exactly where to start. It’s been a mixture of relearning the basics and playing pieces that are challenging. Mayuko has been very helpful at picking out just the right pieces and also helping me through each piece. She’s incredibly patient and great at pointing out little things that can make all the difference. I can’t wait to continue learning from her and would recommend her to all ages and levels.Julie H.
In one word: fantastic! I have always wanted to learn piano, but since I never played any instruments, always felt it was too late for me. I also assumed that it would have been tedious at first. I have now been taking classes with Mayuko for almost a year after searching for piano lessons near me…. and I love every single class! I really feel that Mayuko is understanding of what I am looking for, and perfectly adapting her teaching accordingly. I even had my first recital last month! 🙂 Really could not been happier! Thank you!David Abergel
Kyndyl teaches all four of our children piano lessons weekly and has done so for more than a year. She is great with the kids (who range in age from 14 to 8). She is not only talented and knowledgeable about music, but also passionate about the art form. She has been excellent about keeping them interested and excited about music and performance. I highly recommend Kyndyl and I’m sure that the other instructors with Piano Lessons NYC are top notch!Heather & Joe Libson
I moved to NYC in April 2014 and was interested in learning piano the traditional way (by sheet music, with a focus on technique). After a few searches for piano lessons near me, I found Piano Lessons NYC. During my time with Mayuko I found her to be very patient and persevering with me. Being a novice of sorts, I needed a bit of guidance but she encouraged and pushed me at the same time. At the end of each session, I felt I was making progress and motivated to prepare for the next lesson. It is important to note that every student can be different and a good tutor is one who has the temperament to deal with this varied audience. Sadly, I had to move out of NYC in February 2015 but I will cherish those piano classes with Mayuko. I have no doubt about Mayuko’s credentials as a tutor and would recommend her to any friend or acquaintance interested in learning the piano at New York.Mohana Shivashankar
Ms. Mayuko Yamashita is a great teacher. After a month of taking her lessons, there is marked improvement in my playing both technically and musically. Her lessons are very efficient, focused, clear and detailed. She offers flexible lesson plans, which are excellent for students in different levels and goals. I look forward to continuing my studies with her.
Yuzuru Sadashige
Our ten year old daughter Tina has started to learn to play the piano with Mayuko. Already after the first lesson she was able to play sequences of “Ode to Joy” and “Amazing Grace”. It has been very motivating to her to play real pieces right from the start, and not having to repeat endless finger exercises. The choice of pieces is very thoughtful, and we see great improvements from week to week. Mayuko is always very kind and patient, but still challenging and efficient. Both our daughter and we parents are very satisfied and would recommend Mayuko unhesitatingly.Urs Lerch
*Please note that fees vary depending on which payment plan is chosen for your piano lessons. For a full breakdown of fees please visit our detailed rates page here.
As our schedule is constantly changing we recommend you get in touch via the contact form below with your preferred day and time and we will get back to you.
Opera America
330 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10001
In-Home Lessons
Throughout Manhattan
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Online Lessons
Available Worldwide
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🚫 NO DROP-INS