Maia has a very patient teaching style, develops long lasting relationships with her students and becomes very integrated into their lives as songwriters. She has been working with children for more than 15 years and loves the unique ways young creative kids look at the world. Maia has a degree in music composition from Bennington College and performs with her own dreamy electropop band called Uni Ika Ai, named after a favorite Japanese dish she loved to eat with her father.

Maia teaches songwriting on voice, guitar, and piano.

Laura comes from both a teaching and theater background and establishes a deep connection with all of her students, working with them to figure out what they need to succeed. As a result, her students create and perform music as beautifully and effortlessly as she does. She is an accomplished teaching artist at Theatreworks USA, Packer Collegiate Institute, and the Berkeley Carroll School. She studied musical composition at UCLA and has an advanced degree in music education at Hunter College.

Laura teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, voice, and ukulele.

Katie is a singer-songwriter, musician, and teacher born and raised in New York. She received a Bachelors of Music degree from the University of Delaware with a focus on vocal performance, and a guitar minor. She takes inspiration from artists across the entire spectrum of music and iis well versed in many genres of music. Katie has toured the country singing original songs with her indie band, she's collaborated with prominent rappers, she's written film scores, and she's helped create and star in an American Prize winning original opera. Because of this diverse background, Katie is very open minded and is always coming up with new and creative ways to push students to be the best musicians they can be!

Katie teaches songwriting on piano, ukulele, guitar and voice.

Lily is patient, warm, and pours her heart and soul into her students’ work. Music has been the landscape of her family since birth - her grandfather, dad, and uncles all being successful singer/songwriters. She brings an old school bohemian NYC folk music family vibe to each lesson and helps kids connect and thrive in the world of music. She performs with her sister as The Chapin Sisters, but also with She and Him, Will Oldham and her Grammy award winning father, Tom Chapin.

Lily teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, and voice.

Hopalong Andrew is an American Western and Folk music singer and humorist who revisions classic cowboy and folk songs to playfully reflect city life for urban cowpokes. His music satisfies toddlers to tweens to grownups – especially the grandfolks that grew up with the singing cowboys of the silver screen. Hopalong Andrew is a fixture of the New York City family music scene and regularly appears at curated events such as Summerstage NYC, Bryant Park, Hudson Park, The Oldtone Roots Music Festival, The Brooklyn Public Library, and more. Hopalong Andrew has received press from Time Out, ABC, CBS, and others, and has earned praise from the blogosphere.

Hopalong Andrew leads singalong classes and birthday parties.

Jason is very active as a performer and as a teacher. Since moving to NYC Jason has traveled throughout the world and has performed with artists such as Adele, Weezer, DNCE, Cece Winans, Blood Orange, Porches and Cory Henry. Jason has been teaching for over 10 years: he teaches private lessons as well as group music classes in schools. His lessons are about developing basic techniques on the instrument and applying them both to songwriting and to music you love and want to learn. Jason earned his BA at VCU in Music and has a Masters Degree in music from NYU.

Jason teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, voice, ukulele and saxophone.

Tiffany is a singer-songwriter living in Brooklyn. She attended Berklee College of Music studying voice and piano performance, music business, and composition. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California but considers New York home. She loves listening to Nina Simone, Dirty Projectors, Earth Wind & Fire, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Bob Dylan, Lucius, Iris Lune, Imogen Heap, Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, and Jon Brion. Tiffany loves Earl Grey tea and oatmeal with brown sugar for breakfast, ideally with a banana.

Tiffany teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, piano and voice.

Pedro was born in Lisbon, Portugal where he studied music from an early age. In 2010 he moved to New York to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he studied drums and composition. Pedro has recorded multiple albums of original music and recently started the indie rock band I, Alexander. He has written music for short films, commercials and on commission and is excited to be currently finishing a new album of original music to be released next year. Pedro loves teaching music and songwriting to students of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students, to adults and has years of experience teaching in both private and group settings. Pedro is a fun and dynamic teacher who enjoys how open minded and curious children are and loves writing songs with them!

Pedro teaches songwriting on drums, guitar, voice and piano.

Anh is bubbly, playful and has a very energetic teaching style. Being a child herself at heart, she teaches music the same way music has always been taught to her: as a means to express oneself and create new magical musical worlds. She recently graduated from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music where she studied Commercial Music and Production and Songwriting. She taught a diverse number of subjects at the University of Miami’s Young Musician Camp such as songwriting, making a band, music production and pop chorus. Her music and her voice have been featured on BBC Radio and MTV Europe. She is a classically trained vocalist and pianist with a love for pop music. She is a big fan of the combination of acoustic instruments and new music technology.

Anh teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

A Miami native with Cuban roots, Kelsey grew up attending performing arts schools for classical piano. She began singing and songwriting when she was 14, and released her first album of original songs by the age of 16. Kelsey studied Music (piano and voice) and Psychology at Wellesley College. She has taught music to children across the world in India, Kenya, Brazil and Ecuador. Kelsey has been a music teacher for the past 3 years and is currently involved in several creative projects around the city. Kelsey teaches piano, voice, guitar, and ukulele. She absolutely loves sharing the gift of music with students of all ages and hopes to one day practice music therapy.

Kelsey teaches songwriting on piano, voice, guitar and ukulele.

After earning a Bachelor of Music degree in horn performance from Manhattan School of Music, James has toured the world with the grammy-nominated band MGMT, with stints as a drummer as well as a guitarist and keyboardist. Having appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, James has also headlined many world class festivals and opened for Paul McCartney and Beck, among others. With multiple major label recording credits and countless tours to his name, James brings together a thorough classical education with invaluable rock and roll performance experience. Through his teaching, James hopes to ignite a sense of fun, joy and discovery in music within each student.

James teaches songwriting on guitar, bass, drums and piano and teaches trumpet and French horn.

Classically trained on violin and piano, Sarah has performed internationally, playing concerts in Paris, France, Niger, West Africa and where she is currently based, New York. She signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell for songwriting in 2012. In 2006, Sarah founded a charity. Her organization was able to fund Case-D School, a school for street children in Niamey, Niger for two years. Sarah created a chorus at the school and developed a music and arts program for the students. She enjoys teaching and inspiring children.

Sarah teaches songwriting on violin, guitar, ukulele, piano, voice and drums.

Ashleigh is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Brooklyn, NY. After earning her Bachelor’s of Music in Guitar Performance with a minor in Music Education from Berklee College of Music, Ashleigh has spent her time writing music, playing shows, and teaching! She has been a part of international tours playing pop and folk guitar for various artists, and you can find her gigging around New York City all the time. She is also the front-person of her own band, the alternative folk project “Wulfer”.

Ashleigh developed a love for teaching in college where she taught freelance guitar and bass lessons. She then went on to work at two music schools in Boston before her move to Brooklyn. At those schools, she taught guitar, bass, piano, drums, ukulele, and voice lessons - as well as directing full band performances. Ashleigh loves to foster students’ love for their instrument every step of the way, and finds a lot of joy in helping each student find their voice. She can’t wait to play some music together!

Ashleigh teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, and voice.

Copeland is a multi-instrumentalist who grew up writing songs on their Casio keyboard in Bloomington, Indiana. Their love of music has found a home in many instruments over the years, from piano to flute to guitar and beyond. They received a BM in Music Performance on Flute from the IU Jacobs School of Music, and now they pursue their love of songwriting as a gigging singer/keytarist in Brooklyn. Copeland released their debut album in 2023.

Copeland’s teaching journey began with volunteering at elementary and middle school band programs in Indiana, where they nurtured a love for youth music education. Since then, they’ve had four year of experience teaching private lessons on songwriting. Their teaching approach centers creativity and student interest, as they seek to connect students’ outside passions and interests with their songwriting. 

Copeland teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, flute, and voice.

Nina is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist originally from Nashville, TN with a passion for teaching students of all ages. With over a decade of experience writing, performing, and recording music, Nina believes the creation of music is a practice of life’s essential skills: patience and confidence within ourselves, persistence through challenges in order to grow, and an unrelenting pursuit of joy and self-expression. Nina’s lessons put enjoyment and the love of music first, supported by a strong foundation of self-assurance, healthy body mechanics, and an understanding of music theory and notation. 

Nina holds a BA in Music from Princeton University, where they studied composition under Grammy-winner Steve Mackey and jazz under bassist Matthew Parrish. Nina specializes in singing and playing an instrument simultaneously, and regularly gigs on voice and bass guitar across genres. Nina has self-released two albums as half of the electronic-rock duo Upwhirl, and continues to create new music both solo and with their band in NYC. Nina cannot wait to get to know you, and is so excited to be part of your musical journey!

Nina teaches songwriting on voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, and bass guitar.

Ryan is a self-taught guitarist, classically-trained singer, and prolific songwriter, having released his first album at age sixteen. Also a trained actor, he brings a flair of performance to his folksy “dive right in” teaching style, designed to get students excited about music they can create from day one. Ryan has considerable experience with young children and works daily with toddlers and preschoolers in a class setting. Ryan holds a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland. He is currently working on a full-length record.

Ryan teaches songwriting on guitar, piano and voice.

Sarah is a composer, vocalist, and performer from Savannah, Georgia, where she grew up immersed in the Southeastern jazz scene. She began writing songs and studying piano at just seven years old, and released her first pop single at 14. A recent graduate of UNCSA with a BFA in Acting, Sarah wrote, produced, and starred in her original musical, #indierockaffair. She continues to create musicals and pop/folk music, drawing inspiration from artists like Stevie Nicks, Django Reinhardt, and Joni Mitchell.

As a teacher, Sarah helps students tap into their creativity, build vocal freedom through techniques inspired by Linklater technique, and deepen their understanding of music theory as a map for expression. She encourages creative exploration while supporting students in finding their unique voice and writing with confidence, authenticity, and joy.

Sarah teaches songwriting on voice, piano, drums, ukulele, and guitar.

Raised in Houston, Texas and based in New York since 2013, guitarist Robert Wolf has etched his way into the improvised music scene, quickly establishing himself as equally comfortable in the jazz, bluegrass and rock idioms. He has been playing and teaching guitar, mandolin and ukulele professionally since the age of 14 and has toured in a ska band, recorded with country bands, sung extended renderings of Hava Nagila, and played solo guitar recitals. Robert has a Masters in Music from New York University where he is now and adjunct professor.

Robert teaches songwriting on guitar, mandolin and ukulele.

Mia is a Brooklyn-based songwriter and performer who brings over ten years of experience in both music and working with children. A Long Island native, she earned her BFA in Recorded Music from NYU Tisch's Clive Davis Institute, where she studied songwriting, performance, music production, and audio engineering. As someone who taught herself to write songs as a child and has worked with many different teachers along the way, Mia understands that every student learns differently. She's passionate about helping young musicians discover their own creative voices and develop a lifelong love of music and storytelling.

Mia teaches songwriting on voice, guitar, and ukulele.

Sydney has an undergraduate degree in Illustration from UConn and a Master's in Art Education from Manhattanville College. Sydney believes all children deserve a strong arts education. All students should have the exposure to a wide variety of mediums that promote exploration. The art classroom is a place where students set goals and achieve them by problem solving. As an art instructor, Sydney's goal is to help students find their answers by listening to their individual needs. All students need a space to express themselves in order to discvoer their passions. Students in Sydney's classroom learn through curiosity based approaches, as they are the creators! Sydney believes student centered learning creates deeper connections to the art making process and can't wait to create with you!

Sydney teaches drawing, painting, sculpture, and comic book illustration.

Jes is a singer, pianist, songwriter, and musical artist living in Manhattan. She is a certified Instructor I Voice Teacher with the Institute for Vocal Advancement, helping her students achieve vocal balance and freedom by developing a healthy voice that is connected through the entire range. Jes’ students love her patience, creativity, and hard working spirit in every lesson and she loves building long term relationships with her students to help them reach their maximum potential. Her versatility stems from many years of vocal performance, theatre training, classical/jazz/pop piano study, live performance, and songwriting. Jes hopes to inspire her students to become well rounded musicians, songwriters, performers, & artists.

Jes teaches songwriting on voice and piano.

Claire is a professional songwriter with over 2.4 million cumulative Spotify streams and over four years of childcare experience. As a former youth soccer coach, Claire understands the unique needs of children in different age groups, and the importance of special skills and passions in the development of greater self confidence and sociability. She seeks to share and foster excitement for the craft of songwriting, believing joy is what creates a diligent and dedicated student. Discovering the healing power of songwriting at a young age, her art is a key outlet where she processes the world and her emotions. She has over 10 years of private musical training in guitar, piano, and voice, and writes for both herself and others using guitar, piano, and her DAW. A lyricist at heart, she writes in all genres but leans towards pop, drawing influence everywhere from Billie Holiday to Billie Eilish.

She is a graduate of the Lillehammer Institute of Music Production and Industries and currently attends NYU Tisch's Clive Davis Institute for Recorded Music. Beyond her passion and professional experience, she brings a well schooled knowledge of music theory and a deep curiosity for the way music can connect and unwind people. She cannot wait to get creative with you and your little Mozarts.

Claire teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, voice, and ukulele.

Evan moved from California to New York City with nothing more than an old suitcase and a guitar. Making his way through this urban jungle has helped define who he is and has been the adventure of a lifetime! Evan began studying guitar with his father at the age of seven and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from SUNY Purchase in Jazz Guitar. When Evan isn't teaching, he spends his time writing, producing, and performing original music. Recently, Evan secured a song placement with Sony/EMI and landed a publishing deal with the Royalty Network. As a producer and teacher, he draws from his understanding of many different genres and strives to best use technology and his knowledge of instrumentation to create a sound that is unique to each artist. Evan teaches students of all ages, including those with special needs.

Evan teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele and piano and leads singalong classes and birthday parties.

Delaney is so glad to meet you! Her journey with the arts began in early childhood, a blessing for which she is infinitely grateful. Since then, she’s dedicated herself to writing, singing, songwriting, guitar, and acting. She’s been teaching the arts since 14, and loves working with children because of their unbridled creativity! She learns as much from them as they do from her. When teaching, she ensures that all ideas are heard, and compassion and patience are her priority. 

Delaney graduated in 2025 from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in Performing Arts and additional studies in writing, voice, and directing. She also attended the prestigious South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, where she studied Classical Voice, theory, and music history. She is so grateful to be part of the music for your creative kid! 

Delaney teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, and voice.

Ava is a folk singer-songwriter and native New Yorker! Ava has over a decade of childcare experience, as well as a background in teaching voice, piano, guitar, and songwriting lessons to people of all ages. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2022 with a degree in Music Business and Creative Industry Studies. Ava fronts her self-titled band playing her original songs all across the country. Aside from music she is a HUGE animal lover and is passionate about human rights activism.

Ava teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, voice, and ukulele.

Tendani (she/they) has been a performing musician for 13 years. Their primary instrument is voice and she also plays piano, guitar, and ukulele. Tendani loves sharing the joy of music with her peers by performing, writing, and producing her own music, and is so excited to share that joy with their students!!

Tendani teaches songwriting on voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele.

Katie is a warm and enthusiastic teacher, dedicated to fostering positive, creative experiences for her students. The daughter of a jazz pianist, Katie sings, writes, and plays guitar, ukulele and fiddle in a variety of styles – ranging from folk and singer-songwriter to swing, R&B and old-time. Students will benefit from the breadth of Katie’s musical background as they develop their own creative processes, becoming better musicians and more well rounded people along the way. Katie grew up going to the Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camps, and, over the past couple of years, has become involved with the Miles of Music Camps. These supportive communities have taught her how to learn, and make mistakes, and to feel confident in her own musical journey. Her teaching draws from that energy.

Katie graduated from New England Conservatory in 2016 and moved to Brooklyn shortly thereafter. In addition to teaching, Katie performs with her trio The Ladles, and leads the Brooklyn based band Amalia.

Katie teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, fiddle & voice.

Kevin is an illustrator, cartoonist, and musician. Kevin was born outside of Washington DC in the suburbs of Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Painting and Printmaking. He went on to get a Masters in Art Education at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He has also studied narrative illustration at the Kubert School of Art.

His work has been featured in the pages of Funny or Die, Blackbook, Edible, The Neu Jorker, Paul Ryan Magazine, on records for acts such as Gabe Liedman, Nicole Yun, Essex Green, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and on TV screens for Will Ferrell and for High Maintenance on HBO.

Kevin currently lives in Brooklyn, where he writes and illustrates his fantasy/comedy graphic novel series, Lisa Cheese & Ghost Guitar, for Top Shelf Comics and numerous other comic book projects.

Zeph is an award-winning songwriter for musical theatre. A recent graduate of Yale, with a background as a classical violinist, jazz trumpet player, and contemporary composer, he has a boundless passion for the crafts of music and storytelling. His musical theatre projects in development include Magpie's Song, an anthology of three short musicals based on myths from Chinese folklore, OVERMAN, a rock opera about the life and work of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, and Eighteenth of November, an adaptation of Solvej Balle's novel "On the Calculation of Volume".

As a teacher, Zeph is a firm believer in student-centered learning. Whatever skills you're looking to develop- songwriting, improvisation, technique, orchestration- and whatever styles of music you love- Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, Olivia Rodrigo- Zeph can help you get your artistry to the next level, and get you personally excited about making music.

Zeph teaches songwriting on piano, voice, violin, trumpet, guitar, and ukulele.

Henry is a 23-year-old Brooklyn-based pianist, composer, and teacher originally from San Francisco, California. Henry has been playing piano since the age of 5, with experience in styles including jazz, classical, rock, and experimental music. Since moving to New York to study at The New School in 2019, Henry has performed in concert halls, jazz clubs, and honky-tonks alike. He is a member of Brooklyn-based blues-rock fixture The National Reserve and leads his own jazz groups around the city. Hailing from a family of educators, Henry is passionate about using his love of music to inspire and encourage confidence in others at all stages of their journey.

Henry teaches songwriting on piano, drums, ukulele, and voice.

Julia is warm, patient, and resourceful, focusing on creating a safe, fun, and empowering environment for her students. A graduate of the Clive Davis Institute at New York University, Julia has been writing music for over a decade, learning how to play all of her instruments through songwriting at a young age. At age 16, she became an award winning songwriter after a first place title in the International Songwriting Competition. Now an independent artist, Julia is looking to share her practices, knowledge, and love of songwriting with others.

Julia teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, and voice.

Celestine is a songwriter, singer, guitarist, and producer with a passion for inspiring young musicians. She holds a BA from Colorado College, where she minored in Music, and a Master's degree in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation from Berklee College of Music. At the end of 2023, Celestine released her debut album and is currently working on her second, while frequently performing across New York. She draws inspiration from a wide range of genres and takes a creative, flexible approach to teaching, tailoring lessons to her students’ interests to foster an engaging and joyful learning environment where students can feel comfortable, confident, and excited to express themselves.

Celestine teaches songwriting on guitar, voice, and ukulele.

Hank (they/them) is a professional guitar player and songwriter from the Hudson Valley. A child of two professional musicians, they started playing at a young age and began to pursue music professionally by age sixteen. They excelled at jazz and swing guitar which prompted their move to New York City at age eighteen. They have since toured extensively as a guitar, keys and bass player and performed at iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Now, most of their work is for their own songwriting project (Hank Heaven) as well as collaborating and writing for other artists and producers. They have always maintained their love for teaching and one of Hank’s greatest joys is showing others how to become enthusiastic about their own musical journey.

Hank teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, and voice.

Sam is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, producer and guitarist. He started playing guitar at age 7 and has played in many rock bands, theater pit bands and jazz orchestras. In college, Sam was Vice President and Music Director for a club called Public Harmony, which brought music to nursing homes, hospitals, and other similar places in the Greater Boston area.

In 2024, Sam graduated with a Master’s in Songwriting and Production from Berklee School of Music. Since then, he has been playing in bands and working with various artists throughout New York City. He has arranged jazz cabarets, produced for folk artists, played guitar in indie rock bands, released his own music, and taken part in various other projects.

As an educator, Sam strives to equip his students with the tools to teach themselves. He believes that when it comes to music, the answers are usually right under our noses - we just have to look from the right angle! His passion and for music instills an enthusiasm in his students.

Sam teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, piano, drums, and voice.

Elizabeth is a singer-songwriter, film composer, pianist, and music educator who performs and records as Elizabeth and the Catapult. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Ziman has toured with Sara Bareilles, Kishi Bashi and Amy Helm, and collaborated with artists including Ben Folds, Gillian Welch, and Esperanza Spalding.

Elizabeth has a long history of teaching and loves helping students find their own creative voices through songwriting, singing, improvisation, music reading, and theory. She believes learning music should be fun and engaging and enjoys helping students build confidence, follow their curiosity, and turn their ideas into songs.

Elizabeth teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, and voice.

Marian (she/her) is originally from Tennessee. A fan of all things music, she has been playing and singing since she was a youngen. Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who was a piano teacher for a living, Marian is a believer of the impact of music education and a teacher of the arts. She studied Performing Arts in college, focusing in Theatre and Songwriting from the Savannah College of Art & Design. She plays piano and guitar very well, but can play her favorite song, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” on almost every other instrument in the world. 

Marian teaches songwriting on piano, ukulele, guitar, and voice.

Ella W. began writing songs at the age of 7, and currently works as a songwriter for Sony Music Publishing. Ella is also the Director of Songwriting at Brooklyn recording studio Indigo Soul. After graduating from high school, Ella immediately began working in early education, teaching both art and music lessons. Ella took a brief break from teaching in order to attend the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music; and could not be more excited to find a home teaching music once again, here at Blue Balloon! 

Ella teaches songwriting on piano, voice, guitar and ukulele.

Charlie is a multi-instrumentalist who began learning piano at the age of 4, when their parents observed that they were attempting to compose their own melodies on the family piano. Their training consisted of classical technique, music theory, jazz, and chord theory. Charlie also studied electric bass, guitar, and violin for many years, but most often played bass for their friends’ bands in back rooms and basements. At age 16, they were accepted into a summer intensive at the Boston Conservatory to study Classical Composition. At the age of 18, they scripted, composed, and choreographed a full-length musical, which was not only performed at their high school, but also at two local professional theatres. Charlie attended the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase. They majored in Studio Composition, a combination of songwriting, studio recording, and contemporary composition.

Charlie is a teacher with a very supportive and nurturing energy. They have a lot of technical knowledge, but they greatly value imagination and play. Charlie takes inspiration from their favorite teachers, who gave them the freedom to explore the types of music they enjoyed, while simultaneously fostering the growth of their musical lexicon.

Charlie teaches songwriting on piano, bass, guitar, and ukulele.

Raina is a Brooklyn based singer/songwriter with a unique writing style. She brings her love for music and songwriting into each of her lessons. With a combination of structure and improvisation, Raina explores musical possibilities with her students. What is the music telling us? How can we integrate play and discovery into our structured song form? Raina plays shows of her own music frequently throughout NYC and along the East Coast.

Raina teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

Leonardo is a dedicated teacher and active musician living in Brooklyn, and loves both performing and writing music! Leo holds a bachelor’s degree from the Jackie McLean Institute at the Hartt School of Music and a Masters degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where he studied upright bass, piano, composing, and arranging under a facility of world renowned musicians and educators. A studied jazz musician, Leonardo has performed a variety of styles including Classical, Latin/Salsa, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, and more. He has performed at venues and festivals in NYC, throughout the northeast and in Mexico. Leonardo has a passion for teaching young future musicians and music-lovers. He believes in having fun with music and learning the tools to help students find their individual voice as a performer and songwriter.

Leonardo teaches songwriting on cello, guitar, bass, and upright bass.

Luke is a saxophonist, woodwind player and composer living in NYC. He maintains an active performance career in jazz and commercial music, and teaches in the New York metropolitan area. His second album of original music will be released in spring 2025.

Luke grew up in Long Island, NY and started saxophone in the 4th grade. A diligent student, he took his middle school band director’s advice seriously (‘practice only on the days you eat’) and quickly progressed musically. He eventually attended both the Eastman School of Music and Berklee College of Music, earning saxophone performance degrees at both prestigious institutions.

As a private teacher, Luke has worked with students of all proficiencies. From beginner to advanced, Luke tailors his teaching approach specifically to each student. He maintains a large library of etudes, solos, method books and other resources to provide the student with exactly what they need to succeed. Most importantly, Luke keeps each lesson fun and engaging!

Luke teaches songwriting on saxophone and ocarina.

Morgan is a Nebraska-native who grew up playing drums in her parents' garage and went on to get a BA in Music Performance (focus in Voice) from Nebraska Christian College. She is a Brooklyn-based musician with lots of experience gigging, collaborating and teaching. Music has always been Morgan's joy. She loves to connect with and empower her students. Her teaching style is fluid but intentional, aiming to help encourage the student in advancing their creative abilities.

Morgan teaches songwriting on voice, drums, guitar, ukulele and piano.

Gavin is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, performer, and producer based in NYC. He’s been providing fun and engaging lessons with students of all ages for the past 6 years!

Gavin teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, and bass.

Lila started learning to play guitar at age five and was one of the first students at Blue Balloon! She is now a senior in high school in New York City. In addition to the guitar, Lila writes songs, sings, and produces. She has been part of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus for eight years, during which time she has sung on new albums by The National, Bon Iver, and Wye Oak, and has performed on the Tonight Show, at BAM, and with the New York Philharmonic. Lila has been selected to participate in songwriting workshops at Interlochen Center for the Arts and NYU, and a production workshop at Grammy camp. She has performed solo sets of her original songs around NYC at Rockwood Music Hall, Sidewalk Cafe, and others. She is an avid concertgoer and loves everything Indie rock. Patient and warm, Lila hopes to encourage her students to find their voices through their instruments, songwriting, and more.

Lila teaches songwriting on guitar and piano.

Zach is a jazz musician, composer, and educator based in New York City. With a deep passion for music, he brings a personalized approach to both performance and teaching. A graduate of SUNY Purchase College, he studied under renowned musicians such as Kenny Washington, Joe Farnsworth, and Matt Wilson. He has performed at esteemed venues including Smalls, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, and Minton’s Playhouse.

Zach was selected as one of 15 musicians to participate in the prestigious Ravinia Jazz Grandstand program, an intensive workshop for emerging jazz composers. Under the mentorship of Rufus Reid, Billy Childs, and Steve Wilson, he collaborated with fellow musicians to rehearse, refine, and premiere original compositions, including his own piece, Roadwork.

As an educator, Zach is committed to helping students build a strong musical foundation while encouraging individuality and artistic confidence. His teaching emphasizes creativity, technical development, and a deep understanding of the music.

Zach teaches songwriting on piano and drums.

Max is an Indiana native resisting in Queens NY. He is a songwriter and multi - instrumentalist, including guitar, bass, piano, drums and an assortment of other percussion instruments. He’s most recently been working on Broadway in the theater scene, alongside songwriting in NYC for the past 10 years. 

He’s taught kids music alongside Matt Oestricher in a program based in primary schools in Connecticut and has traveled to the Agalta Valley in Honduras on several mission trips as a music ambassador to teach and sing for students.

Max teaches songwriting on trumpet, guitar, ukulele, drums, voice, bass, and piano.

Van believes anyone can write a song - no matter how simple, it can be beautiful. Van is an accomplished actor, singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and has been teaching the arts for 10 years. He has been seen in Broadway musicals, films, TV and commercials. He composed and produced the album for the Off-Broadway musical Space Dogs now streaming on BroadwayHD. Van loves to teach, and for nearly a decade has educated young artists. He has a B.A. in Theatre from Fordham University.

Van teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, bass, drums, voice, and ukulele.

Theo is a passionate songwriter, producer and instrumentalist based in Brooklyn, New York. A graduate of NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, Theo has honed his musical, lyrical and collaborative crafts. He helps students learn music in a way that allows them to tap into their own creative voice, while discovering songwriting's value as a vehicle for connection, expression and growth. With over 10 years of experience in songwriting, production, piano, guitar, and music theory, Theo balances his passion for writing, collaboration, and live performance around the city with professional mixing and production work. 

Theo has experience with songwriting in a therapeutic context working with children across all age groups, as well as a degree in psychology, giving him insight into the different emotional, developmental, and musical needs each student may have. He is deeply curious about music's ability to connect people, impact them emotionally and help them grow—and believes every student brings unique experience and insight into music's transformative power. 

Theo teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, voice, and music production.

Royer is an actor, musician, and songwriter based in New York City. She's spent over a decade on stages all over the country, with a focus on how music and storytelling can enhance and enlighten each other.

As an actor, she has performed in 5 seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, as well as Trinity Repertory Company, Lookingglass Theatre, the Wallis Annenberg Center, and the Jungle Theater.

As a musician and songwriter, she was a live composer for A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a one woman house band for Max and Natalie Live! on MNN, half of a folk/rock duo, and has independently produced dozens of music videos.

Royer teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele and voice.

David is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, producer and arranger who graduated with a BFA from NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Building on more than 14 years of experience in composition, production, and performance, he continues to reinforce a wide-ranging skill set that bridges traditional musicianship with modern music-making. With a background in both classical theory and artist-focused songwriting, David aims to make learning instruments—as well as music as a whole—approachable in a way that promotes curiosity, experimentation, and expression. David believes that through an emotionally-tailored lens—focusing on how music makes you feel—complex topics such as music theory can become not only understandable, but intuitive, intentional, and deeply personal.

With his personal artist project praised and recognized by industry figures such as Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar) and Bob Power (A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo), David feels more than ready to share the little tidbits he’s gathered over years within the industry! High energy, passionate, and quick at adapting—David is sure that he will bring out the individualism in his students’ various voices!

Outside of music, David enjoys philosophy, acting, and content creation!

David teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, bass, DAW (production), drums, and voice.

Charlie is a high energy, fun forward teacher with a wide breadth of musical knowledge and experience. Play is at the center of his teaching style, emphasizing the joy of writing, practicing and performing music. He has been teaching music for 14 years, including 6 years directing shows at performance based music schools. His ability to play and teach multiple instruments gives him a holistic sense of how sounds are weaved together, and how to craft a song.

Charlie teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, drums, bass, ukulele and voice.

KJ is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, & songwriter with over 17 years of formal training in piano, voice, & music production. As a former children’s swim instructor, KJ brings a unique understanding of how to work with kids of all ages & backgrounds, nurturing their creativity, confidence, & individual passions.

KJ is a graduate of NYU Tisch’s renowned Clive Davis Institute for Recorded Music, an accredited editor on Jeff Peretz’s (America’s Pop Musicologist) upcoming music theory book, & a frequent collaborator with older brother Peter Lee Johnson (credits include: Ariana Grande, Leon Thomas, Victoria Monét, Kehlani). KJ brings real-world industry insight to every lesson, fusing professional studio experience with extensive classical training.

KJ believes that songwriting is a journey of self-discovery & catharsis, & is thrilled to get the chance to help students unlock the songs that already exist within their hearts, which draw from their unique stories, interests, & developing voices. 

Each lesson is customized to the student's experience, creative intuition & learning style, implementing tailored exercises to help students reach their goals.

KJ teaches songwriting on piano, voice, ukulele, music production, and drums.

Austin is a dynamic artist and teacher whose career has been shaped by a wide range of musical styles and interests. A passionate educator, Austin has years of teaching experience in both public and private settings, and feels right at home teaching students of every skill level. Prior experience also includes teaching non-music majors at Northwestern University, a summer spent as Hans Jensen’s Teaching Assistant at the Meadowmount School of Music, and group classes for young students in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Currently, he is the cellist of the Tesla Quartet. In addition to a performance on Saturday Night Live with Vampire Weekend, Austin has recorded and performed with artists including Jon Batiste, The Eagles, Seal, Bailen, and 2Cellos.

He holds degrees from Yale University, Northwestern University, and the Eastman School of Music. Austin resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Austin teaches songwriting on cello.

Joelle is a jazz-folk singer-songwriter born and raised in New York City. She has a background in teaching voice, piano, guitar, and songwriting. She is the lead singer and songwriter of her own band in NYC, where she regularly performs. She released her debut record in January, and is recording her next album this summer. She graduated from The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music in 2023 and was awarded a merit scholarship to attend. During her time in school she was selected by her university to attend the esteemed Keep An Eye Workshop in Amsterdam, where she spent a week performing and composing with incredible jazz musicians from all over the world. She recently performed two sold-out shows in Paris at 38Riv. She is passionate about teaching and hopes to help her students reach all of their artistic goals. She loves Joni Mitchell, reading poetry, watercolor painting, and iced coffee. 

Joelle teaches songwriting on piano, voice, guitar, and ukulele.

Pance has performed at Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, and on PBS, NBC, and 92nd Street Y. As an educator, they founded Wolverine Studios, the first record label operating from a public school, and earned a 2019 Global Music Award. As an NYU National Songwriters Hall of Fame Scholar at NYU, Pance blended their classical training with pop influences. Pance has worked with major label hip hop and pop artists, and recently began writing for theatre, including Soundbites and the BMI Lehman-Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. They’re also the creative director of “Sock Talk,” a puppet show that approaches difficult conversations through absurdism and wonderment. They are most passionate about teaching others how to access their creative expression.

Pance teaches songwriting on violin, cello, guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, and drums.

Leah was born in Manhattan, NY, and is currently a graduate student at VCFA. Leah is a certified K-12 Art Teacher currently receiving their MFA at VCFA, has shown in a number of solo and group exhibitions, and is a recipient of the Flora Brown music scholarship from Ithaca College. Leah is currently working on new research and art projects, and plans to continue showing art and perform through the next couple of years.

Leah’s goal is to help their students journey through the different stages of their development, and strives to make art a safe space where they can create freely. Leah empowers their students to understand that art is another way to communicate through visual language.

Leah teaches art.

Isabel is a violinist from Queens/Long Island who combines the supportive views of the Suzuki pedagogical method with her vast technical knowledge of the violin. She has been a violinist since the age of 4 and has studied the piano since age 8. She has taught for many years as an after-school tutor and summer camp counselor for children of various abilities and finally began taking on music students in 2021. 

Through her over twenty years of classical music studies, she has attended the Purchase College Conservatory of Music, is currently enrolled in the Suzuki Teacher Training Certification Program at the School for Strings in Midtown Manhattan, and is pursuing a degree in Music Education at Queens College. She loves teaching people of all ages and abilities and believes that a love for playing and creating music can bring about healing and mental well-being. 

Isabel teaches songwriting on violin and piano.

Linda is a classically trained opera singer and pianist. She is currently pursuing a career in opera.  She has been teaching piano and voice to students of all ages since she was 18 years old, and has over 10 years of experience. She has performed in venues all around NYC, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Symphony Space. She has a Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from CUNY Macaulay Honors College at Queens College. 

Linda teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

Ella is a fun, passionate, and creative teacher living in Manhattan. As a singer-songwriter in NYC, she plays at venues such as Rockwood Music Hall, the Bitter End, Sanger Hall, and more. Growing up as a classically trained violinist, Ella attended the Manhattan School of Music Precollege and performed at both Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall as the concertmaster of the Greater Westchester Youth Orchestra Association. She has years of experience teaching songwriting, voice, guitar, violin and other instruments to students of all ages. Ella is currently studying Music and Biology at the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, as well as pursuing a singer-songwriter career. Ella hopes to inspire and teach young songwriters how to make music from their heart.

Ella teaches songwriting on guitar, violin, ukelele, and piano.

Caitlin is an NYC-based cellist, composer, and singer/songwriter hailing from New Jersey. She is a child of two professional musicians, and her love of music began as early as it possibly could (rumor has it, she often kept herself awake singing in her crib before even muttering her first words!) Caitlin began her cello studies at age 6, and as a former Suzuki student herself, she has been able to appreciate firsthand the joy of leading a music-driven life. She approaches her students today with the same level of youthful energy and enthusiasm of the six-year-old who asked “if she could play cello like daddy!” No matter the instrument, age, or skill-level, Caitlin strives to connect with her students through music-based games, activities, exercises and stories to build a healthy foundation of patience, encouragement, and empathy.

Caitlin earned her Bachelors from Berklee College of Music, and her M.F.A. from NYU’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. Her work has been featured and/or performed at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Rockwood Music Hall, Haswell Greens, and Berklee Women’s Musicians Network. She also held the Cello/Guitar chair in the band of the 2nd National Tour of Waitress and was a nominee for the Marvin Hamlisch Awards in Original Musical Theater in 2021. Currently, Caitlin is working on composing music for her full-length musical. In her spare time, she enjoys… oh, who are we kidding. Music. She enjoys music in her spare time.

Caitlin teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, voice, cello, and piano.

Sam is an instrumentalist, songwriter, performer, and educator with a deep passion for helping students begin and grow their musical journey. With over 15 years of experience studying and performing music, Sam strives to be the kind of inspiring, supportive teacher she once looked up to as a child.

Sam is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied songwriting and performance, and later attended New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. After moving to New York City, she quickly became known among her peers as a dependable live and studio instrumentalist. Sam continues to perform with bands throughout the city and the Northeast, and has also toured internationally.

For the past seven years, Sam has worked closely with children through music education. She believes that building a meaningful relationship with music helps young students develop discipline, confidence, and creativity, all while still having fun! Sam places great importance on listening to her students, both through their words and body language, allowing her to create a personalized curriculum tailored to each child’s needs and learning style. She aspires to be a gentle, encouraging presence in her students’ lives, sharing the joy and magic of music as a universal language.

Sam teaches songwriting on piano, bass guitar, guitar, and ukulele.

Kristin is an actor, comedian, and musician originally from Chicago. She has performed improv, musical comedy and stand-up all over the city and works as a voice-over artist and actor for television shows and films (most recently for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, City on a Hilland The Last O.G.). As a music major at Saint Louis University, Kristin wanted to find a way to provide music education to students who lacked access to it, so she started an elementary school choir (self-named: The Skittles). Since then, Kristin has taught music and directed choirs in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Chicago and NYC. She enjoys composing and arranging music for plays and a cappella groups. She thinks kids are the funniest people and loves having the chance to help them work creatively!

Kristin teaches songwriting on voice, ukulele, violin and piano.

Frankie is a songwriter/performer/guitar teacher living in Ridgewood, Queens. Born in early 1980's Southern California, he learned guitar from Classic Rock and Punk Rocks songs, eventually digging deeper into early Blues, American Folk music, classic Country, early Rock n Roll and The American Songbook. He has experience with electric and acoustic guitar: open tunings, slide guitar techniques, finger picking, and flat pick strumming. He has been teaching guitar for 10+ years, has performed in 45 US states and 11 international countries. He can be found at any time playing guitar or piano, or likely listening to Billie Holiday or King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard.

Frankie teaches songwriting on guitar, harmonica and more.

Kevin has two decades of experience as a private instructor and has worked with students of all ages and skill levels from casual hobbyists to serious musicians. As a performer he has done everything from solo piano performances to small jazz ensembles to indie rock bands to large touring acts including a Michael Jackson tribute band and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Kevin is skilled at interpreting where a student is in their musical development, what their interests and goals are, and meeting them at that point. He brings with him a highly diverse skill set which includes songwriting and music production, jazz, classical, improvisation, theory, ear training, technique, and music appreciation. He is currently completing his MM at SUNY Purchase focusing on Jazz Studies and Studio Composition where he has learned from some of the most world renowned musicians, composers, and studio technicians in the business today.

Kevin teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, drums, bass guitar, and ukulele.

Jay is an enthusiastic singer songwriter, a multi instrumentalist, and a flexible teacher. He has many years of teaching experience, both in private and classroom settings. He has performed around the world and has learned many styles of playing from traditional Irish music to Jazz Manouche. He has experience teaching guitar, ukulele, and piano and specializes in using music theory to help learn, write, and improvise across multiple genres and instruments. 

Jay teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, piano, and accordion.

Nate is a singer-songwriter and guitar player from North Carolina. Having played in both rock bands and symphony orchestras since his teen years, his music represents a deep and satisfying blend of rich complexities and earnest realness. Nate is passionate about music education and currently offers lessons in acoustic and electric guitar, double bass, electric bass, drums, piano and songwriting. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a Master's degree in Music Performance.

Nate teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, drums, ukulele, and bass.

Leah is an independent songwriter, producer, performer and multi-instrumentalist based in NYC. Originally from NJ, she has grown up playing rock music at many iconic venues of the Jersey Shore, and currently plays gigs for both her original music and for other artists across Manhattan. With a background in classical music, music theory, and years of playing in bands, Leah has both a refined ear and practical real-life experience in the scene. She received her BFA from The New School with a focus in Jazz Voice Performance, and recently got her Masters in Creative Media and Technology at BerkleeNYC, majoring in Songwriting and Production.  A songwriter at heart, Leah's music is built on her love of meaningful lyrics and arrangements that feel good, as heard in her released music. 

Leah teaches songwriting on voice, piano, guitar, bass, and production.

Jilian is a dynamic and versatile artist, excelling as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer. Her passion for music is infectious, and her teaching style encourages experimentation while discovering one's own unique voice. Jilian's musical journey began at a young age when she fell in love with playing guitar and writing and performing her own songs. A passionate student of her craft, Jilian honed her skills at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where she studied songwriting and vocal performance. Berklee became the ground where her talent blossomed into refined expertise. After college Jilian focused heavily on her indie rock band which embarked on exhilarating tours, taking their electrifying performances to audiences around the globe. Jilian is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Her infectious enthusiasm and patient guidance create an environment where budding musicians feel empowered to explore their creativity and authentic expression!

Jilian teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, voice and drums.

Lila is a Lower East Side-based singer, guitarist, and songwriter who loves empowering children to find confidence and creative expression through music. She has years of formal and informal training in voice, guitar, ukulele, music theory, songwriting, and piano, as well as experience playing all kinds of genres, including pop, rock, folk, and jazz.

As a former jazz theory tutor and “music nerd friend,” Lila is passionate about making musical concepts accessible to all. Her interactive and encouraging teaching style helps students build musical independence in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, emphasizing each child’s interests, strengths, and creativity.

Lila is a recent graduate of Wellesley College, where she not only double-majored in music and neuroscience, but also served as music director for her Acapella group, the Wellesley Tupelos, for three semesters. She’s thrilled to help city kids discover their voices!

Lila teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, and piano.

Luke is an award-winning composer, lyricist, and educator based in New York City. He holds a BA in Music Theory and Composition from Calvin College, and an MFA from NYU Tisch. Primarily a writer for musical theatre, Luke has had works performed all across the country (including off-Broadway), and in the UK. Some of his songs have recently been showcased at 54 Below and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre. For his work as a composer and lyricist, he won the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Award in 2022. Luke has 10+ years teaching experience, and has taught privately in both one-on-one and classroom settings.

Luke teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, voice, and flute.

Ashley , from an early age, found herself on stage and in front of audiences. She is an outstanding actress, singer, violinist, director, choreographer, and educator. Ashley has appeared in choirs, operas, musicals, ballets, dance recitals, and numerous plays across the country. She graduated high school from two outstanding magnet programs in the San Antonio, TX area: The North East School of the Arts and the International School of the Americas. Ashley then graduated with a B.A. and B.F.A. with a teaching certification from Oklahoma City University, where she co-founded and sang in an a cappella group, OCUPELLA.

Following graduation, Ashley continued to use her gifts in public education to mentor other teachers as she directed student productions and children’s theatre classes. She taught middle school Speech, Drama, and Debate for five years and won the award of Teacher of the Year before relocating to New York City with her pup Daisy. Ashley has performed around the country in several major regional theaters and is currently a Lead Singer on Aida Cruise Lines, where she met her fiancé.

With 14 years of experience in education, Ashley has had the privilege of shaping young minds and fostering a love of learning. Her journey also includes many years in New York, where she taught vocal technique from beginner to advanced levels to students of all ages. Additionally, she has worked with all ages, guiding them to proficiency in violin using the Suzuki Method of teaching. Recently, Ashley has had the privilege of teaching violin to Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, fostering a supportive and accessible environment for their musical growth. Her diverse background in education has allowed her to connect with students of various ages and skill levels, helping them achieve their personal best.

Ashley teaches songwriting on voice, viola, and violin..

With a deep passion for music and a love for helping others grow, Hunter creates lessons that are engaging, supportive, and tailored to each student’s interests and goals. A multi-instrumentalist and active performer, he specializes in saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, and improvisation, while also teaching music theory, ear training, and composition. Drawing from years of performing in ensembles ranging from jazz big bands to contemporary groups, Hunter brings both real-world experience and creativity into every lesson.

From a young age, Hunter developed his musicianship by learning music by ear, transcribing solos, and immersing himself in the rich traditions of jazz and improvised music. These experiences sparked a lifelong fascination with musical expression, listening, and finding one’s individual voice as an artist. He believes that music education should be both disciplined and inspiring, encouraging students not only to build strong fundamentals, but also to discover what excites them personally about music.

Hunter teaches songwriting on piano, saxophone, flute, and clarinet.

Grace is a guitarist, songwriter, performer, educator, and producer. Born and raised in Austin, TX, whose music scene vaulted her into a life of sound & performance, she's been performing and releasing music for the last 15 years, releasing albums both independently and with record labels and playing venues and festivals across the country. She’s taught voice, piano, guitar and ukulele for the last 5 years, teaching private, group lessons and workshops. 

Initially trained as a classical guitarist, she is well versed in a wide range of styles & genres, primarily rock, folk, and experimental music. She has studied audio engineering, production, songwriting and performance on both a graduate and undergraduate level, receiving her B.F.A in Recorded Music from the Clive Davis Institute at New York University and her M.A in Sound Arts & Industries from Northwestern University. She enjoys integrating creative approaches to music and sound to the process of developing one's musical foundation, prioritizing students developing a command of their instrument as well as nurturing their personal artistic voice. She values communication, playfulness, and integrating songwriting, production and engaging games to grow and nurture a lifelong relationship with music. 

Grace teaches songwriting on guitar, voice, piano, ukulele, and bass.

Julia is an NYC based singer/songwriter and pianist. Growing up in the city, Julia has performed since she was young at historic venues such as The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Mercury Lounge, Pianos, and more. In 2019, Julia released her debut album. She is currently enrolled in the graduate studio composition program in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, working toward her Masters of Music. She enjoys teaching kids, teenagers, and adults, and is passionate about sharing her love for music through teaching.

Julia teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

Marina is a singer/songwriter/producer from Texas based in Brooklyn. From making up songs in the car as a toddler to pursuing her career as an artist, music has been her oasis her entire life. She began writing songs at the age of 10 and moved to Nashville at 18 to attend Belmont University where she learned from Nashville songwriters how to storytell, perform, and relate. She later moved to NYC where she obtained her master's degree in Songwriting and Production from Berklee College of Music and cultivated her artistry.

Marina is a nanny and childcare provider of over 6 years and loves children of all ages. She is patient, understanding, and silly with her kids, fostering an environment in which they feel safe and secure. She has experience with neurodivergent children and wants to cultivate an inclusive + diverse songwriting space. Combining her love of songwriting and children, she is eager to work and grow with her students! 

Marina teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, production, and piano.

Chris is a music teacher, singer-songwriter, pianist, composer and producer. Also known as JChris, he is lauded for his exciting performance energy and smooth voice.

JChris has taught and presented internationally, offering composition, piano & voice masterclasses, music camp sessions, and music education workshops on Latin music. JChris gets a lot of joy from teaching and has taught all levels of music, meeting students where they are at while also challenging them. 

JChris was hailed as “…the next big thing” by Metro Weekly magazine. A Latin pop virtuoso of Brazilian and Peruvian descent, JChris is internationally recognized for his pop compositions which are laced with Latin, Afro and Brazilian influences. As a Grammy Voting Member of the Recording Academy, JChris has released many music singles and has had his music placed on the official Symphonic Latino editorial playlist on Spotify. He has toured in cities including Hong Kong and Hangzhou (China), Bogotá, Lima, and Madrid. In live performances, JChris has worked with Dionne Warwick, Carlos Vives, Shannon, Omar Apollo, and Kristin Chenoweth, among others, and has performed for the Hispanic Heritage Awards on PBS and at venues like The White House and Carnegie Hall.

Chris teaches songwriting on piano, voice, guitar, and percussion.

Michael is a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger, and music educator based in Brooklyn, NY. From an early age, he developed a love for a wide variety of genres ranging from rock to jazz to classical. This wide range of influences has resulted in a very open and flexible approach to his teaching that is focused on the interests of each individual student, as well as fostering a fun, creative space for students to learn and experiment musically.

Michael has been performing and teaching professionally for almost a decade, and has a B.A. in Jazz Studies from West Chester University as well as a M.M. in Jazz studies from New England Conservatory in Boston.

Michael teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, saxophone, clarinet, and flute.

Kayla is a singer, songwriter, and educator based in Brooklyn. She began singing at 4 years old and developed a passion for music that she continually strives to foster within her students.

Having received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami and her Masters of Music in Jazz Performance from New England Conservatory of Music, Kayla has developed a wide breadth of knowledge that allows her to provide incisive guidance for students looking to explore songwriting, music theory, and instrument instruction. All the while, her hands on, play-based approach keeps lessons fun, fast-paced, and energetic.

Kayla teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, ukulele and voice.

Dylan is an actor, songwriter, musician and visual artist based in NYC. Dylan has been songwriting since she was in third grade and playing piano since kindergarten! She has over a decade of childcare experience with 5 years of teaching songwriting, piano, guitar and ukulele. Dylan has a BFA in Acting from Florida State University. She has a passion for creating and a spirit full of wonder and curiosity. She is inspired by the openness, playfulness, and wisdom of young minds and loves to guide her students to express themselves through music.

Dylan teaches songwriting through guitar, piano, ukulele, and voice.

Loch is a Broooklyn-based instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. With some solo exploration with computer music, he can also lead the rhythm section with solid experience as a drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, and bassist, and isn’t afraid to hold a tune. He believes in the transformative power of creating music and understands the patience and care it takes to provide meaningful, effective experiences to students. As a camper turned counselor, he looked to his camper experience of singing folk revival songs to inform the way he taught music as a counselor. These ideals have helped him contextualize what he finds important in songwriting: a good chorus and the strong invitation to the audience to participate. 

With a Kenyon College Music degree to aid the lesson planning, Loch can turn your child into the next folk songwriter!

Loch teaches songwriting on guitar, bass, voice, and drums.

James is a multi-instrumentalist living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has toured the world playing guitar, bass, mandolin, ukulele and pedal steel with artists in a myriad of genres, ranging from folk-rock to Ethiopian pop music. He studied music formally at Columbia College of Chicago, with a focus in jazz performance.

As a teacher, James focuses on crafting lesson plans to meet the needs of each individual student. From young children to adults, he focuses on helping students reach their individual goals and aspirations - whether that is writing their own songs, singing with friends around a campfire, or even becoming a professional musician! James has been teaching music since he was in high school, both in private lessons and leading summer music camps for middle and high school students.

James teaches songwriting on Guitar, ukulele, bass, mandolin, slide, and pedal steel.

Brendan, as the only musician in his family of Mental Health professionals, fell in love with music, and the energy of Rock and Roll at the age of thirteen. He spent his teenage years in garages banging out chords with friends, learning to write and record his own songs on whatever recording gear he could get his hands on, and developing an ear for more traditional arrangements in High School Choir. All the while, studying Music Theory on his own time to better understand the intricacies of composition to create better music. 

In 2017, he began interning at a local recording studio, where he worked with artists on their rehearsals and observed the recording process on a scale he’d never seen before. He then attended Florida Atlantic University, studying Commercial Music Technology and Electric Guitar. 

At this time, he began playing his own songs around South Florida with his band Beeline. They would take their skills from university to produce intricate layers of guitars and vocal harmonies. He would contribute Mandolin and Banjo to songs that would get radio play on 98.7 Kix Country, and would later go on tour and perform at festivals.

Brendan began sharing his experience and passion for music as a teacher in 2020, and has taught at several different schools and studios around South Florida. When he isn’t teaching, Brendan loves to perform in several bands, work as a live sound engineer, and produce in the studio.

Brendan teaches songwriting on guitar, drums, piano, mandolin, ukulele, and production.

Elena is a bubbly and engaging teacher whose focus is to teach informative and fun lessons to all her students. Extensively studied in piano and voice, she is also a competent performer on ukulele, guitar, and violin. Her musical background along with her years of experience make her a versatile teacher in both the private and group setting. As a teenager, Elena spent much of her spare time learning her favorite songs by ear at the piano, and arranging them for her high school acapella groups. These experiences later bloomed into a passion for music theory, arranging, composition, and music production. Elena loves to help her students make discoveries through songwriting, just as she has in her career.

Elena teaches songwriting on piano, voice, ukulele, and digital audio workstations.

Kristin is a Brooklyn-based composer, pianist, teacher, and poet with Pacific Northwest roots. She has composed numerous works for singers, instrumentalists, dancers, theater, and visual artists, and her music has been commissioned for performances in the Pacific Northwest, Boston, and NYC. Many of her current projects focus on honoring the stories and artistic work of women around the world along with a growing community of international women artists.

Kristin has taught piano to students of all experience levels (beginners through music performance majors) for many years. In 2020, she launched an online music composition program and so far, over 50 young composers have written over 100 new compositions with Kristin's mentorship. Through Blue Balloon, she has discovered an affinity for working with young students, and she loves working with families. She truly believes that music is for everyone and has a gift for encouraging musical creativity in people of all ages!

Kristin teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

Dea is a seasoned musician whose musical career began at the age of 8 playing in a band called Harsh Crowd, which went on to perform at venues like Madison Square Garden, share the stage with artists such as the legendary Bikini Kill, and garner attention from The New York Times. A graduate of Columbia University with a degree in music, Dea now tours globally, playing guitar, bass, and drums as a key member of indie pop singer Sarah Kinsley's band. They have participated in major festivals such as SXSW, Lollapalooza, and Governor's Ball, along with extensive tours across Europe, the U.S., and Australia. Beyond the stage, Dea works as a key member of Meshell Ndegeocello's production team, contributing extensively to the creation of Ndegeocello's compelling musical experiences. In her free time, Dea finds joy in teaching drum, bass, and guitar lessons to kids through the Blue Balloon Songwriting School—an institution where she herself once took lessons as a child.

Dea teaches songwriting on voice, guitar, and drums.

Rachel is a Brooklyn based singer-songwriter. She has been singing, writing, and performing live music for over 10 years. A little bit about her, she attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a BA in psychology, specializing in child development. Since moving to New York in 2018, she has emerged as one of New York’s rising artists - she has performed her original music at renowned venues like Bowery Ballroom, Brooklyn Bowl, PEAK Performances at Montclair State University, PAC and more. She sang the National Anthem at a sold out MSG Rangers game, and she was on the Tonight Show’s Battle of the Instant Songwriters with Jimmy Fallon. She was an official SXSW Artist in 2024.

Rachel was a judge favorite on NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2023, and her original song “Remember Me” was awarded by American Songwriter as the top 1% of submissions that year. Rachel loves working with kids, and is excited to marry her love of music and performance with her background in psychology.

Rachel teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, and voice.

Christina C. is a singer-songwriter and music teacher from Austin, Texas. She specializes in acoustic guitar, ukulele, voice, and piano, both as a performer and an educator. Her journey with music began early, starting piano lessons at age six, joining choir, and participating in musical theater throughout elementary school. By middle school, she had picked up the acoustic guitar, and at 14, she began writing her own songs. Christina attended a performing arts high school, which allowed her to dive deeper into songwriting, classical guitar, music theory, and voice. During this time, she wrote countless songs, recorded and released three EPs, and started performing live around Austin.

Christina continued her musical education at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where she earned her BFA. She also minored in Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health Studies, combining her passion for music with a strong interest in child development. After graduation, she moved to Nashville, TN, where she began teaching with Blue Balloon. Teaching songwriting and music has been an incredibly rewarding experience for her. Now back in Texas, Christina teaches virtually while continuing to pursue her music career. She is excited to connect with her students and create a supportive environment where they can explore, take risks, and express themselves through music.

Christina teaches songwriting on piano, ukulele, voice, and guitar.

Michael H is a Queens-based musician who has earned a BM in Jazz Performance on guitar at SUNY New Paltz. Following graduation, Michael embarked further into his musical journeys as composer, arranger, performer, and teacher. After graduating and beginning to perform full-time, Michael has also enjoyed dedicating himself to teaching and passing on the gift of music.

Michael teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, and more.

Claire is a singer, writer, multi-instrumentalist, educator, and advocate originally from Bismarck, North Dakota. She began violin lessons at age five in the Suzuki method, and went on to study classically with her parents. Folk, jazz, choral music, and theatre became her focus in school, and she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Claire moved to NYC in 2013, making her Broadway debut in Once the Musical.

Claire teaches all ages with encouragement and warmth, engaging each student in lessons centering confidence, creativity, and physical sustainability. She believes in both the healing and energizing powers of music, and serves on the Arts & Culture team of the Poor People’s Campaign, using music as a tool to mobilize and strengthen fusion social justice movements.

Claire teaches songwriting on violin, guitar, ukulele, and beginning piano.

Miette is a Brooklyn, NY based singer-songwriter and producer. Raised out of the mountains of Colorado, she has a folk background with a developed pop sensibility. She can teach on Ukulele, Guitar, Piano, Rhythm and voice and is also able to record her students and teach skills in music production.

Alongside her teaching, Miette has her own artist project and produces and writes for several other artists as well as composes music for TV, Film and Ads. For Miette, collaboration is a key factor to her creative process; she champions the NYC music scene by frequently organizing writing camps and networking events to bring her community together.

 Miette teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, piano, and voice.

Sophia is a New York based musician, actor, and writer who is thrilled to be bringing her love of music to kids with blue balloon! Piano was her first love, as she began classical piano training at age 6. She soon after found musical theatre, which led her to later earning a degree in Theatre from Northwestern University.

She has worked with kids of all ages in a variety of capacities, from work as a nanny to a Girl Scout leader, performing arts camp counselor, and more!

Nowadays you can find her performing folk/rock/acoustic music around the city!

Sophia teaches songwriting on piano, voice, ukulele, and guitar.

Luisa is a New York City–based singer-songwriter with extensive training from the UNCSA School of the Arts in classical voice and a BFA in Recorded Music from the Clive Davis Institute at NYU Tisch. As the winner of the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting, she has gained valuable tools and insights from professors and industry professionals, which she seamlessly integrates into her own creative process and helps others do the same.

Her musical experience dates back to early childhood, when she began vocal lessons at age five and later became proficient in both piano and guitar. With more than six years of childcare experience, she is able to connect with children and foster a safe, fun environment where they feel creatively free and excited to express themselves through music.

To Luisa, music is a form of self-discovery, and she is deeply passionate about helping children discover their voice and develop their own unique musical thumbprint.

Luisa teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, voice, and ukulele.

Leah is a songwriter, teacher, singer, bandleader, guitarist and ukulele player. She is a born and raised New Yorker who has years of experience teaching music and singing songs throughout the city. Her passion spans across many different genres, cultures, and artists. Whether it’s a Motown song she grew up on, a traditional tune from long ago, or a brand new musical idea, Leah brings her deep love of music with her as she helps the next generation nurture their creativity. When she's not teaching, you can find Leah hosting and playing in a monthly Songwriter Night at Pete's Candy Store, or playing her original music with a rock 'n' soul Americana band.

Leah teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, and voice.

Eric teaches students of all ages to develop their unique style. Patient and warm, he encourages exploration and creativity through the learning process and loves to help his students grow into confident artists and songwriters.  Eric has a degree in English and Government from Georgetown University, and learned to teach writing while working for the GU Writing Center. As an artist, Eric’s music is folky and groovy, and he’s been releasing music and touring the country since he was 18.

Eric teaches songwriting on piano, ukulele, and voice.

Chase is a professional guitarist / bandleader / artist manager hailing from Sag Harbor. He started out learning songs by ear from records he loved, to eventually attending the Berklee College of Music and graduating with a dual degree in performance and management. Chase has toured across the continent with a variety of bands and has appeared on over 30 mass released studio albums. Chase currently resides in Brooklyn and continues to play locally and nationally.

He has had an extensive background in teaching students of all ages and skill sets across multiple instruments. Chase prioritizes helping students understand the fundamentals of much (Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony) and how they apply to the materials a student wishes to dissect. 

Chase teaches songwriting on guitar, drums, bass, piano, voice, ukulele, banjo, and trumpet.

Yas is a Brooklyn-based, London-raised alternative folk-pop singer-songwriter and producer. Originally trained as a classical pianist and jazz saxophonist, she started writing songs at 14 years old. She later moved to New York to earn her BFA in Recorded Music at NYU Tisch's Clive Davis Institute. While at NYU, she studied songwriting, production, performance, studio engineering, and music business, and she dedicated herself to crafting songs that detail the intricacies of every-day life with honesty and simplicity.

Yas has worked with a range of songwriting students across different age-groups. She loves the process of teaching students with different goals and imaginations. Lessons with Yas will be engaging, collaborative, and hands-on, with a focus on telling stories through music.

When not making music, Yas loves playing soccer and supporting her favorite team (Manchester United) as well as trying out new food!

Yas teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, voice, and music production.

Zoe is an award winning singer-songwriter and musician who believes music is one of the most powerful tools for healing and self expression. With over four years of experience working with children, including time as a camp counselor for ages 4-12, she brings patience, kindness, and creativity to every lesson. Her musical background includes years of private training in voice, guitar, and piano, along with a strong understanding of music theory, which allows her to support students at any level. While her roots are in pop and rock, she encourages curiosity across all genres and believes there are no rules when it comes to self-expression.

Zoe currently attends NYU Tisch’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and has worked as a studio musician. She has released eight original songs on streaming platforms and is excited to help each child discover the magic of creating music that is uniquely their own!

Zoe teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, ukulele, and voice.

Jaidyn (she/they) is a songwriter, producer, and artist from Seattle. She recently completed a BFA in Recorded Music from the Clive Davis Institute at NYU Tisch, and she is trained in classical, jazz, and musical theater styles, with a long background studying music theory and vocal technique. They are a flexible songwriter with strong musical foundations that bring timeless song-crafting techniques to any genre.

As an artist, they put emphasis on the dynamic, engaging aspects of music and performance, and how one can express oneself to the fullest in an intentional, authentic, and captivating way.

As a mentor, Jaidyn is always excited to give students the foundation and technique needed to create the sounds they are passionate about. She enjoys assessing where students are musically and working with them to reach their goals. In addition to populating their ‘musical toolbox’ and expanding the songwriting possibilities available to them, she will bring new ideas and sounds to students’ music-scapes and help them hone their musical ear.

Jaidyn teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, voice, and music production.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Eric is a musician, writer, and music director in New York City. His love for music began at a young age when he began playing piano and cello. Beginning in classical music, he transitioned to working in theatre during his time at Northwestern University where he was able to marry his love for classical music with numerous different genres (especially rock!)

Eric graduated with a bachelor's degree in musical theatre and French from Northwestern University, and spent a year teaching English in Gisors, France after graduation which ignited a passion for teaching. His original music has been performed in musicals and cabarets in venues such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and 54 Below, and he has performed on Broadway (Red Bucket Follies) and regionally in Chicago as a pianist and cellist. 

Eric teaches songwriting on cello, piano, and voice.

Patrick is an actor/singer/musician/ songwriter/music producer from Indianapolis, IN. He began playing guitar at the age of 11, and hasn't put it down since. Patrick brings a patient, warm and fun energy to lessons - he's always prepared and loves working with students of all levels. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Elon University and has performed at various regional theatres around the country. Patrick also writes music with his fiancee and fellow Blue Balloon teacher, Gabriela for their band Gab and Pat.

Patrick teaches songwriting on piano, ukulele, voice, and guitar.

Deborah is a knitter with a passion for teaching mindfulness through craft. After starting her career in the craft publishing world, she made a shift to teaching, working full-time as an 8th grade ENL teacher in the Bronx, and teaching knitting and mindfulness both in the middle school classroom and to adults. Deborah is a certified yoga instructor, and likes to combine traditional mindfulness techniques with knitting, bringing even more calm to her favorite hobby. She has published knitting patterns and articles about knitting, most recently in Making Stories magazine. These days you can find Deborah teaching at local yarn stores, online fiber festivals, and with her students.

Deborah teaches knitting.

Samaera is a singer-songwriter and producer living in New York City. She is signed to Warner Chappell Music as a songwriter and releases music independently under her own name. Born and raised with a sharp ear and a sharper pen, she has placed songs in national retail campaigns and on Amazon Prime, and her music has landed on editorial playlists across Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. She loves Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Lizzie McAlpine, and Tame Impala. Samaera runs on iced coffee, regardless of season or circumstances.

Samaera teaches songwriting on piano.

Kate is a Folk-Americana singer-songwriter based in Nashville, originally from Toronto, Canada. She taught songwriting and lead vocal ensembles for kids throughout high school and in the summers at a local music school in Toronto. She has a passion for sharing her musical skills in creative and engaging ways. Kate recently graduated from Belmont University with a degree in commercial music with an emphasis in songwriting. When she's not teaching, she is writing songs and playing shows around Nashville.

Kate teaches songwriting on piano, guitar and voice.

Victoria is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist originally from Tampa, FL. Victoria is a versatile musician, with a background in classical voice and skills in guitar, violin, banjo, piano, and even mountain dulcimer. She graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Songwriting, and two minor areas of study: Private Studio Teaching and Business of Live Music.

Victoria has been writing songs since she was 11 years old, citing artists such as Taylor Swift, Tracy Chapman, Maisie Peters, Dar Williams, and Brandi Carlile as main sources of inspiration, all coming together to cultivate her love of lyric writing in pop, indie, and folk genres. Victoria has been working with kids in and out of musical settings for eight years, and aims to bring her love of music with an emphasis on lyricism to her lessons. She believes that music is a beautiful way to process one’s emotions (the good, the bad, and the complicated), and hopes to guide and provide her students with the tools to do just that.

Victoria teaches songwriting on guitar, violin, banjo, piano, and voice.

As a Nashville based musician and teacher originally from the Philadelphia area, Leigh is constantly inspired by the creativity around her. She graduated from the University of Delaware with an Honors degree in Music Education and is continuing her studies at Belmont University in the pursuit of a Master of Business Administration with a Music Business concentration. Beginning formal music studies at age four, it has never been a question as to what industry Leigh would ultimately pursue. Her passions of teaching, performing, songwriting, and interpersonal relations converge to create a career around the things that she values most and fuel her desire to influence the next generation of music users.

Leigh teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele and voice.

Sage fiddles, sings and tap dances — yes, at the same time. Informed by her music history and museum education studies at Yale and Brown, Sage mixes fairytales with chopping, folksongs with feminism, and flatfooting with distortion. Her work has been featured at the Smithsonian, The Yale University Art Gallery, Smugglers’ Notch Ski Resort, and the Brown University Folk Festival. Sage brings rounded sense of history and music to her teaching actively engaging a sense of storytelling.

Sage teaches songwriting on violin/fiddle, guitar, ukulele, percussion and voice.

Matt comes from the traditional southern style of songwriting, blending folk, blues and soul with an ear for simple melodies. Having worked as a singer/songwriter for the past 15 years, he brings the experience of simplicity to teaching children to write songs. He seeks to help open the imagination so that one can see the song in everything around us. Matt also plays harmonica with a Nashville-based band.

Matt teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, piano, harmonica and voice.

Lesley is a Queens-based singer/songwriter with a warm, fun, and creative teaching style that seeks to find a student's curiosity and nurture it towards deeper musical understanding and skill - all while having a LOT of fun. The daughter of an opera singer and an actress, Lesley is a multi-passionate multi-instrumentalist. After completing her undergraduate studies at Yale, she spent several years teaching students from ages 3 to 60+ songwriting through piano and voice lessons in the Philadelphia area, and, after a stint in corporate America, was excited to return once again to her music-teaching roots. She believes deeply in the power of a "language arts" approach to music - learning the art of writing your own music while learning the art of reading/ playing other people's song.

Lesley teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele, bass & voice.

Jessica is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville. With a mix of classical voice/guitar training and pop songwriting experience, she carries a unique bundle of skills that she loves passing on to students. Jessica has experience working with groups of students as well as teaching privately. She taught music at a camp, leading music time and writing songs for kids of all ages. She's amazing at navigating the difficult (but rewarding!) task of understanding how they think and learn best. When she's not teaching, Jessica writes and tours often as a solo artist.

Jessica teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, voice, and ukulele.