Michael has a gift of sparking the creativity in every student, encouraging them to write very profound songs. He has contributed music to the HBO series Bored to Death, toured with They Might Be Giants, and has worked as an on-set ukulele coach for movie stars. He has written a children’s book called My First Ghost, which was published by Disney Books. Michael also teaches at Avenues: The World School and The Gotham Writers Workshop. His band, A Man of Ideas, released an album of beautiful sea songs.

Michael teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, and ukulele.

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.

Evan’s students love his chill vibe that helps them stay very focused. He inspires kids to not be afraid of the technical side of music instruction, while still keeping lessons upbeat and fun. He teaches his students to work hard and the end result is that they progress very quickly in their musicality. Evan served as the producer, drummer, and band leader for Bernie Worrell of Parliament Funkadelic and the musical director and multi-instrumentalist for Jimmy Destri of Blondie. He is also an accomplished record producer in both NYC and LA. Under his tutelage, your child will be an extraordinary part of the next generation of musicians.

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

Lotus (they/them) is a multi-instrumentalist based in Brooklyn, NY. They have studied opera, jazz, composition, acting, and musical theatre at both Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona. Having grown up playing Suzuki classical piano and attending Montessori school, they hold an AMI Montessori Assistant Teacher Certification.

Currently, they play electric bass, rhythm guitar, cajon, and keys as well as sing, engineer, and arrange for numerous bands around the city.

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

Lena is a classically trained pianist, as well as a vocalist. She is currently pursuing a career in opera. She constantly finds that her own artistry is inspired by that of her students. She has been teaching piano and voice to students of all ages since her undergraduate studies, where she earned degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance. Lena went on to earn a Master's in Vocal Performance, while teaching pre-k music in Manhattan. She currently teaches private lessons and enjoys telling stories and going on adventures with her students, through music.

Lena teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

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.

Whether weaving in and out of a 6-piece rock band, bouncing against a Wurlitzer, or blending with other unaccompanied voices, Kristin is keenly aware of the boundless capacity of her instrument. In the many musical contexts in which she is engaged, her musicianship is powerful and unmistakably her own. As a vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter in indie pop band Cuddle Magic, Kristin has honed a love of the ensemble and of polyrhythmic pop song while touring nationally. A sought-after collaborator, Kristin has been honored to share stages and studios with a diverse mix of world famous musicians.

Kristin teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

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.

Jason is a former Saint Ann's elementary school teacher with over 15 years experience helping kids discover and realize their musical talents. A graduate of Oberlin College, Jason studied Jazz Guitar at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Jason has released albums and toured internationally as a member of several projects including his own group, Acrylics. He is also a composer for film and television having recently scored a pilot for The Cartoon Network.

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

Daniel is a performing artist, producer, and music teacher based in NYC!

After graduating from Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, Daniel has taught voice, piano, music production, and music theory in the USA and abroad.

As a producer, Daniel’s music has been licensed by Apple, Marvel Studios, and many others, and has garnered more than 300k+ streams and digital downloads.

In addition to being a talented and thoughtful music teacher to all ages, Daniel is a bilingual teacher with fluency in English and Spanish!

Daniel teaches songwriting on piano, voice, and music production.

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.

Becky is a singer-songwriter, and graduated from the Purchase College music conservatory with a degree in Jazz Voice. She has been writing and performing for 10+ years along with performing at well-known venues, including; Carnegie Hall and Webster Hall. She is trained in jazz and classical performance, and also has a love of contemporary music. Becky grew up performing rock, pop, r&b, and alternative music in school and original bands.

Currently, Becky is performing her original pop/funk music all throughout the tri-state area. She also works as a session musician with multiple live bands as a keyboardist and guitarist. She has been teaching music for 5 years and loves working with students of all ages!

Becky teaches songwriting on piano, voice, guitar, 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.

Mimi loves to team up with kids in their quest to discover the musical world around them! Whether teaching piano, guitar, ukulele, drums, or voice, sessions with Mimi are always about grooving to a beat, tuning into melodies, and having fun making our own. Mimi has a degree in studio composition from SUNY Purchase Conservatory, and studied bluegrass guitar at the Augusta Heritage Institute. She has composed for orchestra, gospel choir, kid’s choir, experimental electroacoustic ensemble, and her old-time Appalachian string band, The Calamity Janes. Her Master of Science research in Speech Pathology at Columbia also helps her give students expertise in the wiring of their ears, voices, and brains to grow their musicianship!

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

Charlie grew up in Rochester, NY where his after-school activity of choice was music. He picked up guitar at the age of 13, and has since been training his fingers to fly across the fretboard. After graduating from high school, Charlie moved to New York City to study at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He also studied guitar and songwriting at NYU's Steinhardt School of Music. After four years of intensive training & a BFA in Theatre with honorary distinction under his belt, Charlie continued to hone his theatre and guitar skills. In 2017, Charlie was thrilled to perform in his first Off-Broadway play The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder. Since then, Charlie has worked on many rewarding staged readings and theatrical workshops, many of which would employ his talents as a guitar and banjo player. Charlie is thrilled to be teaching with Blue Balloon, which has been a home away from home for the past few years. He is eager to find new students to make music with!

Charlie teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, voice, piano and banjo.

Eva studied Composition and Production at Berklee College of Music in her native city of Boston. She has an act for arranging, orchestrating, and directing large ensembles in concert and theater settings. Eva is down-to-Earth, creative, and incredible at connecting with people, which comes through in her songwriting as well as her teaching. She has a unique talent in varying her approach to meet each student's needs and has teaching experience in a wide range of skills and ages including musical theater and choir! She also performs original music as a vocalist and pianist around New York City.

Eva teaches songwriting on piano, voice 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.

Noah is a singer/songwriter born and raised in NYC. He plays piano, guitar, bass and drums, and is the co-lead singer of an indie-rock band. With his band, he has toured internationally. His songs have been featured in movies and TV shows. As an instructor, Noah aims to inspire and pass on the joy of music!

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

Eli is a harpist and composer from New York whose eclectic and charming take on folk music will leave melodies stuck in your head for days. Eli’s unique lyricism and bright vocals shine through inspiration from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Regina Spektor, and Fiona Apple. His self-produced debut album, Therein Lies the Garden, was released in 2022 while Shane was working towards his bachelor’s degree in studio composition from SUNY Purchase.

As a teacher, Eli is focused on exploring each student’s individual relationship with their instrument, what they love about music, and developing a student’s compositional voice.

Eli teaches songwriting on guitar, harp, ukulele, and piano.

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.

Jake is a graduate of Bard college where he studied composition under Marina Rosenfeld, Joan Tower and Kyle Gann. He has performed at Carnegie Hall with Nyack Chamber Orchestra, the Vision Festival with William Parker, the Performa Biennial with Marina Rosenfeld, Germany’s Stimmen Festival with Lisa Sokolov, the Stone with Steve Swell, and at Lincoln Center Out of Doors with Larry Harlow. As BVBL he DJs and sound sculpts for theater, movement work (Bill T. Jones), and dancehalls ranging from Bedstuy basements to lavish baccanals. Jake’s compositions are wide ranging from unmanned electronics to works for large electro-acoustic ensemble. His repertoire ranges from abstract new music and free improvisation, to electronic dance music and Hip-Hop. He has been teaching group and private music literacy and improvisation classes in New York City since 2012. His pedagogical intent is to provide a comprehensive music education that reverberates into the daily lives of his students.

Jake teaches songwriting on piano and cello, and also teaches electronic music.

Isabel grew up in Austin, Texas where she studied guitar with celebrated banjoist Danny Barnes. Her style evolved from rock to outsider music. Under the moniker Dizzy Spells Martian, she released her first album which was listed as one of the top ten albums of the year by Waterloo Records. Her music has been compared to Juliana Hatfield and The Shaggs. Isabel has performed in many of her own bands and has toured Europe and America as a bassist. The most recent feather in her cap was playing bass in Daniel Johnston's backing band at the Barbican in London.

Isabel teaches songwriting on guitar, bass, and piano.

Amalia is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, and improviser born in Brooklyn, New York. With 10+ years of playing and music education experience, she has grown a passion for sharing the gift of music. Amalia attended Laguardia High School for the Arts and Performing Arts, and continued her music education with an undergraduate degree at The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.

As an experienced nanny and caregiver, Amalia has a discreet understanding of how to attend to the needs of budding learners. Amalia teaches with an emphasis on creativity and improvisation, and aims to create a learning environment that fosters the joy of music as creative expression.

Amalia teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, and voice.

Steeped in music since age four, Becca studied classical cello for 10 years before migrating to songwriting on piano at 14. She studied acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where she was mentored in composition at Steinhardt and began teaching voice. Her original music explores the power and expanse of femininity with a voice that is as dynamic as it is vulnerable and has been awarded by John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the International Songwriting Competition, Coffee Music Project, and a national social justice songwriting contest.

Her charismatic, intuitive, and deeply connecting approach to teaching helps ensure her young students’ first touchpoint to music is one of joy. She particularly loves working with children for they bring out the creative child in her.

Becca teaches songwriting on voice, piano, cello and ukulele.

Julia is a NYC-based singer, songwriter and actor who is thrilled to be a part of the Blue Balloon team! Julia performs her original music at venues across New York City. Julia also co-created and writes and records for the electronic pop duo Not the Ending.

She is a graduate of Colgate University where she received her BA in theatre and psychology. Julia is a jazz vocalist, sings for the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus and has worked as a music director and vocal arranger.

Julia believes firmly that the arts connect us to ourselves, others, and the world around us and is excited to share this philosophy through her teaching with Blue Balloon!

Julia teaches songwriting on piano, voice, and ukulele.

Joanna is a music educator, singer-songwriter, and keyboardist based in Brooklyn, NY who lives, teaches, and plays with boundless energy, warmth, humor, and creativity. Passionate about creating community through music and empowering the creative expression of young people, she started a series of songwriting collectives for teens. Joanna is also the founder and curator of Symbiosis, a collaborative songwriter series for women and non-binary artists held at Mirror in the Woods. On any given day, she can be found biking throughout the city to teach privately and in schools and homeless shelters. Joanna can be found cuddling with her cat Moose, singing to her plants, crafting elaborate sandwiches, and traipsing around Brooklyn.

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

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

Abby is a teacher with a very supportive and nurturing energy. She has a lot of technical knowledge, but she greatly values imagination and play. She takes inspiration from her favorite teachers, who gave her the freedom to explore the types of music she enjoyed, while simultaneously fostering the growth of her musical lexicon.

Abby 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.

Waylen is a dynamic and engaging teacher who strives to help students at all levels develop their unique voice and nurture their passion for music. He has been writing and performing songs since age 5, and studied composition at Davidson College under the tutelage of Dr. Jennifer Stasack. When he’s not teaching, Waylen records and performs with his soul-pop band, curates interdisciplinary events, and spends as much time outside as possible.

Waylen teaches songwriting on guitar, piano and voice.

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.

Amanda is a composer and actress born and raised in New York. She has spent many years working in children's entertainment in several facets; whether it be voiceover work, tours of children's show with Theatreworks USA, or creating theatrical experiences for children on the autism spectrum! Amanda's fun and energetic style makes kids feel like they can be themselves. Amanda is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory with a concentration in Songwriting, and is currently a part of the renowned BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. Amanda writes mostly musical theater and pop; stayed tuned for her new show opening Off-Broadways this summer! In addition to writing for others, Amanda also sings her own music around the city regularly.

Amanda teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele & voice.

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.

JJ is a Brooklyn born multi-instrumentist with an array of genres under his many hats. He is a Berklee College of Music alum and a collector of all sorts of knowledge. Inspired by Stevie Wonder, Bon Iver, and John Mayer, he has over 14 years of writing and playing experience. 

JJ has performed hundreds of shows in places like Carnegie Hall, Boston's House of Blues, and The Bitter End. With a deep understanding of production, music theory, and arranging, JJ wants to foster an appreciation for creating and understanding music for all folks.

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

Clover is a singer-songwriter living in Brooklyn. She graduated from Bard College with a vocal degree where she studied jazz, classical, electronic music, and ethnomusicology. Clover has a love for children and admiration for their never-ending creativity. She has worked with children of all developmental levels in many respects and has experience caring for children with disabilities. Her teaching style is patient and engaging, hoping to instill self-confidence through the introduction of an incredibly remarkable form of self-expression.

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

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.

Abby is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor, and trusted teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. Her integrative teaching style has been a source of inspiration and structure for her students ranging from pre-school to adult. Her unique exercises and coaching have been utilized by musicians in preparation for major festivals (Coachella) and late night TV (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon). Abby has a B.A. in Theatre Arts & minor in Music from The University of Pittsburgh. She has recorded & toured internationally as a solo artist, backup singer, and with her band Fife & Drom. Her original music has been featured in film as well as being honored by the Independent Music Awards. Abby’s 20 years of diverse professional experience provides a wealth of knowledge to her students. She cherishes the opportunity to deeply connect with her students through music & songwriting and to help to shape their own literal and metaphoric voices.

Abby teaches songwriting on voice, guitar, and ukulele.

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.

Sidney is an interdisciplinary artist who works with oil paints, murals, and mixed media to explore identity and relationships. She was born and raised in Chicago where she was inspired by street art, fine art, and Latin American folk art that decorated the houses she grew up in. She graduated from Maine College of Art, Portland Maine in 2021 with a Bachelors of Fine Art and concentration in painting. While she was a full time student, she taught in after school programs. She then moved to New Jersey post graduation and continued teaching after school art in Hoboken Public Schools. She currently works in NYC public school art programs teaching k-12. She is constantly inspired by her students and strives to give them confidence in their abilities. While she is not teaching, she works in her home studio, located in Hoboken.

Sidney teaches art through drawing, painting, figure drawing, sculpture, paper cache, and murals.

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.

Kirsten is an energetic and empathetic teacher. She loves to work with her students to highlight their unique personalities and strengths. She has been studying voice and piano since childhood and believes that a musical education is invaluable. She has a B.A. in theatre and believes wholeheartedly in the power of storytelling. Music is the way that she expresses her emotions and relates to the world. She performs her original music with her band at various venues in NYC.

Kirsten teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, ukulele & voice.

Eliana is a singer, pianist and visual artist born in Australia and raised in Seattle, Washington. She began singing and playing piano by ear from a young age. She graduated in Voice from the jazz program at The New School in 2021. She also holds a degree in Visual Studies and Writing and has experience with drawing, painting, sculpture and weaving. She is able to offer a dynamic, creative and artistic perspective to children which can inspire. She enjoys teaching singing technique, songwriting, and even offers students the opportunity to sing in Portuguese if they are interested. She enjoys supporting students in their personal artistic journey by facilitating their confidence so that they can sing and perform their own songs, and vice versa to create their own visual language. It excites her to provide feedback to allow students to develop and delve in the process, to enhance their enjoyment, all the while teaching them how to express themselves through music and art. Outside of these interests, Eliana loves hiking, dogs, swimming in the ocean, pavlova and hanging out with friends.

Eliana teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

Erica is a Brooklyn based actor, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. A native Texan, her introduction to the music world began at the age of 3 through classical violin. She joined her first Country band as a fiddle player and vocalist at the age of 12 and began to incorporate different genres to her classical training. She made her Broadway debut in the musical ONCE and went on to tour the world with the First National Tour of ONCE. During this time, Erica was spotted by Don Henley of the Eagles and joined his band as violinist and backing vocalist. Currently, Erica is the concert master for the orchestra for the Eagles “Hotel California” tour."

Erica teaches songwriting on Guitar, Piano, Ukulele, Voice, and Violin.

Lydia is a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist dedicated to carving out space for women in the music industry through her many projects. Since 2016 Lydia has worked as a songwriting coach and mentor with refugee youth, young mothers, war veterans and everyone in between. She partners with Soldier Songs and Voices and Carnegie Hall using the songwriting process as a tool for connection and healing.

Lydia has been performing with a band since the age of 12. Her Austin, Texas based world folk band Ley Line has graced the stages of Telluride Bluegrass, Austin City Limits and Kerrville Folk Festival to name a few. In 2023 she moved back to her home state, landing in Brooklyn, New York to pursue a solo career as both an artist and producer under the name Lyd Marie. Lydia’s main instruments are piano, guitar, voice and percussion. She is one of the only women who plays the Senegalese talking drum and has traveled to West Africa consistently for the past 12 years to study traditional rhythms.

Lydia is a member of Gender Amplified, a group of women and non-binary producers who collaborate together to increase the visibility of female producers in the music industry.

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

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.

Katie McShane is an experienced educator who provides a playful music learning experience, highlighted by a flexible and exploratory approach to the progression of technical concepts. Interested in the idea of redefining parameters, she provides imaginative guidance for students that is as much informed by her own experience in music as it is by the student’s own leanings. Learning music through writing and improvising is at the core of her philosophy, one which she has solidified through years of private and group teaching. Katie emphasizes ear training and collaboration in age appropriate activities, and her methods, though her own, have been informed by studies of Dalcroze, Suzuki, and ear training, improvisation, and composition at New England Conservatory under Hankus Netsky and Anthony Coleman. Katie holds a degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and master’s degree in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory.

Katie teaches songwriting on cello, keyboard, guitar, ukulele and voice.

Kels is an energetic and outgoing visual artist who was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and moved to NY to receive their Master’s in Fine Art at The School of Visual Arts in 2015. Their program focused on Photography and Video, but they have a background in multiple mediums including: illustration, comic books, print-making, painting, sculpture, textiles, collage, ceramics, installation, and performance art. Kels loves teaching students of all ages and has always had a passion for encouraging creativity and self expression through art making. When they aren’t experimenting with new mediums, Kels loves going on hikes with their 14 year old Yorkie, Teddy.

Kels teaches art through drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, installation, collage, embroidery, cross stitch, and ceramics.

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.

Stacy is a multi-instrumentalist and has been living, teaching, and making music in Brooklyn for years. She is a Wisconsin native, and developed her love of music and curiosity of musical instruments at an early age. Her father was a musician, so there was always vinyl spinning and folks jamming. Drum set in the living room? Sure! Why not! After teaching band in the public schools and privately for years, she made her way to NYC where she continues to teach in private and small group settings.

Stacy offers a fun and exploratory approach to her instruction and tailors lessons to individual learning styles and interests. She understands how powerful music is and is ecstatic to share that with others on a regular basis. The goal is to learn in a safe space where creativity, experimentation, and inspiration can flow freely - while exploring theory, our instruments, and songwriting.

Stacy teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, piano, voice, saxophone, flute, clarinet, voice, bass, drums, and many more.

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.

Sofia is a singer-songwriter, and producer from New York City. Currently studying at the Clive Davis Institute at NYU, Sofia brings her knowledge of the always-changing world of popular music to create a lesson that is dynamic, focused, and derived straight from her experience collaborating in the industry. When she is not writing and producing, you can find Sofia performing at venues throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and The Hamptons. She started writing on guitar and piano when she was 12, developed a passion for musical theatre in high school, and now as a songwriter and producer, blends the two passions into her own style of indie, alternative, pop/rock. As an instructor, Sofia aims to grow the child’s confidence in their skills, imagination, and in themselves.

Sofia teaches songwriting on guitar, piano and voice.

Jessie is a performing and teaching artist from Appleton, WI, based in NYC. Her mom signed her up for violin lessons at age four, beginning on a “violin” made of a Kraft Mac and Cheese box. She expanded her studies to include piano, French horn, and voice. Jessie considers herself a multi-hyphenate artist with experience in theatre, opera, choral work, music directing, and training in a variety of instruments. She holds a degree in Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

In addition to writing her own music, Jessie plays fiddle and sings backing vocals in a folk-rock band. The band frequently plays venues in Manhattan and Queens. Jessie’s teaching style focuses on intertwining the elements of creativity, musicality, technique, and authenticity. She believes all individuals deserve a safe space to experiment and express themselves through their artistry.

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

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.

Kirsten is an Astoria-based classically trained pianist and singer, who branched out into most genres, including pop/rock, rock n roll, and country. Also a singer/songwriter and an actor...she loves a little bit of everything! Her work with young artists has spanned theater workshops, after-school programming, musicals, dance and more! She is a supportive and fun-loving teacher, and strives to give each student creative freedom and confidence.

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

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.

Daniel likes to custom tailor his music lessons to each individual student. With a deep knowledge of theory, reading, writing and recording, he will make sure you get exactly what you need out of every lesson. Daniel has a bachelors degree in Music Technology from UMBC with an emphasis in voice. He has had students of all age ranges and abilities. His band has been featured on Billboard Magazine and his songs have been on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist twice. Daniel is creative, friendly, and extremely patient.

Daniel teaches songwriting, recording, guitar, voice, piano, bass, drums, ukulele, and saxophone.

Leah is a singer, actress, musician and songwriter originally from Detroit, Michigan. Leah first fell in love with performing when she starred as a flower in her first grade production of How Does Your Garden Grow? Her passion for the stage led her to Elon University where she earned her BFA in Music Theatre. Since then, Leah has traveled the world performing with credits including Disney Cruise Line, national tour of The Sound of Music, international tour of Sister Act, and numerous regional theaters. As a teacher, Leah believes successful lessons are centered on building confidence and tapping into joy. She especially enjoys working with children as they are naturally artistic and loves growing creatively with them. "Music has brought abundant joy and purpose to my life and I want to inspire young performers to chase their dreams!”

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

Maralisa is a Bay Area born, Brooklyn based singer, songwriter and voice/piano teacher a graduate from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where she received her BFA in Vocal Performance. She has been teaching privately for over six years and loves working with students of all ages, specializing in developing tonality, artistic aesthetic and identity, honing emotionality and vulnerability through songwriting and performing, and learning the tricks of the trade (building a band, marketing, recording and more!). Through her experience teaching younger students, she has found great joy in contributing to the wonder and curiosity of young minds in their journey of discovering music.

Maralisa teaches songwriting on voice, piano and ukulele.

Gloria is a vocalist, actor, pianist, and educator. Gloria is so passionate about teaching, that she wrote a whole cabaret about it called Back to School. She has 7 years of professional teaching experience in both classroom and individual settings, including several years teaching in Bronx public schools, three and a half years as artistic director of The Washington Heights Choir School, and more than ten years teaching private lessons to students of all ages. Gloria has a masters in vocal performance from The Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, and performs professionally on film and stage.

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

Lily is a violin-loop pedal and vocal performer/composer who likes to get everyone to play! She plays a 5 string violin, guitar, piano, and is beginning to teach herself drums (so she remembers what it's like to be a student). In her home town of Los Angeles, she volunteered in a program bringing an after school classical music program to underprivileged kids. Through that program, she has seen first hand how music can uplift anyone, no matter the obstacles. Lily plays with lots of bands in the DIY music scene and composes for dance and theater works. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence, she believes in the universal language of picking up things and making sounds with them!

Lily teaches songwriting on violin, guitar and voice.

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.

Isabelle is a warm, collaborative, and fun teacher living in Brooklyn! She has been teaching since 2017 in New York, Indonesia, and Spain. Her favorite way to build and express human connection is through music. It’s very important to her to get to know each student personally with presence, patience, active listening, and encouragement. Her goal is to make each child feel cared for and confident.

Isabelle's songwriting journey has been healing, therapeutic, and empowering. Her strong choral music background since childhood made her realize that attuning a group of people’s pitch, rhythm, and breathing in order to produce sound as one builds a special type of bond. She believes that stories (which we can tell in songs!) are what make us human, and all of us are born creative! Art allows our spirits a type of freedom that is vital to our wellness.

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

Paige is a dancer/ singer/ actress based in New York and loves sharing her passion for all things music. She grew up in a musical household, her mother being an elementary music teacher, which allowed her to not only earn an early education in music & piano, but was also constantly surrounded her with music and dance, greatly shaping her life passions & goals. She loves teaching and working with kids to share her passion for the arts, and has worked in child care and education for over 10 years. Paige's lessons are fun and engaging, including games and songs to help learn and apply the basics of music theory and music composition.

Paige teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

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.

Michaela received a BFA in Jazz Vocal Performance from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music as well as a BA in Social Inquiry from Eugene Lang College in New York, NY. Michaela began teaching music lessons in 2009 - her focus was and has continued to be on vocal technique, health and performance with clients ranging in age from 4 to 60. She has worked in New York City public schools through various arts programs including Brooklyn Philharmonic's SmartArts, and in Nashville, TN at Nashville Music Academy and Mobile Music Academy.

Combining both of Michaela's degrees, her topics can range from strictly music based to having a broader focus including caring for yourself, nurturing self-esteem and using music and one's voice as a creative outlet and a vital, healthy source for expression.

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

Brian is a piano/vocal instructor with over a decade of professional experience, most notably as a music director, conductor, live performer and instructor. His foundation begins with over 30 years of classically-trained piano, and more than 20 years of voice. Brian has taught students across a wide range of ages and levels, including the Princeton University Collegiate Summer Theater program and The Ritz Theatre Children's Summer program. As a former Nashville-based touring musician, Brian performed with major US award-winning artists across many genres and for notable events hosted by individuals throughout the sports and entertainment industries.

Brian is currently attending the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College pursuing a Bachelor's of Music degree in Music Education. As a teacher, he brings his enthusiasm and passion for music in an effort to create a stimulating and individualized learning environment.

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

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.

Aaron is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Albany, New York. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he has been working professionally in NYC for the past 7 years. A sought after drummer in the club and musical theatre scene, Aaron has toured nationally and internationally with the Tony award winning musicals Kinky Boots, Elf, and Two On Tap, as well as various bands, artists, and cabaret acts. Aaron’s playing can also be heard in the Hollywood film The Choice, as well as the Amazon documentary, Fathers of Football. Aaron has been featured in the legendary New York Songwriters Circle at the Bitter End in NYC. He is a founding member of the Astoria Songwriters Collective. He currently is composing a new musical called CODA. Their team is currently part of the Theatre Now New York: National Music Writers Group. Aaron’s teaching style brings a positive outlook on ALL styles of music, providing an environment for students to feel comfortable expressing their opinions and ideas.

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

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.

Carson is a classically trained composer and violinist. She received her Bachelor’s in Music Composition at The Catholic University of America. To continue her studies, she attended George Mason University for her Master’s in Music Composition.

While composing, she focuses on the texture and balance possibilities from the ensembles for which she is writing, in order to create music with interesting contrasts and harmonies. In her teaching approach, Carson likes to focus on establishing a good technical foundation while also developing skills for musical expression and creativity.

Carson teaches songwriting on violin.

Meet Emily, a dedicated music educator with a passion for fostering the next generation of musicians. With a deep-rooted passion for preserving the tradition of music education, she draws inspiration from their own childhood music education experiences. Committed to instilling a love for music in her students, Emily strives to create a nurturing and engaging learning environment where young musicians can flourish and develop their skills. Join her on a musical journey filled with creativity, discovery, and the joy of making music come alive.

Emily teaches songwriting on piano, guitar, and ukulele.

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.

Nicole has been singing and writing songs for as long as she can remember (the first one may have been at age 3!) She grew up in New Jersey, and moved to NYC in 2016 to study contemporary music and creative writing at The New School. Nicole writes and performs indie folk music under the name Pearla, which has brought her to stages at Luck Reunion on Willie Nelson’s ranch, SXSW, Nelsonville Music Festival, and more.

She has dedicated the past 5 years of her life in New York, not only to write and perform her own music, but also to teach children how to find their own creative voices and make music of their own. She has worked with preschool classes as well as one-on-one at-home private lessons. She truly believes that we are all artists in this world, and her goal is to help bring out that unique spark in each artist. Her approach is playful, intuitive, exploratory, and totally child-driven. She loves meeting Blue Balloon musicians big and small and loves getting to know what makes them who they are!

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

Maddy is a compassionate, energetic, and inspiring teacher who uses her optimistic outlook to help kids channel their creative energy in fun and exciting ways. She has been drawing and creating all her life. She takes full advantage of her hometown of NYC, has studied at Pratt, Parsons, SVA, and is a fellow at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. She started an outdoor arts and crafts class for elementary students during the Covid lockdown to help transform an otherwise trying ordeal into an uplifting experience. She loves being part of the Blue Balloon family and can’t wait to work with new families.

Maddy teaches art.

Benjamin is an actor and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, Canada. He grew up with all sorts of different instruments in his house, and as a result, plays a wide assortment of different instruments!

Benjamin received his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Theatre from Oklahoma City University, and now lives in Manhattan with his wife after immigrating to the United States in August of 2021.

Benjamin’s favorite thing about teaching is giving children the same tools to express themselves that he has built his entire life around.

Benjamin teaches songwriting on guitar, ukulele, voice, bass, and mandolin.

Luis is a Dominican-American guitarist, composer and improviser who comes from several musical traditions including jazz, pop, avant-garde and Latin American styles. In addition to having performed alongside distinguished artists like Tony Arnold, Aisha Syed-Castro, Rafael Solano, Samuel Torres and Felle Vega, Luis has received awards from Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, IBLA, Music Teachers National Association, The American Prize and New Music On The Point. Luis is the president and co-founder of Institute for Music Evolution (I.M.E.), a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a community of critical artistic thinkers through public concerts, masterclasses, music intensives and philosophical discussions.

Luis teaches songwriting on guitar, piano, and ukulele.

Gabriela is a singer-songwriter and actress in NYC. She studied Music Theatre at Elon University in beautiful North Carolina. One of her most favorite experiences as an actor was playing Princess Jasmine in the Aladdin Musical for Disney Cruise Line. A very patient and heart first human, she loves connecting with children and humans so much through the most special language of music. She and her fiancé, fellow Blue Balloon teacher, Patrick, are in a band called Gab and Pat. They are working on recording their album as we type! :)

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

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.

Catey is a singer-songwriter, pianist and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, Catey grew up studying classical piano and voice and later attended Berklee College of Music for jazz voice and composition. She is the front-woman of indie-jazz band that has toured with and performed alongside Grammy-nominated artist, Becca Stevens. Under her own name, Catey has independently released an EP of her original music in 2018 as well as her debut album.

As a voice and piano teacher, Catey strives to create an environment where students can be confident in their personal authenticity while making sure lessons are productive, fun, and engaging. Catey emphasizes healthy technique and understanding basic music theory so that students can easily dive into any genre. Her strong classical foundation on piano and voice combined with her performance experience in contemporary styles such as jazz, folk, and rock will help students become well-rounded musicians

Catey teaches songwriting on piano and voice.

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.

Rachel is a singer-songwriter and fiddler originally from Chicago now living in Nashville. She has multiple releases under her own name as well as with her band 10-String Symphony. She has played fiddle for numerous other artists including Kacey Musgraves and Winnipeg folk band Oh My Darling. Well versed in a variety of fiddle traditions including Old-Time, Bluegrass, Scottish and Canadian styles, Rachel is a versatile and dynamic fiddle player.

Originally from Chicago, Rachel is a winner of the Midwestern Fiddle Championships as well as a two time winner of the Illinois State fiddle Championship and a second place winner of the 2012 Nashville Grand Masters Fiddle Championship in the “Traditional Styles” category. Her love for folk and acoustic music inspired a move to Nashville in 2008, where she earned degrees in Music and Anthropology at Vanderbilt University.

Rachel teaches songwriting on fiddle/violin and guitar.

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.