New York Music Center/New York City Piano Academy

We couldn't be happier with New York Music Center/New York City Piano Academy! My son has been taking lessons here for the past several months, and the experience has been phenomenal. His piano teacher, Ms. Maria, and his online music theory instructor, Ms. Emily, are both absolutely fantastic. Both teachers are incredibly gifted at working with kids and keeping them engaged. My son's progress in music in this program has been amazing to watch, especially relative to his prior lessons. I also really appreciate the academy's flexibility. We've had to utilize their online makeup piano lessons a few times, and I was pleasantly surprised by how seamless and effective the virtual format is. Highly recommend to any parent looking for a great music school!

We feel truly fortunate to have found Ms. Maria Manzano as our daughter’s piano teacher. She is incredibly enthusiastic, and her musical expression and teaching are both precise and inspiring. Since starting lessons with her, our daughter has improved tremendously. After every lesson, she comes home amazed by Ms. Maria’s expressive playing and excited about what she has learned. She can clearly see her own progress, which has greatly boosted her confidence. She is currently challenging herself with a difficult Chopin piece, and thanks to Ms. Maria’s guidance, we can listen with peace of mind as the piece gradually comes together. I believe many parents will understand the reassurance that comes from hearing steady, confident progress. We are so excited to watch her continue to grow and deepen her love for music through piano. We highly recommend Ms. Maria to anyone looking for a dedicated and inspiring teacher. We are also always grateful for the professionalism and kindness of the administrative staff. For anyone looking for a music school in Manhattan, this school is truly an excellent choice.

Ms. María Manzano is a fabulous piano instructor. She is incredibly passionate about music and dedicated to student growth. Within a single lesson I found such notable improvement in my technique due to her very attentive feedback; it felt like magic. I am so happy that I chose this academy to start my piano lessons with. I found NYC Piano Academy to be also very welcoming to beginners of all ages. I am an adult student, but I also see how well the staff at NYCPA teach and care for the children. Additionally, I have been able to meet and observe other musicians at this academy, I really feel like this helps artistic growth and well-being.

I enrolled my son in the full music program with piano lessons and my daughter in the piano program at the New York Music Center. They both had a trial lesson with Ms. Maria Manzano, and I really appreciated that the school allows parents to sit in during trial sessions. This was especially valuable for me, since I have a music background and wanted to observe the lesson myself. I could immediately tell that Ms. Manzano is highly educated and exceptionally experienced in teaching. Before choosing this school, we tried trial lessons at three other music schools that also allowed parents to attend. They were all good, but the quality and effectiveness here were on a completely different level. She clearly has many years of teaching behind her, but what impressed me most was her passion, her high expectations, and her fun, engaging approach with kids. It was honestly surprising, and a bit frustrating, to see how much my children learned in just one trial lesson with her compared to many months with previous piano teachers. After five months of learning here, my son took the ABRSM Piano exam and received a “Distinction,” whereas in previous years he had either not passed or only earned a “Pass.” I had assumed my kids simply couldn’t learn any faster, so this experience made us realize how much time and money we had wasted. The school’s customer service is also outstanding, far better than anything we’ve experienced at music schools in NYC or Westchester. They make the enrollment process smooth and welcoming, they are attentive with reminders, and they are very flexible with scheduling if cancellations come up. They always do their best to accommodate us. At their previous school, the cancellation and makeup policies were much stricter, which often caused frustration, so this flexibility has been another benefit. Thank you to the entire team. We definitely recommend this school! 🙌🏻

Our experience at this music school has been excellent. My kids have been taking piano lessons with Maria, and the progress they have made in just a few months has been truly impressive. Maria is thoughtful, methodical, and incredibly kind teacher. She takes the time to ensure they understand not just how to play the notes, but how to read music, build technique and develop confidence. Her structured approach, combined with her patience and encouragement, creates a wonderful learning environment. My children genuinely look forward to their lessons each week, and it's been amazing to see both their skills and their love for music grow. Highly recommended!