Tristan McKay Piano StudioHi there! I am a Brooklyn-based piano teacher, performer, and scholar with over a decade of teaching experience. I am equally at home working with children and adults, and at levels ranging from complete beginner to aspiring professional. I specialize in classical music, but also teach popular styles.
My lessons cover more than the basics of piano performance. I work with my students to create short and long term goals that cater to their individual interests. I believe that the most capable pianists at any age possess a wide variety of musical abilities, and so I also incorporate music theory, practice techniques, and sight reading skills into my lessons. I host two recitals a year, where students can perform in notable venues such as The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. I hold a PhD in Piano Performance from New York University, as well as a Masters of Music from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelors of Music from NYU. I am currently on faculty at SUNY New Paltz where I teach piano, music theory, music criticism, and music history. I am also a music critic for I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, an award-winning multimedia hub for living music creators. •• Lesson Plans •• For beginner children, I use the Faber Piano Adventures series. I teach children as young as 4 years old, though I generally recommend starting at 5. I create a personalized lesson plan for each student so that we can celebrate their strengths while building up the more challenging areas. Some examples of individualized study include extra note reading practice with flash cards and games, improvisation and composition, scales and finger exercises, and music theory/analysis. For beginner adults, I use the Alfred Basic Adult Course. This accelerated method book helps us move quickly to learning about chords, melody and accompaniment, and enough music theory to play a variety of styles. I supplement this book with other musical interests of the student, such as pop/rock pieces, composition, music theory, etc. For intermediate to advanced students, we generally work on several pieces at once from contrasting styles. This includes pieces from different eras of classical music (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, Contemporary) as well as other interests of the student such as popular music. I have worked with students to prepare for ABRSM and NYSMMA exams, audition for performing arts high schools and college programs, and present solo recitals. •• Teaching Philosophy •• When learning a piece, it's tempting to just get the notes and stop there, but that is only half the battle. What so many self-taught pianists miss out on is cultivating true musicality. I work with students of all ages and levels to bring out their individual artistry through informed and personal interpretations of each piece we work on, whether in method books or with standard classical repertoire. With my students I am always patient, kind, and encouraging. It is a long journey to master an instrument like the piano; I think of myself as a mentor rather than a strict taskmaster. I meet students where they are, and keep in mind that everyone comes to the piano with different abilities and experiences. •• Remote Studio •• Since COVID-19 hit, I moved my studio fully online (FaceTime, Skype, Zoom). My students have continued to make great progress, and I have been able to offer more lesson times and be more flexible with scheduling make up lessons. I now teach out-of-state students as well. You do not need a fancy home setup to begin online lessons--just a phone or tablet placed near the piano! •• Contact •• If you're interested in learning more about lessons through my studio, I'd love to hear from you! Please tell me about yourself (or your child)--have you had experience with the piano or another instrument before? I'd also like to know if you have any particular goals or interests with the instrument (such as learning a specific song, genre, or skill). Please contact me at tristan.mckay@gmail.com to schedule your free consultation session! |
Photos: Studio Recital at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (New York)
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Testimonials
"I would highly suggest Tristan, especially as an adult beginner looking for no-judgment lessons." – William E.
"Tristan deserves the highest rating that I can give! My 5 year old started virtually with him 3 months before she turned 5 and he is so patient, fun, and connects with her so well even through video. She is excited to practice each week and looks forward to her lessons and is making the kind of progress that blows my mind!" – Amelia S.
"Tristan is a true professional who cares about your child's development and progress. He has really connected with my children and approaches their different learning styles with ease. His lessons are organized, focused and he is in tune to my children's capabilities- he will push them but not over do it so the lessons are always enjoyable. He is patient and reassuring, they both really enjoy working with him." – Nicole L.
"Taking lessons with Tristan over the past year has been one of the most rewarding hobbies I've revisited as an adult. All through elementary, middle, and high school I studied piano with weekly lessons and then played occasionally in college. For the past ten years, though, I really didn't touch it at all. I found it hard to stay in the habit of playing because the kind of music I wanted to study was a little too difficult to attack on my own, and I had no discipline without a teacher. With Tristan, not only am I motivated to practice throughout the week, but he's also coached me on techniques of play -- ways to work out fingerings, chunking the minutes I practice to focus on a few measures at a time, studying a piece to bring out its musicality -- that have brought me to new levels of skill & maturity with the instrument." – Laura B.
"Tristan is an incredible piano teacher. My daughter has been studying with him for over a year and has found a new level of excitement and commitment under his tutelage. He challenges her, encourages her, makes it fun, and is always on time. During Covid, when the lessons moved to online, my daughter still enjoys and learns from the lessons virtually. He organizes wonderful recitals with all of his students and is easy to communicate with. He is also an overall trustworthy and kind person, someone I am happy to have in my daughter's life, and in mine as well. Really, I couldn't be happier." – Karen W.
"Working with Tristan has been fantastic. He's an engaged, thoughtful, hardworking presence, and our daughter has learned a great deal from him & continues to grow as a musician and as a music-lover." – Anselm B.
"I'm an adult piano student and composer, working on my own project but also learning medium-to-advanced 20th-century repertoire including Prokofiev, Poulenc, and Shostakovich. Tristan was initially recommended to me because he is a superb performer of new piano music, a range of experience that most piano teachers don't have. Working with him, I discovered that he was just as insightful about older music. Tristan's approach to the piano is based on identifying and working through challenges, both technical and expressive: how to play a passage to bring out the musical intent I wanted. He was always ready to offer alternative approaches for different musical goals, and he never shied away from trying out a passage himself to find the most effective way to play it--which was especially valuable when I had written the passage myself! With Tristan, the focus is on repertoire, not on endless exercises. And it's on solutions that are both technical (hand and body position and technique) and musical/expressive, not just on one or the other. I count myself extremely lucky to have worked with him, and I'm unambiguously a better pianist for it." – Marlon F.
"Since 2012, Tristan has been the piano teacher to all three of our children starting at the age of 5. Tristan's command of music theory coupled with his academic background has been instrumental to our children's music education. His instruction is adaptive and yet still structured and thorough. He encourages them to explore different pieces and makes sure that they are properly challenged and motivated along the way. As a result, they are all very active in a broad spectrum of performing arts - in the choir, jazz band, theater, etc. In addition, the focus and discipline that they have developed over the years playing the piano have clearly helped them in other subjects and they have all academically thrived throughout elementary, middle, and high school. The children truly look forward to their Monday afternoon lessons and we have been very lucky to have him with us all these years." – Farid M.
"Tristan has been teaching our two children piano for several years and they have shown remarkable progress in their skills thanks to his guidance. He is extremely knowledgeable in music theory and knows how to inspire the kids to take on challenges and perform to the best of their abilities. He is good about mixing traditional/classical pieces with more contemporary one to keep the kids engaged. Additionally, he is a warm and friendly presence but we appreciate the way he keeps the kids on track and offers candid feedback when they are falling behind and not living up their potential. During the pandemic, his virtual lessons have been highly effective and provided our kids with a desperately needed diversion." – Brett L.
Please contact me at tristan.mckay@gmail.com to schedule your free consultation session!
"Tristan deserves the highest rating that I can give! My 5 year old started virtually with him 3 months before she turned 5 and he is so patient, fun, and connects with her so well even through video. She is excited to practice each week and looks forward to her lessons and is making the kind of progress that blows my mind!" – Amelia S.
"Tristan is a true professional who cares about your child's development and progress. He has really connected with my children and approaches their different learning styles with ease. His lessons are organized, focused and he is in tune to my children's capabilities- he will push them but not over do it so the lessons are always enjoyable. He is patient and reassuring, they both really enjoy working with him." – Nicole L.
"Taking lessons with Tristan over the past year has been one of the most rewarding hobbies I've revisited as an adult. All through elementary, middle, and high school I studied piano with weekly lessons and then played occasionally in college. For the past ten years, though, I really didn't touch it at all. I found it hard to stay in the habit of playing because the kind of music I wanted to study was a little too difficult to attack on my own, and I had no discipline without a teacher. With Tristan, not only am I motivated to practice throughout the week, but he's also coached me on techniques of play -- ways to work out fingerings, chunking the minutes I practice to focus on a few measures at a time, studying a piece to bring out its musicality -- that have brought me to new levels of skill & maturity with the instrument." – Laura B.
"Tristan is an incredible piano teacher. My daughter has been studying with him for over a year and has found a new level of excitement and commitment under his tutelage. He challenges her, encourages her, makes it fun, and is always on time. During Covid, when the lessons moved to online, my daughter still enjoys and learns from the lessons virtually. He organizes wonderful recitals with all of his students and is easy to communicate with. He is also an overall trustworthy and kind person, someone I am happy to have in my daughter's life, and in mine as well. Really, I couldn't be happier." – Karen W.
"Working with Tristan has been fantastic. He's an engaged, thoughtful, hardworking presence, and our daughter has learned a great deal from him & continues to grow as a musician and as a music-lover." – Anselm B.
"I'm an adult piano student and composer, working on my own project but also learning medium-to-advanced 20th-century repertoire including Prokofiev, Poulenc, and Shostakovich. Tristan was initially recommended to me because he is a superb performer of new piano music, a range of experience that most piano teachers don't have. Working with him, I discovered that he was just as insightful about older music. Tristan's approach to the piano is based on identifying and working through challenges, both technical and expressive: how to play a passage to bring out the musical intent I wanted. He was always ready to offer alternative approaches for different musical goals, and he never shied away from trying out a passage himself to find the most effective way to play it--which was especially valuable when I had written the passage myself! With Tristan, the focus is on repertoire, not on endless exercises. And it's on solutions that are both technical (hand and body position and technique) and musical/expressive, not just on one or the other. I count myself extremely lucky to have worked with him, and I'm unambiguously a better pianist for it." – Marlon F.
"Since 2012, Tristan has been the piano teacher to all three of our children starting at the age of 5. Tristan's command of music theory coupled with his academic background has been instrumental to our children's music education. His instruction is adaptive and yet still structured and thorough. He encourages them to explore different pieces and makes sure that they are properly challenged and motivated along the way. As a result, they are all very active in a broad spectrum of performing arts - in the choir, jazz band, theater, etc. In addition, the focus and discipline that they have developed over the years playing the piano have clearly helped them in other subjects and they have all academically thrived throughout elementary, middle, and high school. The children truly look forward to their Monday afternoon lessons and we have been very lucky to have him with us all these years." – Farid M.
"Tristan has been teaching our two children piano for several years and they have shown remarkable progress in their skills thanks to his guidance. He is extremely knowledgeable in music theory and knows how to inspire the kids to take on challenges and perform to the best of their abilities. He is good about mixing traditional/classical pieces with more contemporary one to keep the kids engaged. Additionally, he is a warm and friendly presence but we appreciate the way he keeps the kids on track and offers candid feedback when they are falling behind and not living up their potential. During the pandemic, his virtual lessons have been highly effective and provided our kids with a desperately needed diversion." – Brett L.
Please contact me at tristan.mckay@gmail.com to schedule your free consultation session!