Tristan McKay Piano StudioHi, I'm Dr. Tristan McKay!
When I had my first piano lesson at 5 years old, I never could have imagined all the places music would take me. A few decades later, I can now say I've performed at dozens of iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, shared music with audiences on 3 continents, completed a PhD in Piano Performance from New York University, and worked with students at some of the most prestigious conservatories and universities in the world! Today, I continue to share the gift of music through my private studio, where I help people of all ages and levels to master the piano while tackling their own unique goals. Since 2020, my studio has operated exclusively online. Yes, online! By outfitting my studio with professional lighting, multiple cameras, and excellent sound equipment, I offer consistently high-quality lessons to people across the United States and internationally. Not only is it super easy for students to connect using a laptop or tablet, but online lessons offer unparalleled flexibility with scheduling (and one less thing to commute to). I offer Online Studio Recitals throughout the year so that my students can gain performance experience while celebrating their progress with family and friends around the world. But our biggest event is the annual Studio Showcase Recital in NYC, where students have the unique opportunity to perform like the pros on a 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Learning the piano is a lifelong endeavor, which is why I take pride in teaching students of all ages. In fact, my studio includes kids, teens, college students, adults with work-from-home careers, stay-at-home parents, retired folks, and more. I also enjoy working with students of all experience levels, from the total beginner on up to professional pianists and music educators who are looking to bolster their skills. My methods are backed by decades of experience, but my teaching philosophy is simple: I want to truly understand your background, help you to identify and articulate your goals, and lay out a roadmap to get you there, one step at a time. Upon joining my studio I will work with you to develop a personalized curriculum that gets you where you want to be. We will explore short and long term goals that cater to your individual interests and learning style, all while building you into a complete musician. For more information on what lessons might look like for you, check out some of my sample lesson plans below! And when you're ready, contact me at [email protected] to schedule your free consultation today! Sample Lesson Plans (Youth)Beginner Youth
• Learn foundational skills with the Faber Piano Adventures series • Challenge yourself with difficult student-directed "goal pieces" • Build music reading fluency with interactive games • Explore individual interests in composition, improvisation, and music theory • Perform in studio recitals throughout the year Intermediate/Advanced Youth • Build a diverse repertoire with pieces from different eras of classical music • Learn advanced stylistic and interpretive skills • Develop practice strategies to maximize efficiency and independence • Break through to higher levels with difficult student-picked "goal pieces" • Perform in studio recitals throughout the year • Reach new heights with the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program • Audition prep for performing arts high schools and college music programs Sample Lesson Plans (Adults)Beginner Adults
• Learn foundational skills with Faber Adult Piano Adventures • Challenge yourself with difficult student-directed "goal pieces" • Reach new heights with the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program • Explore individual interests in composition, improvisation, and music theory • Perform in studio recitals throughout the year Intermediate/Advanced Adults • Build a diverse repertoire with pieces from different eras of classical music • Learn advanced stylistic and interpretive skills • Develop practice strategies to maximize efficiency and independence • Break through to higher levels with difficult student-picked "goal pieces" • Perform in studio recitals throughout the year • Reach new heights with the Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program Professional and Pre-Professional Adults • Build virtuosic technique and musicality in classical etudes and repertoire • Develop skills and resources to aid in producing your own solo recitals such as programming, booking, marketing, writing program notes, etc. • Learn to use high-level analysis to interpret repertoire in a meaningful way • Build your teaching business with coaching on marketing/branding/curricula • Perform in studio recitals throughout the year Contact me at [email protected] to schedule your free consultation today! |
Welcome to my virtual studio!
2024 Student Showcase Recital at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York
Student performer at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in 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.
Contact me at [email protected] to schedule your free consultation today!
"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.
Contact me at [email protected] to schedule your free consultation today!