The Practice Room

Just keep swimming, just keep singing! 🎤🎶👯‍♀️ did you know that singing naturally releases endorphins? Guaranteed therapy for these Covidian times! We still have remote voice lesson slots available for our fall semester, as well as a wide variety of instruments! Hope everyone is staying sane and don’t forget to let loose and belt it when you feel the urge! 🗣🗣🗣

Besties at TPR! 💕💕💕 We have VERY limited available for in-person lessons, one after school guitar slot is left on Wednesdays 🎸 Register now at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com 💫 Happy Friday, y’all!

Meet Doug Berns! 🤘🤘🤘Doug offers private bass lessons to students of all ages and skill levels, and will also be teaching a remote course called Digital Rock Program this semester on Thursdays from 4:15-5:15! In this course, students will write songs collaboratively, record, and jam out with expert instruction! Key musical concepts will be introduced such as songwriting, rhythm, harmony and improvisation, grounded in examples of rock and roll and other contemporary styles. At the completion of the semester, students will turn their recordings into the band’s own LP! Each student must be enrolled in private lessons in their chosen instrument (with us or elsewhere). Each student must also have a working version of Garageband on their laptop. Limit 6 students.



A maestro of bass and face, NYC native Doug Berns has been holding down the low end across a multitude of musical outfits since the age of 14. He has toured all throughout the United States and the world, bringing his talents to such countries as Japan, Spain, England, Mexico and Jordan. He holds it down for afro-beat heavyweights Antibalas and EMEFE, slammed rock and metal with The YeahTones and Letallis, popped the pop for Toot Sweet and MICKY, and created a brand of his own brand of metallic rock with KTHRTK and DBB. In normal times, you can catch him week in and week out keeping the party going with Big Woozy Band, and grooving the gospel at Abundant Life Church in Brooklyn. He has shared the stage with such revered musicians as Jose James, Lenny Pickett, Billy Martin, Passion Pit, Big Boi and members of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. Doug has taught music privately for 10 years, and is the Rock Band instructor at the Dalton School in New York City.



Register for private bass lessons and Digital Rock Program with Doug for the Fall Semester at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com now!

Meet Yana! 🎸✨ Yana is offering private remote and socially-distanced in person guitar lessons for the Fall Semester, as well as group remote course After-School Beginner Guitar (minimum age 😎 on Tuesdays from 4:15-5:15. In this course, students will learn the foundations such as common chords and strumming patterns, learning the strings and notes on the guitar and playing melodies, developing rhythm and groove and expanding their creativity through improvisation. The course will be concluded with a student concert and will prepare students for the next course of Intermediate Guitar.



Yana is a graduate from the Manhattan School of Music. She is a versatile electric and classical player and known for her ethereal textures and creative guitar work, influenced by modern classical guitar repertoire as well as ambient, noise and free improvisation. She records and performs with a wide variety of art rock, jazz bands and electronic music projects, as well as writing and performing under her own project Echo Moth. She has performed as an improviser, creating soundscapes and textures in collaboration with various musicians and theater companies including “Ask Joseph” by STEPS Theater and “Face/Off” by Sebastian DiNatale (of The Daily Show).



Register for private and group guitar lessons with Yana now at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com!

Hi friends! Thank you again for a wonderful first week back, we are elated to be offering our in-person lessons again, even if things look a little different! We’re excited to introduce the rest of our teachers and give you some additional information on the private lessons and remote group classes being offered this semester!

Sean Spada will be offering private piano lessons for the Fall Semester to all ages and skill levels. Sean is a singer/songwriter and music educator who has performed in NO ICE and CHERCH as well as under his own name as a solo act. He has composed music for films and visual media, most recently contributing to a new virtual reality project from art/tech/game studio Tender Claws. Sean has over ten years of teaching experience in both NYC and NJ. He holds a BA in Music and English from Boston University.

Also, Sean has just released a music video for his song called “Taking It Slow,” which you can check out below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAoVCoLRoH0

Hi folks! We’re opening our doors again in just under a week starting on Monday the 14th! 🎉🎉🎉 We have availability for in-person socially distanced private lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays, and we will also continue offering private remote lessons as well as remote group classes. Check out our website ThePracticeRoomNYC.com for more info on group classes available this semester. We can’t wait to see you!

As we continue to introduce our crew, meet the one and only Sean Atkinson! Sean is offering private piano, uke, guitar, drum and voice lessons for the Fall Semester, both remotely and in-person (voice lessons remote only). He’ll also be continuing crowd favorite Adult Glee Club (remote this semester but still at happy hour 🍹)! This casual 10-week course will form a small chorus, singing student chosen repertoire. Each class will consist of warm-ups, group exercises, and practicing tunes in harmony. A final performance video will be created at the end of the course to celebrate in a Zoom recital with friends and family! No experience is necessary to be a part of this class. Wednesdays at 7pm 🎤

Sean Atkinson is a composer, producer, teacher and multi-instrumentalist based in Brooklyn. He is a member of King Jane and There, There, and has also released solo music under the monikers Sean James and Kingboy. Register now for private lessons and Adult Glee Club with Sean at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com!

Meet The Practice Room’s Vivi Hu! She will be offering private voice, ukulele, piano and flute lessons to students of all skill levels for the Fall Semester, as well as teaching a Teen Uke/Songwriting course (remote). This class will cover songs from Alan Walker, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish and other class selected artists. Students will learn about the process of songwriting and write their own songs as part of the course, creating a finished music video of their own to complete the semester! Basic knowledge of chords and strumming patterns on the ukulele is the only experience necessary to join. If you are unsure if you’re ready, sign up for a few private uke lessons with Vivi!

Vivi Hu is an NYC based singer who specializes in jazz, r&b/soul, and Chinese folk music. She is dedicated to producing, performing, and teaching music that will uplift and soothe. She has lent her talents to several high-profile performances and festivals in both China and the United States including Gulangyu Music Hall in Xiamen, the Summer Music Festival in Shanghai, and the Taihu Midi Festival in Suzhou, as well as the United Nations Headquarters, Flushing Town Hall, Museum of Chinese in America, and Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival in New York City, among many others.

Register for private lessons and group class with Vivi now at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com! She is available for in-person lessons on Mondays in our space.

Our wonderful guitar teacher Jessica Ackerley Guitar will be offering private guitar lessons for the Fall Semester, as well as a few remote group class options! After-School Intermediate Guitar (11yrs and up) will be on Thursdays from 4:30-5:30pm 🎸 Students will learn skills such as barre chords, power chords and advanced strum patterns, tab reading, developing good time and feel and exploring musical ideas through class jam sessions! Jess will also be offering a teen and adult remote course called Music Theory With The Beatles, an introduction to music theory through the study of various Beatles tunes (students will learn basic scales, chord progressions, interval patterns, the blues form and the cycle of 5ths and 4ths). Private guitar lessons will be offered both in-person at The Practice Room and remotely.

A little bit about Jess: Jessica Ackerley is a Canadian born musician, well established in the American rock and jazz scene as a unique guitarist, composer and bandleader. She has worked alongside notable musicians such as Tyshawn Sorey and Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Herbie Hancock, John Zorn) and has performed at established venues such as John Zorn’s The Stone, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Blue Note, as well as touring as both a band leader and sideman throughout Canada and the United States.

Register for private lessons and group classes for the Fall Semester now at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com!
Photo by Peter Gannushkin

Meet Bryan! 🥁💫🎸 Bryan Garbe is a multi-instrumentalist offering remote drum, guitar, and ukulele lessons to all ages and abilities for the Fall Semester! He has been with The Practice Room since the beginning and has been teaching for 15 years. Endorsed by Remo Drum Heads, Vater Sticks, Dream Cymbals and Luna Guitar and Ukuleles.

Bryan has toured internationally with several different groups and has played at noted venues such as Madison Square Garden opening for Bon Jovi and The Beacon Theatre opening for Phillip Phillips with his original rock band, Oak & Ash. Bryan also has years of experience working as a studio and freelance musician around NYC and the LA area.

Register now for private lessons with Bryan at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com! 🎶

Meet our team! 🌟 We’re excited to introduce our teachers this semester and share some information on the group classes and private lessons they’re offering!

Singer/songwriter Maralisa is offering private voice lessons (all levels welcome) and beginner piano lessons for the Fall 2020 Semester. She will also be teaching a remote Teen Glee class on Thursdays from 4:15-5:15 starting Sept 21 🎶🎙 This class welcomes students 12-18 and will include learning new repertoire in the contemporary r&b/pop realm, warm-ups, collaborating on songs as duo and trio, learning lead parts, light a ca****la backgrounds, and creating a final performance video to celebrate the class completion! Group classes run in 10-week sessions from Sept 21 - Nov 16 and registration is now open!

Maralisa has been with The Practice Room since January and has taught privately for over 7 years. She has toured nationally with her band Space Captain and was a member of award winning teen a ca****la group Til Dawn in high school (Marin County, CA). Register for her Teen Glee class or private lessons now at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com 🌸
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WHOOPEEEE!!! 🎉🎉🎉 Enrollment for Fall Semester group classes begins today! 🎶 We are so excited to bring back our Adult Glee Club taught by Sean Atkinson on Wednesdays at 7pm, starting September 26th! This 10-week remote course will include vocal warm-ups, group exercises and practicing our favorite tunes in harmony, with a final group performance video to celebrate the completion of the class and share with friends and family! No vocal experience is necessary. More info including additional adult group classes, after school programs and private lessons at ThePracticeRoomNYC.com 🎈