Piano Lessons by Ray Burghardt

of Music

Tel: (646) 946-6424
Email: rayburg88@gmail. Scroll way down for Three Lists:

LIST 1: My Performing Experience
LIST 2: Schools Commonly Attended by my
Students
LIST 3: My Recently Composed
Arrangements



MY METHOD: A CREATIVE YET STRUCTURED APPROACH TO LEARNING THE PIANO

VARIETY OF MUSIC:

My primary goal is to engage the student. I want my students to be excited about what they play. I don't use method books; but instead, I have developed a course of study that draws upon all kinds of repertoire: contemporary and classic pop hits, jazz tunes, Broadway selections, movie themes, and great classical melodies as well. I look for good piano arrangements, but many times they are inadequate; so I compose my own. Once a year in late May, I hold a student recital at the Madison Public Library. All of my students are welcome to participate if they wish. To get an idea of the variety of music they play, see PHOTOS, click on to the 2014 RECITAL PROGRAM or to the 2021 RECITAL PROGRAM on ZOOM and take a look. (In general, as the programs proceed, the level of playing advances.) All the categories of repertoire that I mentioned above, are represented in the program. You will also notice how my own arrangements are mixed in with others. CUSTOMIZATION:

Frequently, my students make their own requests, and I am more than happy to create arrangements for them of their favorite songs. I tailor the arrangements to their level of play-- actually, slightly beyond. The pieces are designed to present pianistic challenges that have to be overcome to get to the next level. At whatever level an arrangement is set, it has to sound great and play well. See LIST 3 below for a list of arrangements I have recently composed at my students' request. MAKING PROGRESS:

BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE LEVELS:

The primary challenge in piano playing is to get the two hands to play independently. I make sure that my students begin developing this ability right from the start. This provides a foundation for what lies ahead when they will encounter progressively more complex patterns in the interplay between the hands. As they advance, the left hand in particular will become gradually more engaged and more acrobatic, and this has to be coordinated with what the right hand is doing. To see what I mean, click on to the video: MY BEGINNER TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL STUDENTS PLAY. In this video, my students play a variety of music that I arranged for them. These clips were taken from different recitals. As you scroll from one performance to the next, the level as well as the age of the students advance. It is also of vital importance that my students learn to read music. To develop this ability, the process needs to start right from the beginning. When my students first sit down to play, I position their hands in the middle of the keyboard, and assign them pieces to play that use just a few notes. Once they become familiar with these notes, I assign them new music adding on one note at a time. This way, they are not overwhelmed, and can absorb what they learn. Over time they get to know all the notes. ADVANCED LEVELS:

When my students start getting advanced (and if I think they will be receptive), I will formally introduce them to the system of scales. This gives them a deeper understanding of the structure of music, and it reinforces the finger patterns that are now being commonly used in their pieces. But even at this point in their development, nothing changes in my approach. I continue to draw from a wide variety of music and make arrangements when necessary to find pieces that not only appeal to each student's personal taste, but that also expose each student to a variety of advanced techniques, styles, and ways of using the keyboard. Click on to the video: MY ADVANCED STUDENTS PLAY. In this video, three of my advanced students play very different styles of piano music. If any of my advanced students are interested, I will also teach them how to play popular music by chords, and will even introduce them to the rudiments of jazz improvisation. WORKING TOGETHER:

Whatever challenges the student faces at the keyboard, I enjoy working together to meet those challenges. If something is difficult to play, there is a always a reason why, and I have plenty of techniques at hand to help the student work through any problem. PRACTICAL MATTERS:

Anyone who would like to learn to play is welcome to study with me. For beginners, there is no problem starting out on a small electronic keyboard. The youngest age at which I start a student is 6 years old (although I make exceptions). At the other end of the spectrum, I also teach adults-- even those who are learning to play for the first time. I meet with my students once a week in their home for lessons and they are 1/2 hour long. (Sometimes students schedule extra time.) My students have a set time each week for their lessons, but I am flexible and will always try to accommodate scheduling conflicts. RATES:

I charge $50 for a 1/2 hour lesson, and drop my rate by $5 for every additional 1/2 hour. So, for example:

One 1/2 hour lesson = $50

Two 1/2 hour lessons (1 hour in total) = $50 + $45 = $95

Three 1/2 hour lessons (1&1/2 hours in total) = $50 + $45 + $40 = $135

IN CLOSING:

I find that most children are naturally drawn to music. Learning the piano by playing the music you love is a wonderful way of cultivating this interest, and it gives a child the best chance to develop a lifelong attachment to the instrument. For my students, piano-playing is an extra-curricular activity. They play for their own enjoyment. This is true even of the advanced students in the video. These three young people lead very full lives. Their academics are a priority, but they also play sports, and they have social lives as well. They are not practicing hours a day, but they want to keep on playing, and they make a consistent effort. A large percentage of my students play well into or through high school. Whatever ability these students have attained is hard-wired into their brains, and the piano will always be available to them as an outlet for the rest of their lives. CONTACTING ME:

If what I offer as a piano teacher interests you, and you have questions or would like to explore possible lesson times for your children, please feel free to contact me. (My contact information is at the top of the page.) Also, if you would like to meet me, I would be happy to visit with you. I could give you a close-up look at what I do, and your children would have the opportunity to meet me as well. LIST 1: PERFORMING EXPERIENCE:

1) FOURTH UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY
(A Unitarian Universalist Congregation)
160 Central Park West at 76th St. New York, NY 10023

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF MUSIC:
September, 2007- September, 2008
June, 2006- September, 2006
January, 2000- November, 2000
October, 1998- May, 1999

REGULAR SUBSTITUTE FOR THE MUSIC DIRECTOR: 1994- Present

DESCRIPTION: Managing this remarkably eclectic music program allowed me the opportunity to perform solo piano works by over 50 classical composers and to play so much other music as well, accompanying singers and instrumentalists in all styles of music (popular, jazz, spirituals, classical).

2) ESSEX FELLS COUNTRY CLUB
219 Devon Rd. Essex Fells, NJ 07021

PIANIST IN THE DINING ROOM: 1993-1997
I played once a month on Saturday nights. PIANIST IN ANNUAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON RECITALS: 1994-2006

For these variety shows in the living room, I played solo classical piano music and accompanied singers in the Great American Songbook.

3) THE MANOR
111 Prospect Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052

PIANIST IN THE DINING ROOM: 1988-1993
I played 5 nights a week.

4) ADDITIONAL PERFORMING

Over the years, I have played numerous private parties, weddings, memorial services, and ordinations. LIST 2: SCHOOLS COMMONLY ATTENDED
BY MY STUDENTS

SUMMIT/MILLBURN NJ & VICINITY:
Summit Elementary, Middle, & High Schools
Millburn Elementary, Middle, & High Schools
Kent Place School
Newark Academy
Oak Knoll School
Pingry School
St. Patrick School

MORRISTOWN/MENDHAM NJ & VICINITY:
Morristown Elementary, Middle, & High Schools
Mendham Borough & Township Elementary & Middle Schools
Mendham High School
Assumption School
Delbarton School
Gill St. Bernard's
Hebrew Academy of Morris County
Morristown-Beard School



LIST 3: RECENTLY COMPOSED
ARRANGEMENTS

I tailor each arrangement to the level of the student making the request. The arrangements listed below range in difficulty from Beginner to Intermediate level.

“Love Story” by Taylor Swift

“Jerusalem of Gold” by Naomi Shemer

“Piano Man” by Billy Joel

“Nearer My God to Thee” by Sarah F. Adams

“Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison

“Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis

“The Wind Beneath My Wings” by Arif Mardin

From the movie “The Sound of Music” by Richard Rodgers:
1) Climb Every Mountain”
2) My Favorite Things

“21 Guns” by Green Day

“Waving Through a Window” from the show “Dear Evan Hanson” by Pasek & Paul

“Riptide” by Vance Joy

“Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri

“Under My Thumb” by The Rolling Stones

“Time to Say Goodbye” by Francesco Sartori

“Believer” by Imagine Dragons

“Be Our Guest” from the movie “Beauty and the Beast” by Alan Menken

Theme from “New York, New York” by Kander & Ebb

From the Broadway show "Hamilton" by Lin-Manuel Miranda:
1) "I'll Be Back"
2) "Dear Theodosia"

"Bennie and the Jets" by Elton John

"How Far I'll Go" from the movie "Moana" by Lin-Manuel Miranda

"It Had to Be You" by Isham Jones

"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Main Theme)" by W.A. Mozart

"7 Years" by Lukas Graham

"Cake by the Ocean" by DNCE

"Sweet Home Chicago" by Robert Johnson

"The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby

"Writing's on the Wall" from the movie "Spectre" by Sam Smith

"Paradise" by Coldplay

"Fearless" by Taylor Swift

"This Is Gospel" by Panic! At the Disco

"Demons" by Imagine Dragons

From the Disney movie"Frozen" by K. & R. Lopez:
1) "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"
2) "In Summer"
3) "Let It Go"

"Hall of Fame" by The Script

"Same Love" by Mary Lambert and Ryan Lewis

"Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce

"The Thief" from the movie "Hugo" by Howard Shore

"A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton

"Three Thousand Miles" by Emblem 3

"Happy" by Pharrell Williams

"This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey