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New York Musician’s Center

The New York Musician’s Center (NYMC) is a music academy in Bellmore, New York, United States, in which musicians of all ages participate in music instruction, performances, master classes, and workshops. The Center operates on Long Island and is most known as NYMC. It has students ranging from ages 4 through adulthood.

History

In November 2006, Talonda Thomas set out to begin a summer music program where kids could take their love of music and explore performance. Knowing that some of the most talented children in New York were not able to get into many music programs, Thomas established the New York Musician’s Center and Cooley Parks Music Inc. to provide children with a performance outlet where they could have fun and their parents could afford. Offering music programs at local Boys and Girls Clubs during their first year, the New York Musician’s Center soon began sending out teachers to students homes for instruction. In summer 2013, the New York Musician’s Center opened a new facility on the South Shore of Long Island. Dr. Talonda Thomas remains the director of education for the New York Musician’s Center and the number of enrolled students studying various styles of music and instruments continues to climb each year.

'''Academics and programs

Admissions'''

Admission to the New York Musician’s Center occurs throughout the year based on availability in each program. The center provides free initial evaluations to determine readiness for musical study. Each new school year welcomes about 100 new students.

'''Programs of study

Group Piano'''

The New York Musician’s Center is well-known as Long Island’s leader in group piano. Through group piano, students as early as age 6 progress with a group of friends, family members, or a group of students already taking lessons. Group piano classes teach students how to read music, write music, play piano classics along with their favorite songs, prepare for NYSSMA, and learn how to play with other people.

Private Instrumental Lessons

Private lessons are offered at NYMC on piano, guitar, string, woodwind, and percussion instruments. One on one instruction is great for early beginners as young as four, advanced players, musicians with special needs, or any person who works best by themselves. We focus on music history, theory, aural skills, note reading and writing, and performance skills in a one-on-one environment. '''

Private Voice Lessons'''

NYMC provides private lessons for young singers and advanced singers with a focus on healthy vocal pedagogy to improve pitch, intonation, breathing, understanding of correct singing technique, sight reading, audition preparation and performance preparation.

Vocal Coaching

The New York Musician’s Center provides vocal coaching for students who are on a professional track to performing. This includes aspiring professional performers of styles such as pop, rock, R&B, music theatre, classical music, and many other genres. Coaches help prepare students for performances, auditions and studio recordings. Additionally, these students work on holistic vocal techniques that promote healthy singing, proper diction, and breathing techniques. Coaches help write music for students, aid the students in their own writing process, and help write arrangements for singers.

Music Enjoyment Classes

Music enjoyment classes are for children ages 4 and up and introduce kids to fun songs that help them learn the basics of musicianship along with teaching them an appreciation for music through performance.

Awards from the New York Musician’s Center

The New York Musician’s Center Lifetime Musician Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship that is awarded annually to twelve students who demonstrate outstanding promise in music performance. The award covers the cost of tuition for private lessons on any instrument or voice and is renewable until the student graduates high school. In this program, students dedicate themselves to building their musical talent, confidence and support for their community. Noteworthy recipients include students such as Kristen Murphy of Bellmore, NY who is well known for her vocal, theatrical abilities and most recently recognized as Long Island’s Reach for the Stars Competition winner in Eisenhower Park.

Bold textFaculty

The center has many noteworthy instructors who work as professional musicians, and instructors within both private and public school systems. The faculty include performers, scholars, and teachers who are certified and hold advanced degrees. In addition, many top musicians and scholars come to the school each year to give master classes and guest lecturers or to serve as visiting artistic directors, and faculty. Over the last seven years the center has been run under the direction of Dr. Talonda Thomas with faculty members such as pianists Jessica Silverman and Cecelia Phillips, soprano Katharine Lui, Guitarist Michael Young, and Bassist Arthur Sadowsky as faculty members. Cellist Kailyn Tropeano and soprano Lauren Jacoby recently joined the faculty.

Facilities

The center’s facility is located in the heart of Bellmore Long Island on Bedford Avenue. The facility includes staff offices, practice, and studio rooms.