Abbey Owens

Name:	Abbey Owens
Location:	Upper Saddle River US 07458
Contact:	Send Abbey Owens a message

Additional Info:	Director, The Piano Academy of Upper Saddle River Who is Abbey Owens? His passion for music, and in particular the piano, began in his early Teens. Having taken piano lessons with several local piano teachers, it soon.became evident he needed more than they could provide. They recommended Professor Remo Taverna, who, at the time, was assistant musical director of the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York. With Taverna his studies included piano, ear training, harmony, counterpoint and performance. He studied with Taverna until entering college. After earning a bachelors degree in engineering and science he entered the work force and continued piano study on his own. With the "passion" growing and piano study progress slowing-he knew he needed guidance. The musical community suggested David Bradshaw and Cosmo Buono, of piano duo fame. Abbey's studies now took a serious turn. With Bradshaw he studied theory, repertoire, pedagogy and performance- with Buono technique and history. After performing a recital at Carnegie's Wiell Recital Hall the "passion" increased to a feverish pitch. Within a few years he entered the graduate music program at Rutgers University. While pursuing his masters degree in musicology at Rutgers he continued piano and pedagogy studies with Bradshaw and Buono. He began teaching locally and discovered a new "Passion"-Teaching! And now he has the joy of instilling his pupils with the same passion for music he possesses. He has now been teaching for nearly 20 years to children, teens and adults, beginners to advanced. Since each student comes to the studio with a variety of musical goals; enjoyment, school musical activities, college prep., repertoire, competitions, etc. His teaching approach then, is strictly tailored to the students needs, there is no "Method" used. The studio offers lessons in piano, theory, harmony, counterpoint, sight-reading, ear training, performance, music history. His objective is not primarily to develop concert artist or composers but to encourage and enable a musical passion and appreciation in each and every student. He is located in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. He teaches at his studio only. Studio Location: 24 Hillside Ave. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 Phone: (201) 327-9135 He is a member of: Professional MTA of NJ Passaic Valley MTA Music Teachers National Assoc. New Jersey MTA The Leschetizky Assoc. Suburban Communitv Music Center
Fees:	$ 65.00 Dollars Per Hour STUDIO POLICY Dear Parents & Students, I have put this package together with hope that it will be an informative tool for you to reference as needed. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me during non lesson hours. Private music lessons include: Music Theory, Technique, Music History and Composer Biographies; Composition, Listening Library, varied repertoire and opportunities for performance and evaluation. For the ambitious student many recitals, master classes, and auditions will be scheduled for those who wish to participate. All students will be asked to play in at least one recital. Composer Busts will be awarded for 3 recitals and an engraved trophy for 6 or more PVMTA recitals. Lesson Times Lesson times can be arranged for 30 minutes for younger beginners under age 7 only and ¾ hour to 1 hour for all other students. Lessons are available from 3pm to 7pm Monday through Friday. Lesson Fees The lesson fees are as follows: $35.00 for ½ hour; $50.00 for ¾ hour; $60.00 for 1 hour. Fees are due and payable on a monthly basis, at the beginning of each month. Missed Lessons: No refunds will be allowed for missed lesson without a 24 hour notice. In cases of emergency or poor weather, lesson time will be made-up within the month at the convenience of teacher and student. Missed make-up lessons will not be rescheduled. If the teacher cancels a lesson due to an emergency, snow or illness, make ups will be made available. Lesson Etiquette Students should arrive for their lesson on time and "warmed up". For lessons to progress effectively, students must bring all of their current practice material to each lesson including their weekly assignment book. Students should arrive with clean hands and keep their finger nails clean and short enough not to interfere with playing. Recitals Students should plan to participate in at least one recital per year, after the first year of lessons. Recitals provide an excellent opportunity for the student for perform pieces in a friendly and encouraging environment, and to demonstrate their current skill level. See Recital Information Sheet for additional guidelines. Practicing Guidelines General The length of time the student practices is not as important as the kind of practicing the student does. It is better to play each song or exercise repetitively and maybe only work on some of the assignment, instead of running through each piece only once. Minutes given below are shown as a guide so that the proper amount of time can be allotted each day. All students should play for pleasure in addition to practice. In a younger student this may mean only "banging" (i.e.: experimenting with sounds). Others may play their favorite pieces. As pieces are perfected and become part of the student's repertoire, the student should return to these pieces from time to time so he/she might play or perform them upon request. Parents are expected to purchase books and materials such as a metronome when needed. The student’s instrument is to be maintained at its optimum level. Suggested maintenance schedule is as follows tuning every 150 hours of playing, voicing (adjusting the dynamic range ie. Stiffness) every 500 hours and regulating (maintenance of the action) every 1500 hours. The piano should be keep in an environment of 68-78° F. and a Humidity range of 35-50%. You can purchase a humidity gage at Radio Shack. Beginner Ages 4-6 These students should do their theory assignment while it is still fresh in their minds - preferably the same day as their lesson but no more than one day later. Theory is the foundation of the new skill they will be working on. Each piece should be practiced at least 6 times per day. This should take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Beginner Ages 7-9 These students should complete the theory assignment, practice technical skills 6 times per day and practice each piece at least 6 times per day. This should take 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Advanced Beginner / Early Intermediate or Beginner Ages 10 and up/Adult At this stage, students should be able to manage their own practice time and plan time to work on more challenging material. These students should complete their theory assignment, practice scales with the metronome, practice technical skills 6 or more times per day, and practice each piece (in sections then all the way through) as noted in their assignment books, striving for excellence. Practice of 1 hour per day is expected at this level. Intermediate & Advanced As above for 1 ½ - 2 or more hours per day. Technical Skills should be a priority for at least 1/3 of their practice time. Devotion to skills helps to build more advances repertoire.
Will Teach:	Beginners, Intermediate Grades, Advanced Grades, Diploma / Higher Levels, Adult Beginners