offered in person
offered virtually
Please text me at 914-560-6265 and I’ll respond as soon as possible.
Learn Piano 3x to 5x Faster
Hello!
I help serious adult amateur pianists (total beginner through advanced) progress towards their goals as quickly as possible while preserving the highest quality of playing. My students typically accomplish in 6-12 months what would have taken 3-5+ years otherwise.
Not only will you learn how to play with the utmost musicality and expression… you will transform your strategy, mindset, and independence with the most efficient, effective practice methods possible.
Imagine it.
Take a moment now to think of your dream piece or goal piece - the music you’ve always wanted to be able to play at the piano.
If you don’t have one, think of your favorite artists, movies, shows, games, or anything else you love that contains music.
If you could snap your fingers and play any piece in the world instantly… think of what that might be for you.
Did you know it’s possible for us to start working on that piece by the third lesson?
And to be clear, this is not a play-by-ear, chord-based, or pattern-based approach… As you might know, there are methods out there that allow you to play a lot of easy, nice-sounding versions of pieces quite quickly.
Instead, this is learning a real, unsimplified piece of any genre directly from sheet music.
I won’t lie - to play a true goal piece with high-level musicality will take six months to a year to complete. But this piece is one that you normally wouldn’t even start until after several years of method books, scales, theory, and finger exercises!
So, I’m truly not exaggerating when I say that I’ve found a way to help students to learn piano 3x to 5x faster than normal!
Piano Studio of David Chang
My studio is suitable for the serious adult amateur that is seeking weekly, long-term lessons with excellent attendance.
Attorneys, judges, bankers, engineers, politicians, doctors, jewelers, fashion designers, investors, entrepreneurs, other professional musicians, other piano teachers… I’ve taught them all!
Whether the student is an experienced musician or a total beginner that has never read sheet music before, we typically set a goal piece and begin working towards it right away using my unique learning methodologies.
Both Local and Online
Lessons take place either online/remotely or at my home studio in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Over 20 Years of Excellence
I had the unusual opportunity to begin teaching at 13 years old. Even at that time, I found I had an unusual gift for teaching and have created amazing results for students for over 20 years. Although it's rare for me to teach children these days, I have taught as young as 3 years old all the way to students over the age of 80. Regardless of age, ability, or learning style, my methods - which I’ve developed for over 15 years - have a universal power as they are rooted in science and logic.
I recognize that since teaching and performing are completely separate skills, you must be exemplary in both. I received my bachelor's degree in music education from New York University and my master's degree in classical piano performance from Manhattan School of Music.
I have performed at Steinway Hall, Lincoln Center, the Manhattan International Film Festival, and at many other venues throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Both a Steinway Educational Partner and a Thumbtack Top Pro, I also received the Steinway Top Teacher Award in 2022 for my “hard work and dedication to music education” and for “the care and commitment with which [I] approach [my] piano students.” Due to the results my students have experienced, my lessons are nationally in-demand.
Maximize Speed, Quality, and Independence
I teach students how to learn and memorize with maximum speed, quality, and independence so they can make the most out of every moment of their own practice time. Students can then practice in the most efficient, effective way possible even away from the teacher.
I also show students how to develop the utmost awareness of the music; how to attain true virtuosity - speed, accuracy, and control in all situations; how to conquer all technical difficulties; and how to plan even the most intricate and nuanced of musical details.
We do this by going to a level of detail that is almost inconceivable to the average person. We then think and problem-solve in a way that is currently not taught by any other teacher, book, or resource in the world.
Ultimate Practical Performance Training
Playing for yourself is one thing, but performing for friends, famly, and peers is another.
I offer highly specialized performance training for how to handle nerves, how to maintain repertoire, how to perform for anybody on any instrument under any conditions, how to make performance more consistent in general, and how to use performances to continuously boost one’s level.
Joining my studio gives you access to recitals, studio classes, strategic teams, and many other opportunities to perform for others both in person and online. You will also have numerous opportunities to receive feedback from other members of the studio.
Conquer the Impossible
Learn top-level and large-scale strategic planning and thinking for the most complex and intricate of objectives as well as transformational mindset training for motivation, discipline, and the achievement of seemingly impossible goals.
Discover how to think differently from everyone else, solve problems in entirely new ways, completely redesign and rethink every assumption from the ground up, and transform your practicing and life.
Book Your Free Consultation
I would be happy to chat with any interested student for 30-90 minutes at no charge. Simply text me at 914-560-6265 to get in touch!
What Students Are Saying
“I started taking lessons with David in January 2021 and it was by far one of the best decisions that I've ever made. David is not only one of the best music teachers that I've ever had, he's also one of the best teachers that I've had in any subject -ever.
David is a true professional and he's built an amazing studio with students of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. I particularly like the way David indirectly teaches his students to be lifelong learners. In fact, I apply what I've learned from David in several different areas outside of music today. First, he listens to his students. I can attest to this because he listened to the names of the pieces that I wanted to play and he let me choose the piece that I wanted to learn.
His method of teaching is backed by science and his personal experiences as a pianist perfecting his craft. His style is very creative and effective and makes learning the piano collaborative, structured and fun. In a short amount of time I was able to play my first piece Comptine d'un autre ete and starting on my next piece Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
If you are reading this review, you are more than likely looking for a piano teacher or you're on the fence about taking lessons with David. Either way, you have my word that lessons with David will be well worth your time and investment if you're willing to put in the work. David is a hidden gem and you will get his best every lesson. Thank you David for allowing me to be apart of your music world.”
-Anthony C.
“Before taking lessons from David I had played the piano very casually for around 5-6 years without lessons. I wasn’t really improving so I decided to get seek professional training.
I feel so lucky I was able to have David as my teacher. He was able to help me learn Liebestraum no. 3 right from our first lesson. This was a piece I thought I wouldn’t be able to play until I had taken lessons for 5 + years. He was able to help me get about 1/3 of the way through the piece in a month which was much faster than I ever anticipated.
David has his own methodologies that he teaches from which really make all the difference in lessons. From this I was able to learn how to play pieces in a shorter amount of time. His methodologies also make practicing fun and keep things from getting boring.
I was able to learn a lot about musicality. We talked about dynamics, shaping, balance, and voicing. This was something I didn’t know changed the way others hear the piece. It really helped my music sound much more professional.
Overall David is a wonderful teacher and I would recommend him to anyone considering taking piano lessons. He’s got a great talent for helping others get passionate about piano and gain confidence in their skills. David also responded to messages extremely fast which makes communication with him easy.
If I could give him 10/5 stars I would :)”
-Lauren D.
“I was looking for a piano teacher to help me get started again after a 10 year hiatus and I’m so glad I found David! I’m just 6 months, he was able to get me to perfection with my first goal piece. David brings a unique methodology that has helped me advance in my piano playing faster than I ever thought I could. Through my practice with him, I’ve learned more about piano theory, practice techniques, and classical music than I did in ten years of playing as a child. On top of that, David is a pleasure to work with. He’s extremely communicative, punctual, and accommodating. I look forward to my weekly lessons with David and participating in group recitals and studio classes for many seasons to come!”
-Miryam A.
“David is fantastic. He is an amazing teacher and resource, and I unequivocally recommend him.
I played piano for several years growing up but when I started working with David, I hadn't touched a piano in 20 years. Although I had a decent amount of experience, I set modest goals for myself to learn a few intermediate pieces for my own enjoyment. With David's encouragement and instruction I've been able to wildly surpass my own expectations for what I thought I was capable of playing. I've learned my dream piece, Chopin's Ballade No.1, as well as other pieces that were daunting before David helped me learn them (Rachmaninoff's Etude Op. 33 No.4, Chopin Etude Opus 10 No. 9, Bach's Partita #1).
David has a unique approach to helping you learn, memorize, and correct your mistakes. It involves learning sections of pieces in small sets and then stringing them together like a patchwork quilt, rather than trying to practice the whole piece all at once. David also emphasizes learning these smaller sets in reverse, so you practice the ends of measures, which ordinarily get less attention as people usually play from the beginning and then stop when they make a mistake. He also teaches "spaced repetition," which involves practicing areas and then coming back to them later on, which is more effective than repeating the same few measures over and over again. David's approach has helped me learn pieces much more quickly and effectively than I can remember learning them as a kid.
I've also learned so much about the musicality in my playing, more than I ever did growing up. One thing David emphasizes are huge contrasts between loud and soft sections (he says they should be as different as night and day), as well as constant shaping of measures even within loud and soft areas, so that you always hear a rise or fall in volume. These huge contrasts and continuous shaping are what makes music interesting to hear. I can feel how much better my playing sounds when I pay close attention to these dynamics and shaping.
I've also received great advice on technical solutions for difficult pieces. David has suggested several techniques to help me relax my hands and arm, and to avoid holding notes longer than necessary. These technical suggestions were invaluable for helping me with Chopin's etude Op. 10 No. 9, which involves large reaches between notes with the left hand. I often find David can hear things in my playing that I would not be able to pick myself. I find his advice invaluable in spotting mistakes and errors, as well as musical suggestions, that have helped me learn pieces better and faster.
In addition to his lessons, I feel part of a welcoming community of students who form David's studio. He holds studio classes at no cost four times a year where students play for each other and offer advice and suggestions on improving. I look forward to these sessions both to improve my own playing and to encourage other students in the studio. Students of all levels play in studio classes and I have seen David help advanced students and complete beginners.
The studio has recitals twice a year. I never performed my pieces when I played growing up so it was challenging and exciting to perform for an audience. David had lots of great advice for handling the emotional rigors of playing in front of other people under the spotlight. I had the opportunity to play my piece at Steinway Hall in Manhattan for about 60 people which was one of the greatest thrills I've had playing piano. I've now amassed about 40 minutes of repertoire and am working toward putting together a one hour solo program, something I didn't think possible when I started.
David has been a patient and eager teacher. He is easy to reach and responds very quickly when I send him a message. I feel he is invested in my success and wants to see me reach my potential as a pianist.
I feel fortunate to have found David when I was searching for an instructor and I am sure you will too.”
-Jonathan F.
“I've been studying piano with David for about 7 months now, and have had a great experience. I'm an adult "restarter" who took piano lessons as a child and stopped for nearly 30 years before picking back up again. Within a few months, I've learned techniques that I never got from my childhood piano years- shaping, dynamics, balance, and the nuance of different kinds of sounds. He is a very detail-oriented person and held me to a high standard- I kind of wish my past teachers have been this way. Better late than never! The first piece we worked on was my last highest piece as a 7th grader, and within a few lessons I was playing better than I ever did. I also learned his very logical methodology of learning new pieces, which is backed by brain science on how we learn and retain information. He has also helped me improve in all aspects of performance- performing in new situations (new instrument, cold hands, etc.), addressing memory slips and nerves. I'm very shy about performing, and he gave me just enough push to get going. He provides lots of opportunities for students perform in front of each other, in studio classes, and in larger recitals. Nowadays our lessons have shifted to online, and in addition to what we were doing before, we are also working on music theory so I can become a more well-rounded musician. Overall, working with David has opened up my eyes to my own potential and it really motivates me to work harder to become a better pianist!”
Sandy L.
“I started lessons with David in the middle of November of 2019 as a beginner. I've had a strong desire to play the piano for years with some goal pieces I wanted to be able to play one day. Using David's methodology, and with his guidance in just under 10 lessons, I am almost able to play one goal piece I would've never thought I could even attempt this early on. In general David's approach, in my experience so far, is to focus on learning technique and effective practicing, and starts introducing other elements, such as nuanced musicality and theory, on an as needed basis. Additionally He provides / recommends resources, such as books or even apps, for music theory or technique, so the student is empowered to enhance their learning on their own. He is acutely aware of my needs as a beginner, and will focus on areas that will make the most immediate impact to my technique while also ensuring that I am taking the right steps to solidify my understanding of music in the long term. David is deeply invested in the pedagogical process, and has a clear passion for imparting knowledge to others. He is an exceptional teacher, and I would recommend him to anyone who has a passion for playing piano regardless of their skill level.”
-Vincent G.
“I've been learning the piano for about a month now and was fortunate enough to cross paths with David about a week into that journey. In the 3 lessons I've had with him, my competency has progressed to the point where I can realistically tackle the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata, due largely to the comprehensive practice methods I've learned from David and the confidence I've gained from the pace of my growth because of them. Id recommend David to piano players of any level as its apparent just speaking with him that hes a master of his craft and emanates a passion for piano that helps to inspire me to really want to keep improving.”
-Max H.
“Finding David is the best thing that has happened in my pursuit to learn the piano. I am 35 years old and I have tried to learn Piano ON and OFF through in-person and online lessons, but never fully succeeded in learning the pieces I wanted to play. Part of the reason for the past failures was, I had no interest to learn the kinder garden rhymes, which is what most of my instructors in the past have used as way to teach the Piano and slowly progress to your goal pieces.
What really singles out David here is, he breaks this traditional way of teaching and learning piano and he starts the lessons with your goal pieces first. I was definitely doubtful in the beginning about how this is going to work but in a span of just 6 weeks, David made me play my very first goal piece. He accomplishes these superfast results through a ton of proven logical methodologies that he has developed over the years.
All my friends and family are very impressed about what I was able to do in a span of just 6 weeks. I am beyond grateful to have found David. If you are looking to learn piano in the most efficient way possible, David is your instructor. Every single bit of information that you receive from his classes will reshape your piano journey to a whole different level.”
-Karthik K.
“I have been working with David for a few months now and I am so surprised and excited about the amount of progress I have made with him as my instructor in such a short period of time. I've also been enjoying the learning process and I look forward to my lessons each week.
When I started my lessons with David, I had not touched a piano in ~25 years (and I had only played the piano for ~6 months - ~1 year at that time). I presented David with a "goal piece" that was somewhat non-traditional - it's a piece of electronic music that has been transcribed for classical piano. David commented that it might be difficult - typically the type of piece that someone who was far more experienced would play - but was totally game to work with me on it if I wanted to stick with it. His stance is that if his students are willing to embrace his methodology and put in the work, they could be capable of scaling up very quickly. I have found this to be true. I really enjoy David's practical approach to learning the piano - it turns an experience that might otherwise be overwhelming into a manageable process, and I feel like this has allowed me to advance way more quickly than I could have imagined.
One of the other things I really love about working with David is how much he prioritizes the ‘studio community’ and learning from fellow students. I was admittedly a bit skeptical when I first heard about ‘Strategic Teams’ - could one instructor really teach multiple students in the same lesson and provide value to each student? But I have been SO grateful for my team lessons and the studio session with people of various musical backgrounds and abilities. I have learned so much not only from David's commentary, but from the other students who often provide helpful tips on overcoming certain challenges. I also appreciate the times when David asks me to provide constructive feedback about a classmate's playing because it enables me to better understand and articulate the different components that come together to create a strong performance.
David's emphasis on performance has been a game-changer for me - not just in terms of learning the piano but more generally in how I view myself as a person. I have a tendency to laugh nervously and/or harp on my mistakes and have trouble moving past them. But David views making mistakes as part of the learning process and puts a huge emphasis on his students' ability to push through their mistakes and continue through to the end of their performance. During one of our first lessons David said, ‘you need to learn to take yourself seriously as a performer’ as in: don't make excuses for yourself, do the work, but also don't let one mistake define you or make you think that you're not capable of doing this. I think about this not only when I'm playing the piano but when I tackle anything in life that requires that I ‘show up’ for myself.”
-Ariana C.
“I began studying with David with only ~1 year of prior piano experience, which was mostly playing short and simple pieces from a practice book. What attracted me to David was his high expectations of his students, who are expected to pick mature pieces around which he would structure lessons. The end result for me was being able to perform two substantial pieces (a contemporary minimalist piece and a Chopin prelude) at one of the biannual recitals after only 6 months of study, with more additions to my repertoire forthcoming.
I attribute virtually all of my skill as a pianist to David. His particular methodology founded on logical problem solving combined with his qualitative feedback on technique, musicality, performance prep, etc. all contributed to my rapid learning. Beyond the technical parts of his instruction, David is also a compassionate teacher: motivating, responsive, and proactive at building a community where students partake in each others' learning. No matter your experience, if you are truly serious about learning piano, I truly cannot think of a better teacher than David.”
-Abdi D.
“Only took one lesson and I learned more in that hour than I have in years. David is an excellent teacher and he’s a genius in piano theory. Highly recommend. Can’t wait to work with him again in the future.”
-Max K.
“Having the ability to play piano has been a lifelong dream of mine. When I decided to finally begin to make this dream a reality, I chose David as an instructor for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I noticed that his students’ testimonials consistently mentioned rapid and efficient progress. Secondly, after speaking with David, I was impressed with his confidence and ability to quickly establish a rapport. I felt that he would be a trustworthy teacher who was as dedicated to my progress as I was. After studying with David for half a year, I can say with certainty that the hype is real.
David utilizes a logic-based pedagogical method that makes progress easy to attain. Because of his teachings, I became much more confident analyzing sheet music and creating tactics to optimize learning it. I was able to play pieces that I wanted to play (not just exercises from a book), and I could play large sections of these pieces within two weeks. While I have a long way to go, my skills progressed rapidly under David’s instruction.
I cannot recommend David highly enough. He is incredibly professional, responsive, and gifted. It is absolutely no surprise that he is sought after for his services all across the country. If you have any interest in learning to play the piano, you will be in the best hands with David!”
-Lee H.
"I am proud to say David brought music into my life. As a former student, I'm grateful for the lessons I shared with David. He is a wonderful teacher who truly cares about his work and what his students learn from him. He pays attention to small details that have immense impacts on the execution of the music. In addition, David doesn't only care about the music played at the lesson, as he works to help students apply regular and effective practicing times and methods at home. I'm so grateful for the many years I enjoyed music with David's guidance and support. He was an excellent mentor, and I could never have asked for a more wonderful teacher to introduce me to the world of music. I hope to forever carry the knowledge and kindness David brought into my life. Thank you, David!"
-Isabella N.
“I highly recommend David as a piano teacher, especially for adult beginners. He helped me rapidly improve my technical proficiency by having me work on a goal piece immediately while introducing the necessary theoretical knowledge as needed. This approach is great for adult beginners as it allows you have fun playing what you want immediately instead of wasting months on slowly working through beginner pieces. As someone brand new to piano, he was able to coach me into being able to play 1min30s of my goal piece for his studio class within 4-5 lessons. I can also attest to the effectiveness of his methodologies. David teaches you how to break down difficult sections and efficient ways of practicing in order to learn new pieces quickly. In addition, his experience/skill as a teacher was readily apparent in my lessons with him. During one of my one hour sessions with David, I was able to progress past a section I was stuck on in my personal practice for a week. Also, he is also easy to reach for questions outside of lesson hours and will help you develop a plan to achieve your piano goals. If you are in the market for a piano teacher, consider taking a trial lesson (1 hour at a discounted rate) with David to experience his methods firsthand. I was not disappointed and I don't think you will be either.”
-Harry W.
“I started lessons with David in the middle of November of 2019 as a beginner. I've had a strong desire to play the piano for years with some goal pieces I wanted to be able to play one day. Using David's methodology, and with his guidance in just under 10 lessons, I am almost able to play one goal piece I would've never thought I could even attempt this early on. In general David's approach, in my experience so far, is to focus on learning technique and effective practicing, and starts introducing other elements, such as nuanced musicality and theory, on an as needed basis. Additionally He provides / recommends resources, such as books or even apps, for music theory or technique, so the student is empowered to enhance their learning on their own. He is acutely aware of my needs as a beginner, and will focus on areas that will make the most immediate impact to my technique while also ensuring that I am taking the right steps to solidify my understanding of music in the long term. David is deeply invested in the pedagogical process, and has a clear passion for imparting knowledge to others. He is an exceptional teacher, and I would recommend him to anyone who has a passion for playing piano regardless of their skill level.”
-Vincent G.
“I am very pleased to have David as my piano teacher. I commute 1.5 hours to my lessons with him and the long commute is worth every minute to be able to get his expert review and teaching on my piano skills. I’ve been working with David for about 6 weeks and I’ve already been able to work my through playing most of the first page of the Final Fantasy 7 Main Theme. Most instructors would not have bothered to give a complete beginner the time and patience to work through this piece. I’m really glad David has taken me up on the experience, with patience and thoughtful feedback, to learn music I’m interested in.
David has taught me the elements of good form, techniques to learn new music more efficiently, and given me the opportunity to perform in studio classes and recitals. Working with David results in a well rounded experience.”
-Ahmed A.
"The really special thing about David's teaching style is his ability to communicate with his students. During my time under his instruction, it was always a very open conversation about what I wanted to learn next or what kind of teaching style I felt would be most helpful for me (did I want to be pushed, do I want a laid back style of learning where there were less harsh deadlines, etc.) It was really refreshing to have a teacher that asked what kind of music I was interested in playing instead of just shoving a bunch of classical pieces my way like my past teachers had done. Working with David was so much fun because we were always doing something I was genuinely interested in doing--lessons were definitely the highlight of my week!"
-Isabelle P.
For many more reviews (only a 30,000-character limit here!), media, and more information, please visit my Thumbtack profile: https://www.thumbtack.com/-Brooklyn-NY/service/3736296
Text 914-560-6265 to get in touch. I look forward to speaking with you!
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