Prospect Park Piano
& Music
Piano, Songwriting & Music Production Lessons
About
Hi there! I'm a piano, songwriting and music production teacher in the Prospect Park area. I've been teaching for many years to both young people and adults. I tailor my lessons to my students, giving them the skills they need to play and create the music they love.
Music improves kids' development academically and socially. They have the fun of short term payoffs--playing versions of songs they love--and then longer-term payoffs as they gain greater mastery. It gives them ways to connect socially with peers and a lifetime of joy and satisfaction playing music.
For adults, there is no time like the present to revisit your dream of playing piano. Some people have had difficult experiences with teachers when they were growing up. I make sure that lessons are tailored to each student, so that both adults and children make steady and enjoyable progress as they learn music that excites them.
For teens and adults, I also offer songwriting and music production classes. You'd be surprised by how quickly and easily you can start writing and recording your own music at home, with minimal start up costs. As a professional songwriter and producer, I can guide you through that process.
I am fully vaccinated. I currently offer online lessons with an in-person option for fully vaccinated students.
In my own career, I have written songs for Disney (the animated feature Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy), PBS Kids TV, MTV, NPR and multiple Off-Broadway musicals, including the award-winning Nobody Loves You which premiered at Second Stage Theater. Other shows of mine have been produced in theaters all over the country, Japan, Australia and the UK. I've also co-written songs for MC Frontalot which have been streamed millions of times on Youtube and Spotify.
If you're interested in learning more about my background, you can click on the Learn More button below.
Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you soon!
-- Gaby Alter
Beginner Students
- Music Reading
- Scales and Chords
- Harmony
- Ear training
Intermediate Technique
- Site Reading
- Chord Charts
- Pop Rhythms
- Improvisation
- Chord Theory
Music Production
- Songwriting
- Music Production
- Home Recording
- Sequencing
Programs used:
GarageBand, Logic, Reason
Contact Me
"Gaby is a terrific teacher. He’s able to balance technique with musical theory with training your ear with just learning how to play fun songs. And he’s able to do that for kids and grown ups alike. I’m so grateful we found him as a teacher." -- Rachel S.
"My kids have been taking piano lessons with Gaby for the past 4 years and then my husband started as well about a year ago. Gaby has been such a wonderful, dedicated teacher. When covid-19 hit and we had to transition to zoom/skype sessions, I was worried that my kids would not want to keep taking lessons due to zoom fatigue, but they have continued and are practicing every day and look forward to the lessons. Gaby made every effort to keep the transition seamless and keep them interested and committed to piano. Gaby is able to teach my 11 year old daughter, my 14 year son and my husband all in their own way, and meet their needs and the developmental stage of each. He works on classical pieces and pop and takes input from the family about what they each want to work on and what kind of music they like. He is kind and supportive and very talented. We all love him!" -- Kahlila K.
"I have enjoyed working with Gaby. He's an awesome teacher. I started piano two years ago and now I can read, understand music theory basics and can play some of my favorite songs. He makes learning fun. I highly recommend him." -- David G.
"My daughter was thinking of giving up piano, but by helping her play songs that she likes, and changing them so she can actually learn them, it makes it feel like something she's interested in learning. I've seen more willingness to practice and excitement at seeing herself improve." -- Emma C.
"Gaby is very fun and he makes learning piano fun. He picks songs I'm interested in, like "How Far I'll Go" (from Moana) and "Let It Go." I even learned how to play the blues." -- Lucia C., age 12
