From New Mozart to Yale - Congratulations Claire Spence

From New Mozart to Yale University!

Meet Claire, our talented pianist who joined us when she was just 2 years old. After completing the Harmony Road program at age 5, she continued her piano study with Dr. Alexander. She won numerous competitions and is now off to Yale this fall! We couldn't be prouder and will miss her dearly. Congratulations Claire!

What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? I have been a student at the New Mozart School of Music for 16 years. I started in the Harmony Road class at 2 years old, and went on to study piano with Dr. Alexander for 13 years

Which high school did you attend? I recently graduated from a French-American bilingual high school called the Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF).

What are you doing next? Next year, I will be attending Yale University where I will study English literature and poetry and continue studying music.

Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. I have been a student at the New Mozart School of Music for as long as I can remember. I am so grateful to all of the teachers and staff who in many ways have watched me grow up. Teacher Alexander has been a real treasure. He was able to make piano lessons fun with his jokes and life advice, and always prepared me to play my best and win competitions. I grew so much thanks to him as a pianist, a musician, and even as a person, and I will always remember him with gratitude and love. To my family, he was much more than just a teacher, he was a dear friend. I have learned so much at New Mozart starting from the Harmony Road class where I was singing and playing my first notes on the piano to Teacher Alexander's advanced music theory lessons which were instrumental in my getting a top score on the AP music theory exam. Most importantly I learned how to touch others with my music. I know for certain that whatever I do in the future, music will remain an integral part of my life. I am so thankful to my parents for connecting me to this musical world and to New Mozart for giving me the foundation to truly become a musician.

Guitar Buying Guide for Beginners

Are you looking to start guitar lessons and don’t know which guitar to purchase? Here are some thoughtful recommendations from our talented, longtime guitar teachers, Larry.

Buying the 'right' first guitar for a beginner is important to that person's (beginner's) initial success. No matter how much the guitar costs, if it is too difficult to play because e.g., the strings are too high off the fretboard, the nut or the bridge is too high, the strings are too heavy a gauge, etc. then the student won't have a fair chance of learning the guitar. The guitar needs to be 'setup' properly from the beginning for the best chance of student success...the guitar needs to be playable!

>Buying without first seeing/playing/inspecting the guitar is risky. Check the instrument out, 'hands on', don't buy sight unseen if possible.

>If a relative or friend gives/loans you a guitar and it needs a simple 'setup' including new strings, a guitar tech can do that for around $60.

> If buying at a store, ask the salesperson to make sure the strings are set close to the fretboard and there is no string buzz as each string is fretted and played from one fret to another ascending up the neck. Also, if possible, ask them to check the guitar's intonation (it's a very quick/simple process) because a guitar with bad intonation will never be able to be tuned (always out of tune).

Inexpensive Acoustic Guitar Options

1. Yamaha steel string: starting at around $230

2. Yamaha steel string ¾ size: around $160

3. Yamaha classical: starting at around $250

4. Yamaha ½ and ¾ size classical: around $140

5. Fender steel string: starting at around $230

6. Fender steel string ¾ size: around $180

7. Take it up another level and get a Martin steel string for $500 and above.

Inexpensive Electric Guitar Options

1. Ibanez Gio: starting at around $200

2. Squier: starting at $190

(The price for electric guitar is for the guitar only, does not include amp and accessories.)

Coming from a little research and my experience as a teacher and player, I hope this proves helpful to interested students and parents.

New Mozart Graduates - Class of 2023

This month, we are featuring some of our recent graduates, each with a unique journey and bright future in music & beyond. Click their names to discover their stories and where they are headed next.

Claire Spence studied piano for 16 years (3 in Harmony Road & 13 w/Dr. Alexander). Headed to Yale University.

“I have been a student at the New Mozart School of Music for as long as I can remember. I am so grateful to all of the teachers and staff who in many ways have watched me grow up… I am so thankful to my parents for connecting me to this musical world and to New Mozart for giving me the foundation to truly become a musician.“

Alisha Bernatzki studied piano, voice, & songwriting for 6 years (w/Teacher Robbie). Headed to The New School in New York.

“I really appreciate coming to New Mozart and finding teachers I could really connect with. My piano teacher, Robbie, was an amazing teacher. He really helped me discover my sound and taught me everything I know about music theory. I played only classical piano for about 5 years before I met him and he introduced me to another side of music which opened my eyes to the understanding and listening of music to another level.”

Caleb Chen studied voice, piano, & songwriting for 2 years (w/Teacher Maria & Paul). Headed to New York University.

Miguel Estrada studied piano for 5 years (w/Teacher Patrick). Headed to Saint Marys College.

“Teacher Patrick is one of the most passionate and musically knowledgeable people I have ever met. He has helped me to appreciate not only the piano but so many various genres of music. A lesson from Teacher Patrick is like taking an audio tour of the Music Hall of Fame. Rock, Reggaeton, Funk, Country, he knows it all and has made music so fun for me.”

Margaret Donald voice for 2 years (w/Teacher Diane). Headed to New York University

“My experience with New Mozart has been nothing but enjoyable. Teacher Diane is always upbeat and helpful. The staff are kind and welcoming.”

Sophie Wu studied piano & violin for 10 years (w/Teacher Ella & Ai Min). Headed to UC Berkeley

“Thanks to private lessons at New Mozart, I can play things I actually enjoy playing. Thank you for providing me a decade worth of musical experience!”

Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Alisha Bernatzki

Listen to Alisha’s original song “Lament” here.

Meet Alisha, a gifted singer/songwriter & pianist. We were mesmerized the first time we heard her sing at our recital and saw her continue to make strides in her music study with Teacher Robbie. She will be attending The New School in New York this fall. We are so proud of her.

What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? I studied few instruments at New Mozart for 6 years and my main focus was piano.

Which high school did you attend? I graduated from Paly (Palo Alto Senior High School)

What are you doing next? I am going to The New School for economics and planning to dabble in jazz and fashion.

Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. I would say I really appreciate coming to New Mozart and finding teachers I could really connect with. My piano teacher, Robbie, was an excellent teacher. He really helped me discover my sound and taught me everything I know about music theory. I played only classical piano for about 5 years before I met him and he introduced me to another side of music which opened my eyes to the understanding and listening of music to another level.

Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Caleb Chan

We are so proud of our graduate Caleb Chan. He is a talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist. Check out his instagram here and you will know what we mean.

You can watch his newly released music video below.

Caleb studied piano with Teacher Paul and voice and songwriting with Teacher Maria. He will be attending NYU’s Clive Davis Recorded Music to pursue his career in music.


Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Miguel Estrada

Meet Miguel Estrada a talented jazz and pop pianist as well as a club athlete of waterpolo and soccer. He studied with Teacher Patrick for 5 years. He will continue his music study at New Mozart with Teacher Patrick remotely.

What instrument did you study at New Mozart? Piano & electric piano

Which high school did you attend? Woodside High School

What are you doing next? I will be taking a gap year for 2023-2024 and will be attending Saint Marys College for the fall of 2024. For my gap year I plan to continue playing water polo and studying with Teacher Patrick.

Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. Thank you Teacher Patrick, thank you Teacher Patrick!! Teacher Patrick is one of the most passionate and musically knowledgeable people I have ever met. He has helped me to appreciate not only the piano but so many various genres of music. A lesson from Teacher Patrick is like taking an audio tour of the Music Hall of Fame. Rock, Reggaeton, Funk, Country, he knows it all and has made music so fun for me. I really appreciate my time with him. I'm so thankful for how he has helped me appreciate music even more.

Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Margaret Donald

Meet Margaret Donald, an actress and singer with extraordinary talent and dedication. We are thrilled that she was accepted into her 1st choice program and college, NYU’s Tisch Shool of the Arts.

What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? Voice, Soprano, for 2 years with Teacher Diane

Which high school did you attend? Menlo-Atherton High School

What are you doing next? I will be attending NYU in the Tisch School of the Arts program. I will be receiving my BFA in acting and I will be in the Atlantic Studio!

Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. My experience with New Mozart has been nothing but enjoyable. Teacher Diane is always upbeat and helpful. The staff are kind and welcoming. I have enjoyed progressing as a singer and as a performer through recitals and weekly lessons!

Q & A with Dr. Selim

We sat down with one of our piano/composition teachers extraordinaire, Dr. Selim for a Q & A. An accomplished composer and pianist, he received his degrees from Mozarteum (Salzburg, Austria), University of Music and Performing Art Graz (Graz, Austria) & UC Berkeley.

1.How old were you when you started taking music lessons and what was your first instrument?

My brother started taking piano lessons when he was 7. The teacher, observing that I stood there during the lessons while singing the tunes my brother was playing, recommended that I start as well. Thus, I ended up starting playing the instrument at the age of 5.

2. Who/what inspired you to become a musician and music teacher?

I was very lucky to have teachers who were very giving and selfless. My piano teacher later became my harmony teacher as well. He has always been a role model for me, not only as a musician, but also as an individual.

3. Who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?

My piano/theory teacher, Mr. Ugur Unel, who sadly passed away a few months ago, has been a great influence. Also, my first composition teacher, Hasan Ucarsu has always been there for me. While preparing for composition and performance entrance examinations, we have spent hours at his studio, not only working, but talking about art, philosophy and pedagogy.

4.Tell us about your musical and teaching background.

I’ve been trained in a classical manner in regards to piano performance. However, my teacher was also an aspiring composer, and he realized my inclination to improvise and change the pieces I was working on. Thus, I ended up enjoying two different sides during my childhood: The strict necessities of piano technique, and the freedom and expressivity of improvisation.

5. Do you have important ideas and concepts to impart to aspiring musicians?

Make time for music and art in your daily life. Nowadays, we are very prone to distractions. Set some time aside to listen to music -and music only, you don’t need video-, even for fifteen minutes.

6. What do you love most about teaching?

Children come up with the coolest ideas, and are not afraid to express themselves in general. I love improvising with students and find the interaction irreplaceable.

7. Do you have a practice tip you want to share with our students?

Whatever instrument you are practicing on, needs to sing. Whether it’s a very naturally singing instrument such as violin, or a keyboard instrument, it needs to follow the natural inclinations of the voice. Try singing along the melodies sometimes, even when you practice. Your voice -however good/bad it sounds- will guide you.

8. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not teaching, practicing, or performing?

During the pandemic I picked up chess. My dad taught me the basics when I was six or seven, however, I never played it ever since. Now in my 30s, I picked it up again -or shall we say, started properly-, and have been enjoying it so much. Just like with an instrument, there’s no improvement without making mistakes. Don’t be afraid of them: They are essential.

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