Join us in celebrating the winter with our students’ music!
Featuring New Mozart Private Lesson Students
Dec 12. Saturday
12 pm. 2 pm. 4 pm. 6 pm.
Dec 13. Sunday
12 pm. 2 pm. 4 pm. 6 pm.
New Mozart Graduates - Class of 2021
This month, we are featuring some of New Mozart's recent graduates. It has been an honor to witness their growth and we are so proud of every one of our graduates! Click on the student's name to read what s/her is doing next.
Maya Franz made music with us for 4 years in Teacher Diane's studio (voice). She is a freshman at Yale University.
Lauren Yen made music with us for 12 years. Harmony Road and Dr. Alexander (piano). She is a freshman at the University of Washington.
Eli Crystal made music with us for 11 years in Teacher Olga's studio (violin). He is a freshman at the University of Oregon.
Adam Friedland made music with us for 15 years. Harmony Road and Dr. Alexander's studio (piano). He is a freshman at Reed College.
Nina Hunt made music with us for 10 years in Teacher Vincent's studio (guitar). She is a freshman at Cornell University.
Congratulations to New Mozart Class of 2021!
Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Lauren Yen
This month we are featuring some of New Mozart's recent graduates who have been making music with us for years.
Meet Lauren - She started in our Harmony Road program 12 years ago and went onto study violin with Teacher Michele and piano with Dr. Alexander. Lauren is a freshman at the University of Washington studying physics.
What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? I started learning music at New Mozart in the Harmony Road program when I was in 1st grade. Then I studied violin with Teacher Michele for 6 years and piano with Dr. Alexander for 10 years.
What high school did you graduate from? Graduated Class of 2021 from Palo Alto High School
What are you doing next? This fall I started at the University of Washington majoring in Physics.
Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. I enjoyed learning music over all these years at New Mozart. I loved coming to New Mozart because I could hear beautiful music throughout the building. The teachers were very nurturing and caring, they taught me so much about music and everything else which really enriched my life. I'm happy that I got a great music education growing up. I hope to continue playing music when I'm away at college and I'll be thinking about my great time and the wonderful people at New Mozart.
Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Nina Hunt
This month we are featuring some of New Mozart's recent graduates who have been making music with us for years.
Meet Nina, a guitarist and singer who studied with Teacher Vincent for 10 years. Nina is a 1st year engineering student at Cornell University.
What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? Acoustic guitar. 10 years with Teacher Vincent
What high school did you graduate from? Graduated Class of 2021 from Palo Alto High School
What are you doing next? I am attending Cornell University studying engineering
Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. I loved learning how to play guitar with Teacher Vincent at New Mozart. His positivity always made me excited to come to class and I can’t wait to play for my friends here at college. Thank you Teacher Vincent for a great 10 years!
Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Eli Crystal
This month we are featuring some of New Mozart's recent graduates who have been making music with us for years.
Meet Eli. He studied with Teacher Olga for 11 years and is a freshman majoring in Social Sciences at the University of Oregon.
What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? I played the violin for 11 years at New Mozart!
What high school did you graduate from? I graduated from Palo Alto High School. Class of 2021.
What are you doing next? I’m going to the University of Oregon and studying General Social Sciences!
Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. Learning violin at New Mozart has opened me up to so many opportunities in music including a band with my friends and organized orchestra! Teacher Olga has been great, and overall the experience has been fantastic.
Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Maya Franz
This month we are featuring some of New Mozart's recent graduates who have been making music with us for years.
Meet Maya, a Yale freshman and an accomplished singer who studied with Teacher Diane. She is a New Mozart Distinguished Honor Student and has placed 3rd at the SFBAC NATS Students Auditions in Fall 2020.
What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? Voice - 4 years with Teacher Diane.
What high school did you graduate from? Graduated Class of 2021 from Harker Upper School
What are you doing next? I am attending Yale University now.
Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. Teacher Diane was a wonderful teacher, and I really enjoyed singing with her for the past four years. Diane gave me a great repertoire, and pushed me to grow a lot as a vocalist and performer.
Congratulations to New Mozart Graduate Adam Friedland
This month we are featuring some of New Mozart's recent graduates who have been making music with us for years.
Meet Adam - He started in our Harmony Road program as a 3 year old and now studies physics and math at Reed College.
What instrument did you study at New Mozart and for how long? Piano - 15 years (2 years of Harmony Road and 13 years of private lessons with Dr. Alexander)
What high school did you graduate from? Graduated Class of 2021 from Palo Alto High School
What are you doing next? Attending Reed College in Portland, Oregon - planning on studying Math and Physics
Tell us about your experience of learning music at New Mozart and how it has impacted your life. New Mozart’s style of teaching is very personal. I felt that it focused on developing skills as a musician rather than ones specific to the the instrument I studied (piano). I also learned about persistence and taking small steps towards a bigger goal.
Student Highlight - Matias Velasquez.
1. What is your name and how old are you?
My name is Matias Velasquez, and I am 13 years old.
2. How long have you been studying piano and how old were you when you first started?
I’ve been studying piano for over 7 years now, and I started when I was 5 years old. Many of the teachers back on the East Coast didn’t think that it was a good idea to start me at such a young age, but one of the teachers did. I apparently sat through that first one hour class, and it all started from there.
3. What instrument are you studying now, and who is your teacher?
I am practicing the piano, and my teacher is Dr. Illias. He’s been a great mentor for me for the three years that I’ve worked with him. He allows me to make choices about my music and what pieces or composers I want to explore or learn about. We do a lot of music theory, and also work on the pieces that I’m preparing for upcoming recitals.
4. What pieces are you currently working on?
I am working on some pieces of my own, and some classical works. I played “Come on over” in the past recital, which I made up during a school music class. I am also working on the Gnossienne No.1 by Eric Satie, and the Lacrimosa by Mozart.
5. How often do you practice?
Every day for at least 45 mins. I also spend time listening to songs and trying to play them on the piano.
6. Tell us about some of your recent accomplishments.
I was the music director for my school’s theater production, and I conducted the orchestra for a different play. I loved conducting, but it took me a while to get better at it! I composed the overture for the play that I was music director for, and I really enjoyed that experience.
6. Why do you love music?
Music is an essential part of my life. It is something that I can go to if I’m bored, stressed, or just in the mood to play the piano. I want to improve my technique, make it as good as possible and continue growing.
7. What are some things you like doing besides music?
I like playing soccer, caring for my saltwater fish tank, and playing basketball. I also love reading and playing video games.
8. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I think that one never stops growing. You always keep improving and becoming a better version of yourself. I can do lots of different things and I will always continue to follow my interests. If I had to give some advice to others about music, I would just tell them to keep practicing deliberately, and you can achieve whatever you want to play, write, or sing.