Yoon Jae Lee

Hello everyone! I’m Yoon Jae Lee. If you are looking for a mentor to help guide you along your piano journey, I would be thrilled to be your instructor! I believe that everyone is capable of expressing themselves through music and one of the best instruments to do so is the piano because it is an all encompassing instrument with limitless possibilities. Whatever your skill level and personal goals may be, I will help you improve and enjoy playing the piano more. Here’s my story…

I started piano at age six and I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t enjoy practicing as a kid but I stuck with it and eventually, I was able to play the music I wanted to play and enjoyed playing in student recitals all throughout elementary and high school. I knew I wanted to become an orchestral conductor so I double majored in piano and conducting at the Mannes School of Music. While I was in college, I started building my private teaching studio and after graduating, I also taught piano classes at the City College of New York (CUNY) for many years. I am a Steinway Education Partner and in addition to my demanding schedule as a conductor and arranger, I passionately devote time and energy to being a teaching artist for my piano studio, which is comprised of a broad range of students of all backgrounds and abilities.

As a professional conductor and musician, I bring a broader perspective to piano lessons. I want my students to understand more than just how to play the notes. I enjoy breaking down musical ideas that might initially seem complicated and explaining them in ways that make sense to everyday pianists. My goal is to help students understand how music works, appreciate its expressive possibilities, and become more thoughtful and confident musicians.

I customize the learning experience for each individual student since everyone has different musical goals, methods of learning, abilities and time commitments. I am very patient, encouraging and supportive of my students. My goal is to help each student develop a lasting and rewarding relationship with music, at a pace that fits their individual goals and lifestyle.

For newly beginning students, the instruction covers the basics and fundamentals of the piano such as notes, rhythms and learning how to read music. As students progress, the instruction becomes more individualized and customized. For intermediate students, emphasis is placed on developing proper technique (scales and arpeggios), learning efficient practice methods, paying closer attention to musical details and exploring new repertoire. Advanced students will have more of a masterclass experience and time will be devoted to musical ideas or anything specific they wish to cover. Students who take 60 minutes lessons or longer will have the opportunity to cover music theory topics as well.

Regardless of level, students should spend some amount of time practicing in between lessons in order to review and retain what was covered. I understand that life can sometimes get in the way of practicing. If you haven’t had time to work on your music between lessons, we can use our lesson time to practice together, address difficulties, and develop a realistic plan for the coming week.