Featuring a staff of 16 conservatory and university trained piano instructors with an average of 20 years teaching experience.

“Dedicated to Excellence in Music Education” Serving the greater Danbury, CT area since 1993. The Music Learning Center features a staff of 16 professional piano instructors. Each instructor is conservatory or university trained. The average teaching experience of a faculty member is 20 years.

A prospective student and/or parent is offered an opportunity to meet with one of the Music Learning Center’s two directors in order to select the most suitable instructor based upon the student’s goals, learning style, musical tastes, and scheduling needs. Meetings with individual instructors may also be arranged, and a student’s first lesson at the Music Learning Center is offered at no charge.

The Music Learning Center offers its students the following benefits:

• A school atmosphere with a highly acclaimed staff of teachers.
• A professionally designed facility with sound proof studios to help promote concentration, and a comfortable waiting area.
• Available methods include private, group, traditional, classical, jazz, popular chord, and Suzuki.
• Lesson studios feature high quality Yamaha pianos and recording equipment.
• Four performance opportunities throughout the year.
• Optional Royal American Conservatory – National Music Certificate Program.
• Opportunities for technology assisted learning including a computer lab, digital piano lab, and recital preparation using the Yamaha Disklavier recording piano.
• A full service print music store* on premise that allows students and teachers immediate access to thousands of music titles and method books to choose from. (*Music Plus LLC)
• Special programs including “Keyboard Bands”, plus Classical, Jazz, & Rock Ensembles.
• “Musical Discoveries” – a flexible student incentive and reward program. Optional progress reports.
• Office staff available 10am to 5:30pm Monday - Friday to assist with your scheduling or any other questions. Lessons schedules available Monday – Saturday.
• Additional teaching staff available for most instruments and vocal study.

Below is a partial listing of our piano faculty:

NATALIA KOLENCIAK
Natalia has been teaching piano for 10 years. She has a Master in Performing Arts, Piano Teacher degree from the Moscow State Institute of the Arts. Natalia is an accomplished piano teacher and accompanist having held teaching positions at Moscow State College of Fine Arts, Voronezh State Music College, and Lipetsk State Music School.

JOANNA M. KING
Joanna received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Western CT State University. Joanna was the recipient of the Hamden, CT Arts Commission's "Salute to Young Artists", and has been awarded first place at the Minotti Music Festival on three separate occasions since 1999. Joanna was selected to serve on the staff of WCSU's Summer Music Program. She currently holds a position in the music department of the Seymour School system and is an instructor for the Music Learning Center’s Summer Day Camps.

JOHN HARTFORD
John studied theory, composition, and piano at Julliard for four years. He has also studied harpsichord. John has worked as a teaching assistant to Sylvia Rabinof and has 20 years experience teaching piano. He is a member of The American Bach Society, Music Teachers National Association and the Connecticut State Music Teachers Association

STEPHANIE BIELLO
Stephanie received a B.M. Cum Laude in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University where she achieved the Dean’s List every semester. Her studies include classical piano, composition, improvisation and jazz theory. Stephanie has been teaching piano for 4 years and performs regularly as both a soloist and with contemporary music groups.

TARA LESCO
Tara received a B.M. from the Hartt School of Music in music history with performance practices and a concentration in piano. Her studies included music theory, music conducting, and the Kodaly method of ear training. Tara is currently completing her State of CT teaching certification. She has been a cast member with Up With People, as well as an accompanist for church groups. Tara has been teaching piano for 8 years.

JOANN RANDI
JoAnn received her Masters Degree in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University and has been teaching piano since for over 30 years. JoAnn holds a New York State Certificate in Music Education and is currently teaching in the Ulster County Public School System.

JUAN TORRES
Juan earned a B.A. in Music from Western Connecticut State University, where he was also a tutor of class piano and music theory. Juan has been teaching piano for 10 years and is currently headmaster and supervisor at Waterbury Christian Academy in Prospect, CT.

JEAN EARLY
Jean received an A.A. with highest honors in Piano Performance from Montgomery College. She has been teaching piano for 30 years. Jean is also an organist, and has performed with and directed numerous choral groups.

STEVE ISAACSON
Steve Isaacson has 25 years of piano teaching experience in both traditional and Suzuki methods. He graduated from Hunter College in New York City. He has performed in many chamber music ensembles, as an accompanist with soloists and choirs, and is currently a member of the Danbury Community Orchestra. He studied piano with Howard Tuvelle and Michael Boriskin.

JEFF McGILL – Director
Jeff received a B.A. from St. Lawrence University with additional studies at the Crane School of Music and Berklee College of Music. His first teaching experience came as a member of the faculty at the Gunnery in Washington, CT, where he became chairman of the Arts Department and developed the music curriculum. Since 1985 Jeff has led his own jazz quartet and performed at jazz festivals and clubs throughout the tri-state area. In 1993 he co-founded the Music Learning Center where he teaches jazz piano, ensembles, and works with students and instructors alike on the use of technology in music education.

BARBARA VOGEL – Associate Director
Barbara has been teaching piano for over 30 years. As the co-founder and Associate Director of The Music Learning Center, she oversees student placement and lesson schedules. Barbara is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the CT State Music Teachers Association, and the Western CT Chapter of the MTA. In addition to piano performance, she is an organist, accompanist, conductor, and ensemble performer.