I have been teaching piano, voice, guitar, and songwriting for over 10 years, and my students have gotten into music schools such as Berklee College of Music and Celia Cruz Music High School in the Bronx. Other accomplishments include wonderful performances, even from the shyest students, at Summer and Winter Recitals, building bands and performing regularly, being cast in Cirque du Soleil and off-Broadway shows, and becoming teachers themselves.
Within the first lesson you be will playing/singing and reading music, and as times goes by you will be able to choose your favorite songs to learn and perform. I specialize in several styles of piano (jazz, improvisation, classical), guitar (fingerpicking, acoustic), singing (all genres), and songwriting (jazz, contemporary). I offer recording sessions anytime during our lessons, which is extremely helpful for singing and songwriting students.
I don't use one set of books – I tailor our lesson goals and needs to every student. Not every student does well with the same book, so I mix it up. I always add my own notes and supplemental materials to help students work through a given concept. I have a Korg Weighted Keyboard, Fender acoustic guitar, recording and mastering software and hardware, and sheet music of all types.
I love teaching because every student needs something different – I get the chance to take on the challenge of helping you find your own voice in your own instrument. We all have different goals, and I look forward to helping guide you towards yours!
Katrina delivers an exceptional lesson experience and ranks in the top 15% of our teachers nationwide.
Hello! I am a graduate of Berklee College of Music, with a Bachelor's degree in Writing and Production as well as a graduate of NYU Steinhardt with a Master's Degree in Music Technology. I have been teaching privately for 15 years, and performing for over 25!
I have begun teaching full time as of 2014, because I love teaching so much! I am driven by watching my students build confidence and learn to express themselves through music. My goal is for each student to become more expressive and build a love of music while also learning the theory behind it and performance techniques.
My first love is piano, as I began lessons at age 7. I wrote my first song at age 8 and started playing guitar shortly after. I am an accomplished songwriter, arranger, producer, performer, teacher and director. I have directed all ages and group sizes in music as musical theatre director, musical director at church, band leader, and a children's music teacher. I love teaching and excel at finding unique ways to teach music and keep it interesting. I want you to have fun and learn what you find most interesting so we will work together to reach your goals.
Along with instrument and vocal lessons, I offer tutoring in all subjects of music and songwriting, and specialize in offering lessons tailored to each student's needs. I refuse to hand out a book and go from front to back - expect handouts, impromptu lesson material to help you learn any specific concept you may be struggling with, CD's with study material, exploratory homework, and thinking outside the box! We will do whatever it takes to get you wherever you want to be.
I focus my curriculum on the goals of each student, their needs and their abilities. Everyone is different, so every student should have a different set of goals and a unique curriculum to reach them! I want to offer the most well-rounded education possible, so we will be regularly evaluating your goals and the materials you are using to reach them. I am easy-going and realistic - if you aren't interested in what you are learning then you aren't going to practice. So lets have some fun!
• contemporary styles and songs - all my students get to choose their songs from my music library or their own!
• Performance technique: my voice students get to sing with a microphone and PA system to their favorite karaoke tunes and learn performance aspects. I also work with piano, guitar, and drums on performance skills.
• SONGWRITING: optional. I like to spend a class time every several sessions to help my creative students write their own song from start to finish! We can even record it if you like!
I work with several instruments in order to help my students get the most well-rounded music education they can until they choose a specific direction of their own (such as classical piano or acoustic guitar).
If you would like to focus only on one area, that is never a problem! I simply offer a variety of music lessons so that I can tailor the lesson to each student's goals. I will work with you to create a lesson plan.
Recitals are offered each Summer and Winter.
Studio: KORG weighted 88 key keyboard, acoustic and electric guitar and amp, PA system for performance in vocals, microphones. Parents may sit in on lessons or wait nearby. There is a library across the street, as well as a Dunkin Donuts.
For recording and production lessons, I use industry standards such as Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Sonic. I give out weekly handouts and tailored homework assignments in most subjects. I can purchase books for students, or they can acquire the recommended books on their own.
Young children music and piano 4 years and up; Piano; Voice - beginner and advanced; Musicality: can't decide what to study? I can work with you in a variety of areas including rhythm, percussion, songwriting, piano, guitar, singing, improvising, etc.
Teaching voice, piano and guitar.
Lead children's music group and adult choir. Accompanied and performed music services each week.
Worked with several children's pre-schools and other groups teaching group children's music.
Quartet consisted of vibraphone, drums, bass, vocalist - mostly jazz with Latin jazz, soul and funk mixed in!
Assisted the Music Director of this large church with weekly music prep, leading choirs, assisting with children's groups, and solo performances.
Simple home recording of another of my favorites!
Katrina is very nice and is easy to connect with!
My daughter loves Katrina. Her best teacher yet. Katrina is very professional yet friendly. Easy to work with.
Katrina was great, and immediately put me at ease. It was a very fun experience.
Great introductory lesson with Katrina. She asked good questions to evaluate what I already know and then wrote up a lesson plan for me to start on. Since I'm returning to piano after many years off, there is so much I've forgotten and need to start over on. And yet other things that I still remember. That makes a lot of pieces to put together to keep it interesting.
My daughters experience was amazing! She loved Mrs. Katrina and is excited to go back.
Katrina is a wonderful teacher she's very nice to start off and I absolutely love her teaching style not only does she focus on vocals but also learning about the voice. I also very much enjoy the singing homework.
Katrina was patient and encouraging. I was nervous for my first lesson but she put me at ease.
I've had lessons at her location and online. Katrina is an awesome piano and voice instructor!
Awesome teacher! Makes the lessons suit what I need, makes sure everything is clear, already learned so much my first lesson!
Katrina is an amazing teacher who knows so much about the many subjects she instructs. I'm blessed to have found such a kind, amazing teacher.
Katrina is really nice, and she sings like an angel. It helps so much to hear her do something RIGHT so I can try and emulate it. Look forward to continuing our lessons.
Katrina does a GREAT job connecting with our daughter and helping her both play the piano and sing. We love that she's teaching her the technical aspects (notation) as well as playing by ear. Thank you, Katrina!
Katrina was incredibly helpful and informative. When she wanted me to do something specific she used different ways of explaining how to shape my mouth and work on vowels. She is incredibly helpful and very accommodating!
First lesson with Katrina yesterday and all I can say is SCORE! She was terrific and completely put our daughter at ease in engaging conversation. One of the things my husband said he was impressed with was the first question she asked our daughter is "why do you want to play piano"? We look forward to future lessons with Katrina as we think she will definitely help our daughter immensely with her personal and engaging approach to learning.
Katrina was great with our daughter. This was her first lesson with her and they did fantastic with each other. We feel like Katrina was able to relate to our daughter and assess what her needs and desires were.
Katrina conducted a very comprehensive evaluation very efficiently yet in a calm manner. She gave time to discuss student interests and together they formulated goals. Her explanations were thorough and assignment for next week was clear.
Katrina was a great fit for my son. She helped bring my son to another level in guitar. He learned great habits and tools to implement for practice and learning new songs.
Katrina is great. she was patient, friendly, talented and clear. looking forward to the rest of my lessons with her!
After 3 lessons, I feel there's a healthy blend between what she thinks you should work on and what you would like to do.
I just had my first lesson with Katrina and I ALREADY know she's an amazing teacher, approachable, very knowledgable, and does an excellent job balancing explaining WHY I'm doing something, HOW to do it, and then DOING it. I'm excited to continue workings with her and got lucky to have found the right person the first time.
Katrina is a lovely teacher. She puts her students to ease right away. She is really talented and professional. Katrina is just awesome.
She is lovely. So understanding and nurturing, makes you feel comfortable even if you have never done music before. And she is obviously highly trained and knowledgeable. She imparts valuable and complex information in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice. Stellar experience as a first-time student of singing.
Katrina has surpassed our expectations. She has motivated our daughter so much in just a few lessons. I am very happy with her and I highly recommend her.
I am an adult musical novice who decided to try to learn guitar at the age of 40. Katrina has been amazing. I needed a person who would allow me to chase my musical inspiration and be patient with my clumsy form. She is as nurturing as they come but brings musical knowledge and teaching skills to the table as well. I've been extremely pleased.
What a perfect match for my daughter. Her teaching has boosted my daughters confidence & spirit. Katrina is very patient & flexible, I highly recommend her!
My daugther is was only five when she started taking her classes. Katrina has been teaching her on her level. She gives her take home lessons that she is able to understand and practice at her young age. My daugther is learning not only how to play the guitar but is also learning how to read music. Katrina also introduces other forms of music styles and instruments which opens my daughter for more options. I am happy I made the right choice picking her as an instructor for my child. She has exceeded my expectations and we always feel welcomed in her studio. Very warm and friendly environment.
Ms. Degel is extremely talented. My singing has improved greatly since I began vocal instructions with her. My confidence in live performance has enormously improved thanks to Ms. Degel.
Katrina is a very patient and caring, astute teacher with a very positive attitude. After only two lessons I'm playing chords. Overall experience of the lessons are enjoyable and her studio is a nice, comfortable set-up which provides one-on-one instruction. Highly recommend!
I have wanted to sing most of my life--50 years. I always felt intimidated. Katrina put me at ease immediately. Her teaching is clear, she is encouraging without patronizing, and she seems more excited by my little victories than I am. And I'm pretty excited! She is completely open to giving lessons around my crazy work and life schedule. I don't have that much time to practice, but I find myself doing so because 1)she convinced me that I can do exercises even while driving in the car and 2)I want to show her what I can do.
I think Katrina is great, she is very nice, the lessons are fun and she already taught me a lot only after a few lessons. I highly recommend her.
Katrina is fantastic. She's very effective at helping Clara make progress, to the point where I can't believe it's Clara doing the singing sometimes.katrina has a really nice way of teaching the fundamentals of voice -- the breathing, etc, theough her use of scales, coaching, and songs.Plus, she's happy to work with the music that Clara likes (as well as her own) and helps Clara on her guitar playing, and overall musicality.
Katrina is a great teacher!
My 11 year old son started taking guitar lessons with Katrina about 2 weeks ago. He's only had 2 lessons so far and on the 2nd lesson he was playing a little "lead guitar" in a song with Katrina. My son really looks forward to the lessons and practicing in between lessons. Katrina is a great motivator and confidence builder. She's created a studio in her home that even includes a real drumset along with the other instruments that she plays and teaches. She creates an atmosphere that is comfortable and fun.