For a free consultation to discuss your or your child’s musical needs, contact meryl:
212-744-8840
mdanzigernyc@gmail.com
testimonials
What parents say…
David is learning so much from you about music and loves it so much. What a joy it is for us to see his excitement in the discovery of different aspects of music. He is singing so much around the house these days — now with much more sense of the music, his voice, etc. On his own, he plays the piano, experiments with things. It’s such a joy. I was taken with how focused, energized, and — grown-up — he seemed when I picked him up last week.
It is clear that he takes what the two of you do together very seriously. It’s just wonderful to see David blossom in the wonderful environment you provide. The exploration that you do with him is just so rich, and I love the idea of trusting the process and, even if it may not be clear at any particular moment, that it will go somewhere eventually.
We were talking about his sessions this evening and he said, “I’m going to Music House for the rest of my life.” Then he began to muse that at some point he would come by himself and then maybe he could drive up to see you. And then he wouldn’t be living here anymore, but he would still come. That’s quite a testament to his enjoyment and involvement. We feel so fortunate that David is attending Music House. Thank you so much.
-Martha Edwards, parent of a 10 year-old
Founder and Director
Center for the Developing Child and Family
Ackerman Institute for the Family
You certainly make me look at things in different ways! I realized how many ‘definitions’ we take as gospel truth – just because we learned that way.
Can’t believe how present you are in our musical lives. It’s mystical! I’m trying to follow your example because you always find the beauty in the child. Thanks for being such a great influence on Julien! He loves his time w/you.
-Amy Farge, Author, The Mushroom Lover’s Mushroom Cookbook and Primer (Workman 2000), parent of a 12 year-old
Cole cherishes his lessons. I think that you have tapped into his inner “workings” that very few have seen and not until he started studying at the Music House did he really take an interest in putting it out there. Your patience as a teacher and mentor is really key here. I think he feels safe and therefore secure at the Music House. We really trust you. I think Cole has stored so much- you are peeling away the layers to it. And I’m really amazed at your descriptions of his talent. I’m so glad for Cole that he has this gift, something of his own that he can do well and is so motivated to do, for him it’s piano before breakfast and school, piano at every piano he comes across, and piano waiting while we make dinner. It lives and breathes with him. We are so excited and grateful that Cole has you to guide him through his musical journey, or is that journeys?
-Elena Pavlov, parent of a 9 year-old
I remember with trepidation, when I was a little older than William, the idea of studying music theory — it sounded so dry and, well, theoretical. And to think that he is learning so much theory as he experiments with the sounds of these musical pieces. It’s so exciting! Thanks for sharing the process with us.
I do feel your mentoring of William has been crucial to his development as a musician and SUCH a positive factor in his life. He just lights up whenever he sees you. I hope you’ll continue to find time for him as he grows. He clearly benefits so much from working with you. Whatever goes on between you, it is obviously working. Working? That’s an understatement; it is the highlight of my son’s entire life.
-Heather Henderson, mother of William
What students say …
Well, it’s not exactly a lesson …
– David W., age 9
I’m so unconfused right now.
– Simon P., age 16
When teachers tell me what to do all the time I feel like monsters are closing in on me. When they let me figure it out for myself, the monsters go away.
– Harrison, age 7
Music is my talent because music is music to my ears.
– Amanda, age 6
I’ve been playing the piano all along and I never knew anything about those chords and things. Now it all makes sense! -Shakima, age 16
Let’s do the ear-training game again. I think I need that today.
– Julien F., age 11
All of Mozart’s songs about wine sound the same.
- William S., age 8, son of Heather (above) …
… and his letter:
Hi Meryl!
I have a new book of Beethoven and Purcell and I’m figuring out a hundred things on the violin! And I’ve figured out the fugue by Bach on the guitar, and many other things. And I listen to the Four Seasons almost every day. And I found out that Ode to Joy is the national anthem of Europe. And I’m composing a lot. A few of my titles are called: Purcell’s Volkswagen, The Angel, Ten More Days till January, The Revenge, The Earthquake, The Composers, The Amadeus, Mr. Beethoven, My Violin, Chopin’s Bath, Napoleon’s Guitar, Elvis and Liszt’s Toy Store, Mussorgsky and Meryl, Rossini with Me and Wagner, Mendelssohn’s Shower in the Sun, Handel’s First Birthday.