For over 50 years, the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute has been sharing the love of music with Staten Islanders. We offer group and private lessons for children and adults.
For more information on our programs, contact Ela Seeley at eseeley@sijcc.com​ or 718.475.5263
Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DDKMusicInstitute

Register Here!

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Join us for a Flute Music Workshop on January 21st at 10:30am! Enjoy a morning of flute music and learn about flute classes with a free performance by Nicola Auriti. Following the performance, participate in an interactive demonstration. 
Ages 8-12
Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Road, Ensemble Room 2
​One hour session
Fee: $10 for members/$12 for non-members
Sibling rate: $5 for members/$6 for non-members

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About the Music Institute

Music instruction at the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island began in the late 1950s in affiliation with the Bronx House School of Music. In 1970, the Music Institute of the JCC was founded by its co-directors, Dorothy Delson Kuhn and Bertha R. Mandel, as an autonomous music school. The school received its current name, The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute, in 1994.

Mission

The mission of the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute is to provide, in a community music school setting at the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, exceptionally fine instruction in the performance, understanding and appreciation of music, particularly but not exclusively, to schoolchildren. Students learn in a non-competitive atmosphere. The Music Institute is a non-profit and non-sectarian music school. It is the only member of the National Guild of Community Arts Education on Staten Island.
Frequent student-faculty recitals provide an incentive for progress and an opportunity for students to share their accomplishments with their families, friends and other students. At these recitals, students are able to hear their peers and teachers play.

Private LessonS

Private lessons may be 30, 45 or 60 minutes.  Enrollment is for 30 weekly lessons from September through May/June. Special provisions are made for late registrants. Lessons are offered at two locations: the Joan and Alan Bernikow JCC and Avis/South Shore JCC. 

Private lessons are available in:

• Bassoon
• Violin
• Cello
• Clarinet
• Flute
• French horn
• Guitar
• Oboe
• Percussion
• Piano
• Saxophone
• Trumpet
• Recorder
• Trombone
• Tuba
• Voice

Parent/Child Classes

​Music Together
Let your child explore his/her musical creativity and develop his/her sense of pitch and beat. Experience different rhythmic instruments and musical styles in this fun and active class. CD and book included!
Bernikow JCC
45 minutes weekly/9 week session
Classes start Sunday, January 12th at 10:45am OR Tuesday, January 14th at 9:45am 
Fee: $200 member/$215 non-member (discounted sibling rate $100)
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Harmony Road Keyboard Program
A unique parent/child musical program that focuses on the development of the whole child while stressing keyboard readiness. Each group course is designed specifically for the age group, reinforcing and building on their skills as they progress through the curriculum. Parent or caregiver must actively accompany the child in class. Book and CD are included for all classes. A free demonstration classes will be held one week prior to the starting date. 
Check out a video from our classes here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2272230362864709
*There will be a free demonstration for each class on February 11th. Classes begin the week of February 25th.

Music in Me – 3.5-4.5 years
A dynamic readiness program for young children with emphasis on the ear training, solfege singing, movement, pitch and rhythm awareness, keyboard geography and finger readiness.  Creativity is stressed.  Parent involvement in class and at home.
Fee: $245 member/$290 non-member
45 minutes weekly, 15 weeks
Tuesdays at 3:30pm, Bernikow JCC

Harmony Road – 4.5-6 years
Carefully constructed for children to learn the basic building blocks of music.  Emphasis on ear training, solfege singing, keyboard playing, ensemble and rhythm activities, movement and music creativity.  Reading concepts are introduced gradually and basic composing activities encourage the development of the child’s musical vocabulary.  This exceptional course gives the student “inner hearing”, which makes transposing. Improvisation and composing easily accessible in their musical studies.  Parent involvement in class and at home.
Fee: $290 member/ $340 non-member
55 minutes weekly, 15 weeks
Tuesdays at 4:45pm, Bernikow JCC

​The Young Musician – 6-7 years
The Young Musician course introduces beginning students to keyboard performance and note reading in a holistic program, including the organized development of pitch, rhytm, solfege singing, keyboard and movement activities.  Parent involvement in class and at home. 
​​Fee: $290 member/$340 non-member
45 minutes weekly, 15 weeks
Tuesdays at 6pm, Bernikow JCC

Early Childhood ClasseS

Introduction to Musical Theater – 7-12 years
If you love to sing songs from shows and musicals, then this class is for you!
Explore repertoire from musicals such as The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof or Annie.  Acquire basic skills for song presentation and acting. Gain confidence to perform on stage.  We will train your voice and ear.
Fee: $225 member/$280 non-member
1 hour, 10 sessions
Thursdays at 4:45pm, Bernikow JCC
Classes begin January 23rd

Music, Art & Movement – 4-5 years
​Discover the magic of music through singing, dancing and playing along in this interactive, fun and educational music class.   
Fee: $105 member/$160 non-member
1 hour, 10 weeks
Class size is limited.
Bernikow JCC, Thursdays at 3:30 PM
There will be a free demonstration on February 19 at 6pm. Classes begin February 27.

PRE-TEEN & TEEN PROGRAMS

• Ukulele Ensemble – 9-12 years

Fee: $105 member/$160 non-member
1 hour
Wednesdays at 4:00, Bernikow JCC
Tuesday at 4:45pm, Avis/ South Shore JCC

Programs for Adults

• Adult Chamber Group

Fee: $350 member/$380 non-member
90 minutes weekly, 15 weeks
Take the next step and expand your repertoire while playing in an intimate group.  Advance your skills to include balance, phrasing and intonation. Chamber music offers players the perfect balance between solo and orchestral performing.  Open to all levels, however, you must be able to read music.
Thursdays at 2:00 PM
Bernikow JCC

• Group Piano

Fee: $160 member/$210 non-member
1 hour weekly, 10 sessions
Tuesdays at 10:30am
Bernikow JCC

• Group Guitar

Fee: $160 member/$210 non-member
1 hour weekly, 10 sessions
Mondays at 1:00pm
Bernikow JCC
Recorder Ensemble
Fee: Free for members/$55 non-member
Musicians of all levels get together and enjoy playing multi-part music on an instrument that is easy to learn. Those who play compatible instruments or sing are also welcome. 
Fridays at 9:30am
Bernikow JCC

• Bossa Nova, Blues, and Jazz Workshops

Fee: $20 member/$30 non-member
1 hour, once a month
Learn new skills in a small group
Mondays at 10 am 
Bernikow JCC

Music FacultY

​Faculty members of the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute are active in the cultural life of the community. They teach in Staten Island schools and colleges and they are performers and conductors for ensembles and orchestras locally and throughout the New York City area.
Piano:
Tatyana Cherepinskaya
Yelena Khaymovich
Stella Rasporskaya
Aleksandra Sarest
Bo Wun Jeon
Guitar:
Fred Crisson
Robert Tarallo
Strings
Larissa Vollis
Woodwinds:
Nicole Auriti
Daniel Kelley
Jessica Sperato
Brass:
Alan Aurelia
Carolyn Clark
Voice:
Therese Panicali
Early Childhood Music:
Kelly Grant
Lisa Forst
Theory, Music Appreciation:
Yelena Khaymovich
Chamber Music:
Larisa Vollis
Percussion:
Thomas Baker