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

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Upcoming Programs: 

REGISTER HERE

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If you appreciate our programs and would like to donate to the music institute,  please 
​click here.

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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 with careful supervision. 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 within a concert facility 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 in a community setting.

Private LessonS

Private lessons may be 30, 45 or 60 minutes.  Private lessons are available in:

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

Programs

Fall Programs

Harmony Road

• A parent-child music experience focusing on the development of the whole child alongside keyboard readiness.  

15 week 45 minute session Mondays starting 10/2
Bernikow JCC 
Ensemble Room #2
Ages Infants-5, 4pm-4:45pm
Members: $245 / Non-Members: $290


​Music Together

• Parents and children will learn basic music skills and create special memories while making music together!

Classes start Thursday, 9/21
​Join us for a FREE demo during our Fall Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 10, 11am 
9 week session, 11:30am, at the Bernikow JCC 
Ensemble Room #1
Infant - 5 years old - 10am-10:45am
Members: $215 / Non-Members: $225


Drama Adventures

• Bring a fairytale to life with theater games, songs, and stories! This class introduces children to stage presence and self-expression in a fun and supportive environment.

10 week session Tuesdays, starting 9/26
Bernikow JCC Ensemble room #1
Ages 4-5 - 3:30pm-4:30pm
Members: $120 / Non-Members: $160

Register here

Instrumental Lessons
In addition to our ongoing virtual music lessons, we are also excited to begin offering in-person private music lessons! All lessons will adhere to government guidelines and regulations. We will take all the necessary precautions to ensure our students and faculty members' safety. Learn more here! ​

Music Faculty

Faculty members of the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute are active in the cultural life of the community. They are highly qualified teachers 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
Stella Rasporskaya
Aleksandra Sarest
Bo Wun Jeon
Guitar:
Fred Crisson
Lou Russo ​
Strings
Tamara Jaton​
Larissa Vollis
Woodwinds:
Nicole Auriti
Daniel Kelley
Jessica Sperato
Brass:
Alan Aurelia
Carolyn Clark
Voice:
Therese Panicali
Early Childhood Music:
Kelly Grant
Theory, Music Appreciation:
Yelena Khaymovich
Chamber Music:
Larisa Vollis
Percussion:
Thomas Baker

scholarships

Harmony Club
The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute is accepting highly motivated music students in grades 9-12 to participate in a FREE comprehensive course of study. “Harmony Club” students receive private lessons and ensemble classes throughout the 2020-21 school year. In addition, students participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. Students accepted to the program are required to fully participate in lessons and workshops and to represent the program through public performances.  

To apply, please email your 1-2 min performance audition to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com.  This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York.

Partial Scholarship Auditions
Audition for a partial scholarship to the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute! The program is open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. These funds allow talented young musicians to take private lessons with professional instructors, as well as participate in recitals, ensembles, and music theory classes, at an affordable cost to their families. 
 
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of ability and demonstrated financial need, with a limited number of merit-based scholarships also available.
 
To apply, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com.


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
Stella Rasporskaya
Aleksandra Sarest
Bo Wun Jeon
Guitar:
Fred Crisson
Lou Russo ​
Strings
Tamara Jaton​
Larissa Vollis
Woodwinds:
Nicole Auriti
Daniel Kelley
Jessica Sperato
Brass:
Alan Aurelia
Carolyn Clark
Voice:
Therese Panicali
Early Childhood Music:
Kelly Grant
Theory, Music Appreciation:
Yelena Khaymovich
Chamber Music:
Larisa Vollis
Percussion:
Thomas Baker

Learn more about our programs by watching these videos!

The Magic of Violin

The Magic of Flute

The Magic of Piano

The Poetic Language of Jazz, Parts 1 & 2

The Unusual Glamour of the Harpsichord, Parts 1 & 2

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Check out this review of our Music Experience program!

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