The Ridgewood Conservatory

Woodwinds, Rock, Pop, Pointe, Piano, Percussion, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Guitar, Classical, Brass, Bass, Ballet, Voice & Dance, Voice, Vocal Performance for The Musical Theater, Theory, Strings, R&B;, Private Lessons On Strings, Private and Band Rock Instruction, Jazz Ensembles, Gospel, Glee At Trc Workshops, Early Childhood Music and Dance Classes, Composition, Chamber Music, Acting and Dance

Behind Trader Joe's, West Elm and Office Max. Located next to Kids U and Kindercare.

After attending a few introductory piano lessons, we felt that Ridgewood Conservatory was the place for us. Our daughter has been taking piano lessons for a year and truly enjoys the teacher. It was a really pleasure watching her perform at the recitals, which illustrate the talents of the students at the Conservatory and the hard work of the teachers. We look forward to coming back.

Hello,

First of all, I would like to thank you for expressing your concern. While we wish we could have done more to change your opinion, we respect your grievance. Clearly, we are distressed whenever you (or any parent!) is distressed.

The instructor in question has been with our organization for four years, has a Ph.D. in musical studies, is a highly respected ambassador of the Royal Schools of Music (an international music and drama examining body headquartered in England) and a former Jeopardy champion. If you wish a student to follow an accredited progression of music exams, he is the instructor to go choose. Many of his students swear by his steadfastness, acumen and personal attention to their progress as musicians.

Music instructors play an important role in a young student’s life – much like that of a trusted counselor. Yet it sometimes happens that the personalities of any given teacher and a student might not always mesh. After an episode that happened with your child at the end of the semester, I personally took strides to investigate the situation, and to make sure that a similar scenario never happened again. Both the instructor and the office evaluated the circumstances and progressed as individuals and professionals.
We determined that the best and simplest solution would be to move your child to another teacher. We then called multiple times to offer a free lesson with another instructor of your choosing, but sadly our attempts were met with silence.

Of course, we respect your right to speak your mind. Should you ever wish to return to us, you would find we want nothing more than to provide your daughter with the best musical education this side of the Hudson River.

Our mission at The Ridgewood Conservatory, first and foremost, is the furthering of and appreciation for music and performing arts for all ages, and we have a roster of over thirty incredible instructors to fit everyone’s needs.

I have been taking my daughter to piano lessons for over a year to the same piano teacher - John Ward. Beware of his mood swings, impatience, late starts and early class endings. Most of all he spends a lot of time chatting about nonsense and sometimes he can be quite rude. His temperament is unpredictable, depressive and volatile. Needless to say, we are not going back to this teacher or this conservatory. It is not healthy for my daughter. The front desk does nothing to rectify his bad behavior, from what I can tell.

The Ridgewood Conservatory offers private music lessons by world-class virtuosi on strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, percussion, guitar, and voice; private acting lessons and group workshops; chamber music and jazz ensembles; jazz improvisation workshops; theory and musicianship, composition, music history, audition preparation and music AP coaching for children, teens and adults at all levels.

The Ridgewood Conservatory offers premium performing arts education and private lessons for students of all levels and ages without going to Manhattan! Courses offered: Instrumental, Vocal, Dance, Acting, Early Childhood. For more information, you may call us M-F 3pm-7pm.

Tags

Voice & Dance
Pointe
Gospel
Jazz Ensembles
Vocal Performance and Acting for The Musical Theater
Expert Private Instruction for All Ages by World-Class Virtuos On Piano
Bass and Voice
Brass
Glee At Trc Workshops
Private Lessons On Strings
Early Childhood Music Newborns-Age 7
Rock
Chamber Music and Jazz Ensembles
Composition
Vocal Performance for The Musical Theater
Guitar
Woodwinds
Acting...