Written by:
Frank Sisco, 30 Mill Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804
Home office - 914.740.4422, Cell - 914.740.4422; Email – ideasmoney@aol.com
www.LifeAndMoney.com
Copyright 2008 Frank Sisco
Word count - Main body - 596 words, AcrossTheMediaReferences - 36 words, About the Author - 63 words
"Teaching Piano in Homes " - A "Life and Money" interview.
A conversation with Scott Pollack, Piano teacher, located in New Rochelle, NY. Tel 914.235-5416
By Frank Sisco
"It's probably the best thing in the whole world," is what Scott Pollack answered to my asking what playing the piano meant to him. How exciting it is hear Scott say that he is doing exactly what pleases him most, namely playing piano and teaching others to play the piano in their homes. My daughter Kelly and I are lucky to have been his students over the last twelve years and we have truly deepened our love of music and songs as well as learned the piano. Here are some excerpt from our conversation in my home office recently. You can see videoclips of the full interview at the references at the end of this column. Scott Pollack offers weekly piano lessons in your home for $30.
Frank: This is the love of your life, right?
Scott: It certainly is. Playing and teaching and listening.
Frank: What are the advantages of teaching people in their own homes.
Scott: I like it better and more importantly it is more convenient for them, and I've been told that people enjoy it more.
Frank: How did you get into playing piano?
Scott: My father is a professional pianist. When I was very young, he sat me on his lap at the piano and from then on it's been my personal history. I have wonderful memories of falling asleep listening to him playing all the great standards..
Frank: What kind of music do you love best?
Scott: Standards and jazz. In terms of the expression they have beauty and musically they are constructed masterpieces. I also like classical music very much.
Frank: How do you balance teaching and performing?
Scott: The teaching schedule being on weekdays and the performing schedule being on weekends complement each other perfectly.
Frank: Please tell me about the process of teaching?
Scott: The whole thing boils down to listening There are a hundred aspects of music. I try my best to listen very intently and decide what things need to be focused on.
Frank: When you started teaching my daughter Kelly when she was about 12 years old and you two were working on a song, you would actually write the notes of the song into a book of sheet music and build the song right in front of her. She got a real thrill out of that and it enabled her to appreciate the music more. Is that something you do with most of your students?
Scott: I'm glad to hear that Kelly felt that way and that is what I do with most of my students. I'm teaching the person how to hear the way I hear. I've been trained my whole life and practiced to hear the structure of the song and to hear the intervals from one note to another, and hopefully if my students see me writing it out note for note and chord for chord that it helps them.
Frank: What does it mean to you when you sit down and play piano?
Scott: There's nothing better in the whole world. It has enjoyment. It has therapy. It has hard work. Sometimes in the process of coming into fruition, there is satisfaction. The striving to play well. Playing piano has so many great aspects.
Frank: If someone were giving a party, would you go into their home and play piano for them? Also, do you work with other musicians and singers?
Scott: Yes indeed.
Frank: What is the best way for people to get in touch with you?
Scott: The best way is to call me directly at 914.235.5416.
Across the Media References:
Videoclips of Frank's conversation with Scott and other info can be found at: www.VideoVoom.com (under People, then under "Instructors, Teachers, Advisors" (2) www. PianoWithPollack.com or (3 www.youtube.com (search on Scott Polack Piano).
About the author:
Frank Sisco is a CPA, Personal Financial Specialist and video journalist who writes on topics related to life and money. You can contact Frank by email at
ideasmoney@aol.com or by phone at 914.589.1013 in order to express your
opinion about this article or to obtain copies of prior articles. Frank, and his wife and daughter, reside in New Rochelle, NY .
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