Hubbels Music School, Mt. Kisco
A gifted piano player since age 7, Kate Demagistris is putting all of her talent and years of teaching experience into a new business she established in November called Hubbels Music School.
Geared toward children five years old and up, the Mount Kisco school offers a variety of programs for students wanting to learn piano, guitar, bass and drums. There is also vocal coaching, relevant for children who want to learn to sing while playing an instrument.
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Demagistris, a concert pianist and harpsichordist, comes from a family of musicians. Her father, Manny, was a professional guitarist and once signed with Columbia Records. Her mother, Vicki, was a former jingle writer and music teacher who plays piano.
A lover of both Baroque history and music, Demagistris took a special interest in the harpsichord while attending Keene State College in New Hampshire. In her spare time, she performs the harpsichord at weddings and will release a recording of her music on iTunes later this month.
But it was a college professor who encouraged Demagistric, 28, to further her studies in music and make it a career.
“I was very much inspired by one of my college teachers, George Loring, a former artist-in-residence at Keene, who tapped into my strengths and brought out my highest levels of confidence,” said Demagistris, who earned a bachelor’s degree in performance and a master’s in education from Manhattanville College.
Demagistris’ mentor improved her weaknesses, but he did so without being judgmental or negative. That’s a philosophy Demagistris follows as she hones the musical talents of her students and nurtures their strengths.
“I treat every child as if he or she was my favorite,” Demagistris said. “I am a very involved business owner and teacher, and to me, every kid has to feel special.”
The majority of her students take lessons in her brightly decorated facility. They receive the same one-on-one instruction they would get at home but with less chance of distraction.
The space includes three cozy studios, each of them equipped with pianos, drum sets, guitars and a harpsichord, as well as two unusual items that can be found in one of the studios: a djembe (an African drum) that was given to her as a gift and a Theremin, an electronic instrument often used by psychedelic rock bands.
Her youngest students often start by learning from method books, many of which are on sale in the school’s lobby. Demagistris, who taught for several years in private music schools in Westchester and New Jersey, believes integrating elements of classical music is important, even for the youngest students.
Instructors at Hubbels are open to teaching all genres of music and try to inspire their students.
“The teachers here are vibrant, creative and high energy and have a passion for teaching,” Demagistris said.
All three of the school’s instructors hold music degrees and play professionally with unique and extensive backgrounds.
Demagistris looks to establish several goals for her students. For older pupils, that could mean attaining a high score on the New York State School Music Association examinations. Others may be interested in getting involved in a performance group at the school. Demagistris is also hoping to have an annual end-of-year concert where all students can participate.
“We want every child to build a bond with his or her teacher and for each of them to seriously blossom as musicians, even possibly prepare them for a future career or for college,” Demagistris said.
Hubbels Music School also offers a program–Hubbel Bubbles–designed for preschool age children. It teaches music fundamentals in a social group setting where youngsters learn basic rhythms and music vocabulary. They are introduced to Solfége (which includes pitch and sight reading), music as a universal language, the instrument families, improvisation and songs from around the world. A summer camp program is also being planned.
To schedule four trial lessons at reduced cost, call Hubbels Music School at 914-241-3236 or email office@hubbelsmusic.com. The school is located at 25 Hubbels Drive in Mount Kisco and is open six days a week. To learn more, visit www.hubbelsmusic.com.
Colette Connolly is a copywriter and p.r. expert. She owns Connolly Communications, which is based in Bronxville, New York. Colette specializes in providing content-rich, SEO-optimized press releases, articles, newsletters, brochures, and customer success stories.
