Piano Classes for Kids in Upper West Side, New York
7 piano reviewed · 214 parent reviews · Updated 2026-07-09 · ★ 4.9 average
The Upper West Side has an unusually dense cluster of highly-rated piano teachers and studios. Piano Lessons NYC (husband-and-wife duo Abby and Les) has exceptional depth of family loyalty, with some families spanning multiple children over 5+ years. NYC Piano & Voice Studio is built almost entirely around teacher Annabelle, praised across every age from 3-year-olds to 70-somethings. West Amadeus Music Studio and Anselmo Academy of Music are both larger, multi-teacher operations — Anselmo notably a non-profit specifically serving students who might not otherwise access music education. UWS Piano School (Nadia and Sean) and NY Piano School both draw strong, specific praise, while New York Piano Academy features a notably prestigious individual instructor.
💡 Anselmo Academy of Music & The Arts is a non-profit specifically focused on making music education accessible to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity — worth knowing about if cost or access is a factor, as reviewers describe it as 'a magical organization' bringing music to the community broadly, not just fee-paying families.
The 7 piano studios, ranked
Ordered by overall rating and review volume
01
Piano Lessons NYC (Abby & Les)
817 West End Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA · Piano, violin, and voice · Home studio on the Upper West Side · Online lessons available · ★ 5.0 (44 reviews)
Piano Lessons NYC, run by husband-and-wife duo Abby and Les out of their Upper West Side home, holds a perfect 5.0★ across 44 reviews. One family's daughter has studied with Les for 5 years (6th-10th grade), and another family has had all four children taught from kindergarten through middle school. Both teachers cover piano, violin, and voice, and offer online lessons via FaceTime for out-of-town family visits. Exceptional depth of multi-year, multi-child family loyalty across the review set.
Parents love
exceptional multi-year, multi-child family loyalty (one family: 4 kids from kindergarten through middle school)both teachers (Abby and Les) individually and jointly praisedflexible around busy school schedulesonline/FaceTime lessons available for travel
02
NYC Piano & Voice Studio
217 W 71st St, New York, NY 10023, USA · Teacher Annabelle Bao · Piano and voice · All ages, beginners to advanced · ★ 5.0 (32 reviews)
NYC Piano & Voice Studio holds a perfect 5.0★ across 32 reviews, built entirely around teacher Annabelle Bao. Reviewers span an unusually wide age range — a 3-year-old starting lessons, a 10-year-old showing 'tremendous growth,' and adults in their 70s learning to sing correctly for the first time. One reviewer describes Annabelle booking a room at Carnegie Hall for her students to perform. Consistently praised for patience, warmth, and technical depth across both piano and voice.
Parents love
teacher Annabelle praised in nearly every reviewworks across an unusually wide age range (3 to 70+)arranges special performance opportunities (e.g. Carnegie Hall)teaches both piano and voice
recur
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West Amadeus Music Studio holds 4.9★ across 59 reviews, a larger multi-teacher operation covering piano, guitar, violin, and voice. Named teachers (Emilija, Derek, Theo, Richarlita, Erin, Carmen, Sydney, Leerone) are each individually praised, and reviewers consistently highlight responsive scheduling and an easy rescheduling system. One reviewer reports an inconsistent, poorly structured experience with a specific teacher (Carmen) despite an otherwise positive overall studio experience.
Parents love
wide bench of named, individually praised teachersresponsive administration and easy scheduling/reschedulingteaches piano, guitar, violin, and voiceaccess to a Fazioli piano noted by one student
Watch out for
one reviewer reports an inconsistent, poorly structured experience with a specific assigned teacher
04
Anselmo Academy of Music & The Arts
260 West End Ave Apt 1B, New York, NY 10023, USA · Non-profit, accessible music education mission · Music, drama, and musical theatre · Multi-year family enrolment common · ★ 4.8 (59 reviews)
Anselmo Academy of Music & The Arts holds 4.8★ across 59 reviews. It's a non-profit organization specifically focused on making music, drama, and musical theatre education accessible to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity. One family has had three children enrolled for over 10 years, with teacher Melissa Manning specifically praised. Reviewers describe frequent recital and performance opportunities.
Parents love
non-profit mission specifically serving students without otherwise access to music educationone family with 3 children enrolled over 10+ yearsfrequent recitals and performance opportunitiesprograms beyond piano (drama, musical theatre) available
05
UWS Piano School
123 W 71st St, New York, NY 10023, USA · Teachers Nadia and Sean · Both are performing musicians · 71st St, Upper West Side · ★ 5.0 (4 reviews)
UWS Piano School holds a perfect 5.0★ across a small sample of 4 reviews. Teachers Nadia and Sean are both described as professional performers and collaborators as well as teachers, adept at inspiring students of all ages. One reviewer calls it 'the best piano school I've ever been to.' Small review sample — worth a trial lesson to confirm current fit.
Parents love
teachers Nadia and Sean are working performers as well as teachersencouraging, patient, and joyful teaching style describedworks with students of all ages
Watch out for
small review sample (4)
06
NY Piano School
37 W 65th St, New York, NY 10023, USA · Careful student-teacher matching · Teachers Sofia and Alexander · 65th St, Upper West Side · ★ 4.7 (13 reviews)
NY Piano School holds 4.7★ across 13 reviews. The school is praised for carefully matching students with a teacher suited to their age and stage — one reviewer's 4-year-old was matched with an ideal teacher for his development level. Named teachers (Sofia, Alexander) are individually praised, including for adult beginners in their 40s and beyond. One reviewer reports a cancellation policy dispute — the school reportedly declined to make an exception for a medical emergency after previously accommodating other cancellations.
⚠ One reviewer disputes cancellation billing for a medical emergency
Parents love
careful student-teacher matching by age/stage praised by multiple parentsworks well for adult beginners returning to piano in their 40s+named teachers (Sofia, Alexander) individually praisedprofessional, courteous staff noted
Watch out for
one reviewer reports a cancellation policy dispute over a medical emergency, despite prior flexibility
07
New York Piano Academy
165 W 105th St, New York, NY 10025, USA · Notable instructor (Dr. Ronn Yedidia) · 105th St, Upper West Side · Confirm fit for children directly given the instructor's advanced/professional profile · ★ 5.0 (3 reviews)
New York Piano Academy holds a perfect 5.0★ across a small sample of 3 reviews, notable for featuring Dr. Ronn Yedidia, described by one reviewer as a 'world renowned professor, concert pianist and outstanding composer.' Very small review sample — worth a direct enquiry to confirm current teacher availability and whether lessons with a performer of this caliber suit your child's level.
Parents love
features a notable concert pianist and composer as an instructordescribed as insightful and enlightening by one adult student
Watch out for
very small review sample (3) — confirm current availability directly
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Five questions to ask before you enrol
Based on recurring patterns across Upper West Side piano reviews
01
At NY Piano School, what is the exact cancellation/makeup policy for medical emergencies?
02
At West Amadeus Music Studio, can I request a different teacher if the initial pairing (e.g. with Carmen) isn't a good fit?
03
At Anselmo Academy, what financial assistance or accessibility programs are available for families?
04
At New York Piano Academy, is Dr. Ronn Yedidia (or another instructor) currently accepting young beginner students?
05
At Piano Lessons NYC or NYC Piano & Voice Studio, is a trial lesson available before committing to a weekly schedule?
Frequently asked questions
Which piano teacher on the Upper West Side has the deepest multi-year family loyalty?
Recur's review of piano classes on the Upper West Side found that Piano Lessons NYC (Abby and Les) has exceptional depth of family loyalty — one family has had all four children taught from kindergarten through middle school, and another family's daughter studied with Les for 5 years spanning 6th through 10th grade. It holds a perfect 5.0★ across 44 reviews. Call (917) 903-2146.
Is there an affordable or accessible piano program on the Upper West Side?
Recur's review of piano classes on the Upper West Side found that Anselmo Academy of Music & The Arts is a non-profit specifically focused on making music education accessible to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity. It holds 4.8★ across 59 reviews, with one family enrolling three children for over 10 years. Call (212) 665-9051 to ask about accessibility programs.
Which Upper West Side piano teacher works well across a very wide age range, including adults?
Recur's review of piano classes on the Upper West Side found that NYC Piano & Voice Studio's teacher Annabelle Bao has reviews spanning a 3-year-old starting lessons through adults in their 70s learning for the first time. NY Piano School also has specific praise for adult beginners returning to piano in their 40s and beyond. Call (917) 328-4311 for Annabelle.
Are there billing or cancellation policies to check before enrolling at any Upper West Side piano school?
Recur's review of piano classes on the Upper West Side found one specific dispute at NY Piano School, where a reviewer reports a cancellation exception was declined for a medical emergency despite the school previously accommodating cancellations. We'd recommend getting the exact cancellation and makeup-lesson policy in writing before enrolling anywhere, particularly for a young child's ongoing weekly schedule.