So i Heard Music Northvale

973.232.5111

northvale@soiheardmusic.com

285 Livingston St,
Northvale, NJ 07467

Monday-Thursday: 12pm-8pm
Friday: 3pm-6:30pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm
Sunday: Closed

Formerly Beau Monde Guitars: Premier Music Lessons in Bergen County, NJ

So i Heard Music is now open in Northvale, NJ! Our facility has private lesson rooms, music therapy rooms, a fully functional recording studio, and a multi-use performance space for our students! We are excited to bring our high-tech music lessons to the Northvale, Tappan, Closter, Norwood, Bergenfield, and Tenafly areas.

Providing Music Lessons to Students K-12 and beyond.

Whether your child is interested in guitar lessons, piano lessons, keyboard lessons, drum and percussion lessons, bass lessons, brass lessons, voice lessons, songwriting, and music production lessons, or adaptable music therapy with a board-certified therapist, So i Heard Music offers it all with a sensibility that is focused on the needs of the young music student.

Providing Early Childhood Music Education

Early childhood music education at So i Heard is a fun-filled, hour-long musical journey every week. Children are encouraged to participate in songwriting concepts and come with us on musical journeys as we sing and play about our favorite things! Perfect for kids who aren’t quite old enough for private lessons, though still want to be involved in music.

Guitar Repairs

Guitar repairs are done by appointment only. Please call or contact us for details.

LESSONS FOR EVERY LEVEL AND MUSICAL INTEREST.

Services

Music Lessons
Adapted Music Lessons
Group Private Lessons
Bands
Music Therapy
Early Childhood
Recording
Birthday Parties
Songwriting
Music Production

Instruments

Piano
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Brass
Strings
Voice

Northvale, NJ Teachers

Miles
Strand
Teacher
EducationSUNY Purchase College
SpecialtyPiano, Guitar, Bass
InfluencesRock, Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B, Funk and Metal
LocationsNorthvale, NJ
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Hi, I’m Miles

I am a graduate of SUNY Purchase College with a bachelor’s in music with a concentration in Studio Composition. The guitar is my primary instrument, but after studying in the Music Conservatory at Purchase, I developed a better understanding of music theory, composition and what goes into playing other instruments including bass and piano as well as the structural basis of general songwriting.

Having had a role in the Rockland County, NY & New Jersey music scenes for over 20 years, I’ve been involved in countless musical endeavors varying stylistically from one group to the next.

Finding familiarity in Rock, Jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B, Funk and Metal, I’ve been involved in a diverse collection of projects over the years (including Frankie D. & The Boys, Throw the Heat, The All Ways (as seen on “America’s Got Talent”), Inna Vibe (As seen on BET’s “106 and Park”) & Simone Wedding Band) as well as within my own songwriting with bands Silence The Feedback & Our Fears, having influences stemming from all the different genres merging together.

My Approach to a Typical Lesson

As an educator, I’ve taught in public and private settings for over 20 years, getting my start while still attending classes at SUNY Purchase, and then continuing after graduating with a BA in Music to work at a number of different schools/facilities in addition to also being available for private lessons. My main objective is always to make sure the student understands what is being asked of them and I have the patience and care needed to go through that process and ensure students feel like music is something they can be passionate about rather than view as a chore, no matter their age.

My Advice for students

Pick something to practice and focus on that and learning it fully rather than trying to learn a plethora of snippets of songs and riffs. When it comes to songwriting, write aimlessly early on, because most of what you write just starting out is going to be throwaway material – the more important aspect is getting yourself into the routine of just writing being a regular thing.

My favorite local places

Casa Del Sol in Nyack, NY.
Will
Hayes
Teacher
EducationCornish College of the Arts
SpecialtyPiano, Guitar, Music Production, Songwriting
InfluencesMaurice Ravel, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Darkthrone, The Cure, Pauline Oliveros, Ornette Coleman, Cocteau Twins, Wu-Tang Clan
LocationsNorthvale, NJ
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Hi, I'm Will!
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and studied classical composing at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, where I immersed myself in the thriving music scene there in the 2010's. I played guitar in the experimental/electronic band Newaxeyes, toured internationally as keyboardist with Wolves in the Throne Room, and as a solo artist, and gained experience producing music and sound design for film, contemporary dance, and theater. I've worked as a session guitarist on acclaimed albums and feature films including the 2018 cult hit 'Mandy' starring Nicolas Cage, and Mykur's folk/black metal album 'Mareridt'. I've worked with Jóhann Jóhannson, Randall Dunn, Úlfur, Stephen O'Malley, Wayne Horvitz, and Hanna Benn, among many others, and even opened for the Sun Ra Arkestra. I moved to New York City in 2019, where I continue my work as a teacher, improviser, composer, songwriter and session musician.
My Advice for Students:
- Start a band, collaborate and create with other people in-person - Focus on developing your own unique voice, and at the same time help others to develop theirs - Be generous and not precious with your energy; no effort ever goes to waste in music. Experience is all cumulative and will feed into other things, as long as you are resilient in your passion. So take chances and explore!
My Favorite Local Places:
I commute, and I am still learning the area! Currently taking recommendations and exploring the best Vietnamese food in NJ. Ask me about my sandwich map of New York!
3 Tips for Success:
- Consistency. Whichever path you choose to pursue in music, create a daily practice of it and try to get obsessed. - Fun. Remember that music is fun! And has been fundamental to human connection in every culture since the beginning of time. When you enjoy music you are connecting! And when you play you are creating something that no one has ever heard before. - Openness. There is always something rich to learn or take away from things you like or dislike! Try to name two things you like about a song you can't stand :-) There are also creative models/frameworks which you can apply across different artistic mediums. Try to look at a painting you love and ask, "What would this sound like if it were music?" Sometimes all you need is a starting point.
My Music
A score I composed: https://willhayes.bandcamp.com/track/trade-war Some favorite tracks I've played guitar on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ARrtnMkzM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9cNZQIzShc My former band Newaxeyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsnVbBo7b5Q
Nicole
Parente
Teacher
EducationWilliam Paterson University
SpecialtyEarly Childhood Education, Piano, Guitar, Drums, Voice
InfluencesKelly Clarkson, Fleetwood Mac
LocationsNorthvale, NJ
Online Lessons
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Hello, I'm Nicole.
I started performing at 8 when I began singing in my church's children's choir. When I was ten years old, I began my journey of church music ministry, which I have continued to this day. I also began performing in various musical theater productions at 8. I started playing guitar at the age of 24 and started teaching about two years after that. In the Spring of 2021, I started to fulfill my dream of becoming a music education teacher at William Paterson University. Since starting my music journey, I have had the amazing opportunity to tour the Amalfi Coast of Italy with the William Paterson Chamber Choir in March of 2022. I will head with the choir again in the Spring of 2024 to Belgium and France.
My Approach to a Typical Lesson
A typical lesson with me, starts with the basic fundamental techniques behind each instrument and the theory behind the music. The love for music is the foundation for which music is built on. I believe that every student should have fun at what they are doing, the same way I have fun teaching it. If you aren't having fun in music then why are you making it? Enjoy, express, and let out your inner self.
My Advice for Students
Don't ever be afraid to express yourself in the studio. You don't need to be better than the next student. Everyone learns at their own pace and has their own vision for what they want to do with music. The studio is a safe space for you to be the best musician that only YOU can be. Be proud of everything you do every time you enter the studio. Always remember, we are all a family of musicians. No one is here to tear you down. We are all here to lift you up.
My Favorite Local Places
Dunkin' Donuts, Bergen County Overpeck Park
Three Tips for Success
Believe in yourself: Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Practice: 30 Minutes a day can propel you to the musician you want to be. Be Humble: Know that it takes time and that there will be some struggles along the way, but keep at it and stay the course because you will be just fine.
Dmitri
Burtis
Teacher
EducationBerklee College of Music
SpecialtyPiano, Drums
InfluencesThe Roots
Amir “QuestLove” Thompson
Miles Davis
Chris “Daddy” Dave
Mark Giuliana
Max Roach
Matt Garstka
Hiatus Kaiyote
Cloud Kicker
LocationsNorthvale, NJ
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Hi, I'm Dmitri
I was born in Venice Beach, California where I began studying percussion at the age of five. At the age of ten, my family and I moved to Bali, Indonesia. There I studied Balinese Gamelan percussion and played in a 15-piece Gamelan ensemble. When I was 12, we moved again to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I began studying drums. Shortly thereafter, I became the drummer for the professional Zimbabwean music group, Jaka, and toured with them for five years. I attended Berklee College of Music where I studied drum performance and music business, concentrating on learning to play in a variety of music styles from Jazz to heavy metal to World Music genres. Succeeding my studies at Berklee, I have joined and worked with numerous bands, tours and have recorded multiple albums.
My Approach To A Typical Lesson
I always strive for my students to grow their ability to express themselves through their instrument and through their musical sensibility. I achieve this though positive habit-building techniques and teaching my students to find excitement and joy in their practice routines. I teach this way so my students have the opportunity to become great expressive musicians, and so these positive principles carry into all other aspects of their lives.
My Advice For Students
Listen to as much music as possible and try to stay open to expanding your taste in music. Sing, hum, tap and play along to the music you listen to, no matter when or where you’re listening to it (unless it will disturb other listeners). Also, remember to always bring some joy into your day, everyday, by connecting with music and playing your instrument at least once.
My favorite places to go in NYC
The MET, The Blue Note, Smalls, Dirt Candy and Wave Hill
Zach
Lambert
Teacher
EducationWilliam Paterson
SpecialtyPiano, Guitar, Music Production, Music Theory, Songwriting
InfluencesKurt Rosenwinkle, John Scofield, Julian Lage, Gilad Hekselman, Tim Miller
LocationsNorthvale, NJ
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Hi, I’m Zach!

Growing up I was obsessed with rock music. I started playing guitar at age 8 and quickly began writing my own songs and improvising solos. Soon I began playing in local bands where I was able to begin performing publicly. In high school, I became interested in jazz, and I eventually decided that’s what I wanted to focus on in college. I attended Towson University for jazz guitar performance, but I also studied classical guitar and music composition. I wanted to dive deeper into writing so in 2022 I moved to New Jersey to peruse a masters in jazz composition and arranging at William Paterson University. Recently, I have been writing lots of big band music, practicing afro-Latin rhythms, and transcribing solos by my favorite guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkle.

My approach to a typical lesson

My biggest goal as a teacher is to get my students to be as excited about music as I am. I’m much more concerned with fostering my student’s creativity than I am about having them play assignments perfectly. Typically, I start each lesson with focusing on a specific aspect of playing and then by the end I apply what we’ve covered to something that the student is interested in or has been working on.

My advice for students

Be patient with yourself and do not compare your progress to others. It is easy to think of learning as a linear process when more realistically it is a cyclical process. Unlearning, relearning, getting stuck and burning out are all integral parts of your musical journey and should not be viewed as unproductive. Lastly, do not judge your musical ideas since judgment is the death of creativity. If you see value in something, others will too.

My favorite local places

“The Shed”, The Village Vanguard, High Mountain Park Preserve.

Three Tips for success

Rhythm is the most important element in music, followed by melody then harmony.

If you can sing it, you can play it. Your sense of melody does not come from your instrument or your hands but always from within.

Growth is the result of balancing disciplined study and practice with exploration of your own creative ideas. Each does not exist without the other, like the two sides of a coin. The rules exist to be broken, but the most effective way to break a rule is to first master it.

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Northvale Location Calendar

Our Hours are Monday-Thursday: 12PM-9PM; Friday: 12PM-6:30 PM; Saturday: 10AM-2PM; Sunday: Closed

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