Helloโyoung listeners, music enthusiasts, and pianists, kickstart your classical piano studies. Piano Buds in a Pod offer group classes in music and art appreciation for young listeners, group piano classes, and individual piano classes for all beginners to advanced levels, including classical piano exam training for the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in the heart of New YorkโUpper East Side. Group piano programs are thoughtfully designed to introduce students to fundamental concepts in classical music performance.
Alexandra Minoza, founder of Piano Buds in a Pod, is a professional pianist. She holds a Master of Music in Advanced Performance (Piano) from the Royal College of Music in London, where she was awarded the Polani Award scholarship, studied under pianist Leon McCawley; a Bachelor of Music in Performance (Piano) from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore, where she received a full scholarship sponsored by Singtel, studied under Albert Tiu; and a High School Diploma from the Philippine High School for the Arts as a government scholar. She has taught early childhood music education, the Suzuki Piano Method, and prepared students for ABRSM and Trinity College London examinations in Singapore. She also taught at KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, India, founded by Grammy Award-winning composer and music producer A.R. Rahman.
From 2024 to 2025, Alexandra collaborated as a pianist in various competitions and performances, including Carnegie Hall appearances. She worked with clarinetist Kristianna McClain on Rabaudโs Solo de Concours, Op. 10 (Elite International Music Competition); soprano Keerthana Sriram on Mozartโs Voi che sapete and Schubertโs Lachen und Weinen (American Virtuoso and American Protรฉgรฉ competitions); vocalist Prarthana Sriram on Miley Cyrusโ Wrecking Ball (American Protรฉgรฉ); vocalist Dhanya Mayuran on Christina Perriโs A Thousand Years (American Protรฉgรฉ); and violinist Beckett Chua (American Protรฉgรฉ). Additionally, she performed Prokofievโs Peter and the Wolf, arranged for one narrator, two violins, one viola, and one piano, at Earth & Me in Astoria, Queens. She also gave a violin and piano recital, performing Beethovenโs Violin Sonata No. 8, Bruchโs Violin Concerto, Op. 26, Dvoลรกk-Kreislerโs Slavonic Fantasia in B minor, and Paganiniโs Cantabile.
Alexandra currently lives in New York City.
Baby Beethoven are early-childhood music classes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers crafted to spark their imagination through music, movement, piano, and dramatic play. Over the semester, with varied themes, students will explore the core concepts of performing classical music within pretend play while keeping a steady beat, playing rhythm instruments, dancing to orchestral music, reading notation, singing the solfรจge, and exploring the piano with one-finger classical tunes with your stuffy Nina the Ballerina. Class size: 8-9 students. Class duration: 45-minutes. Fee: $30/1-introductory class with the code BABYBEETHOVEN; $32/1-class with a course ticket; $45/1-class (drop-in)
Piano Pioneers is a group piano program for beginner & intermediate levels. You will explore the keyboard basics, reading on the grand staff, increasing finger dexterity, playing solo repertoire, and performing in front of the class. Whether you plan to play your favorite piece, or take a piano exam, pieces are at the heart of your piano education. After all, playing an instrument is all about exploring, performing, and learning through repertoire. There are a few options to pay for the classes: pay per class "1-class/drop-in ticket"; pay per term "course ticket". Class size: 5 students. Class duration: 45-minutes.Fee: $37.50/45-minutes class with a course ticket; $50/45-minutes class (drop-in )
Individual Piano is a 1:1 weekly piano class on the grand piano for beginners up to ABRSM Grade 1 to 8 levels, open to all ages from 3+ to adults. Whether you're aiming to play your favorite piece or preparing for an ABRSM exam, the focus will be on mastering pieces as the core of your piano education. Additionally, students have the opportunity to practice on any of the five digital pianos with headsets, available before and after the class. Please inform the teacher in advance if you'd like to take advantage of this. Fee: $25/30-minutes 1-introductory class with the code ILOVEPIANO.
Congratulations to our students on their outstanding achievements in the ABRSM (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Piano Performance Grade Exam! ๐
Anthony Nguyen, Piano, Performance Grade Initial (Distinction)
Xin Wang, Piano, Performance Grade Initial (Distinction)
Neha Singh, Piano, Performance Grade Initial (Distinction)
Shiv Dubey, Piano, Performance Grade Initial (Distinction)
Pass 100 | Merit 120 | Distinction 130 of 150
Central Park Conservancy Playground Partners Annual Family Party 2024
Carnegie Hall debut of violinist Beckett Chua at the American Protรฉgรฉ Winners Recital at the Weill Recital Hall Carnegie Hall on June 16, 2024. Beckett studies with violist Pham Thi Thu Thuy in Singapore.
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Piano Buds in a Podยฎ NYC (91 St. & 2nd Ave.)
1751 2nd Avenue, Suite 101, New York, New York 10128, United States