Little Notes Teaching Staff
Little Notes for Little Fingers
Now Hiring
Position: piano, violin, cello, guitar, & voice instructors.
Week days and weekends available.
Contact: Andrea
Andrea L. Valcuha
Andrea Valcuha the owner and director of the Little Notes Music School. Her love for music and the need for passing her passion on to students of all ages and ability levels became the main philosophy of the Little Notes Music School. She has a Master's Degree in Liberal Arts and Science and Musical Education from the University of Presov, Slovakia. Andrea has over 20 years of teaching experience in violin, viola, cello, string orchestra, and piano. One of her specialties is working with very young beginners, ages 3 to 6, in violin and piano. She also works with children with special needs: ADD, ADHD, Autism, and Music Synesthesia are all part of her teaching expertise. She continues her education by attending workshops, seminars and national conferences. As a member of ASTA (American String Teachers Association) she holds a certificate in Solo Adjudication. Andrea is a licenced Kindermusik teacher. She is also a very active musician and performs all over the USA.
Big Jeff
Many children across the metro area heard their first live guitar and vocal music with a very tall guy known as "Big Jeff." Jeff DeSmedt has been performing under that name full-time for the past 25 years at preschools, libraries, birthday parties, family concerts and the occasional "grownup" show. He's sold over 10,000 CDs, played over 10,000 shows, and has a couple of family music awards to his name. His instruments are guitar, ukulele, bass (acoustic, electric), drums, voice. He’s proud to be bringing his experience working with young people to the Little Notes teaching staff!
Cyrenah Smith
Cyrenah Smith is a passionate performer and music teacher specializing in stringed instruments. She began her journey as an educator while still a student herself, mentoring orchestra students in Randolph elementary schools and working as a summer program counselor at the New Jersey Youth Symphony and Little Notes Music School. She began to teach lessons privately and in music studios during her university studies and continued teaching after graduation. Cyrenah holds a Bachelor of Music from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music (Montréal, QC, Canada), where she majored in Classical Double Bass and minored in Music Technology. Her expertise includes double bass, electric bass, mandolin, violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano, music theory and history, rock band, songwriting, and composition. She is also an active performing musician, working with ensembles ranging from classical to rock, bluegrass, and beyond.
Seth Mandel
Seth Mandel has been teaching at Little Notes for 12 years. He is well known for an exceptionally sensitive way of teaching young adults and mature learners on guitar, mandolin, piano, keyboard, violin, electric violin, trumpet, music theory, song writing and rock band music. He studied at Rutgers University and County College of Morris in New Jersey. Seth is currently pursuing his teaching degree at Montclair State University. He also performs in a variety of bands and groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Maros Kocerha
Maros Kocerha is our teacher for advanced level piano students. Maros has been a very important member of our school for 6 years now. His style of teaching—analyzing, paying attention to the details and following through make his teaching style very effective and unique. He holds a Master's Degree from the Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia and a Performance of Arts Degree from Adelphi University, NY in Piano and Music Theory. He is also a General Manager at Astoria Soundworks, music rehearsal studios, Astoria, NY. Besides managing and teaching he is a performer too. His teaching experiences include: piano, keyboard, cimbalom (hammered dulcimer), accordion, guitar, music theory, composition, recording and rock music.
Jihyeon Berman
Jihyeon Berman has a strong teaching background from teaching in private studios and conducting youth orchestras for 9 years. Mrs. “Celine” has a Bachelor and Master's of Music in Cello Performance from Mannes College The New School for Music, NY. She likes to teach in a way that conveys a positive message to her students while focusing on practical technique and basic theory; with emphasis on emotional expression. Her expertise includes: piano, violin, viola, chamber music conductor, music theory and history for all ages.
Cindy Dreispan
Licensed Kindermusik Educator. Her mission started in 2015 and her program is very well received at various locations. We are so happy to welcome Mrs. Cindy at Little Notes this year! Kindermusik offers classes for children from 0-7 years of age. Its a researched based music and movement program dedicated to the development of the whole child. Programs provide activities that encourage creativity, exploration, language, movement and social development.
