helene silverman

I am a professional musician and dedicated educator offering personalized music instruction in piano, flute, and violin. Based in New York, I have been teaching private lessons both in person and online since 1993. I work with students of all ages and skill levels—including beginners, college-bound musicians, adults, and retirees—helping each one grow in confidence and ability. My lessons include preparation for New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) festivals, college auditions, and scholarship applications. I offer instructions across multiple genres including Classical, Jazz, Rock, and Pop.

Additionally, I mentor aspiring music teachers. Many of my students have gone on to successful careers in music. Some have earned scholarships to institutions such as C.W. Post, SUNY Potsdam, and Nassau Community College. Others have become professional performers, working Off-Broadway and touring nationally with Broadway productions. Several have become music educators themselves, using the teaching methods passed down through my family.

Music has always been at the heart of my life. Both of my parents are professional piano teachers, and my father was a professional singer with The Bell Tones, a vocal group from the mid-20th century. My grandmother was a famous Broadway performer, and my brother is an Emmy Award Winning Record Producer married to an 80’s famous freestyle singer. Family gatherings were filled with music, and my siblings and I soon joined in with our own instruments. I began piano lessons at age five, violin at eight, and flute at ten.

I was accepted into Hofstra University as a flute major, but later changed my focus to Television, Video, and Film, with a minor in Drama, to broaden my creative education. I continued to play flute in the college band throughout my academic years.

After working in various corporate roles, I realized my true calling was in teaching music—a decision that has led to a fulfilling and lifelong career.

As a performer, I have stayed active by serving as the first violin in the Symphonic Pops of Long Island for six years and first flute in the Nassau County Pops Band for one year. I have also performed in chamber trios and contributed to recordings on both violin and piano

Passing on, my family’s musical legacy is not just a job - it’s my passion and life’s work!

My teaching style emphasizes music literacy as a foundation for creative expression. I believe learning to play an instrument goes hand in hand with learning to read and understand music. My method—handed down through generations in my family—combines music theory with hands-on technique to support quick sight-reading and musical enjoyment. Each lesson is carefully structured to include both theoretical understanding and practical playing. As students advance, we spend more time playing but always maintain a focus on foundational knowledge such as rhythm, notation, and technique. Because of this well-rounded approach, many of my students can compose and write their own music.