Music Instruction
Teaching Philosophy
I see teaching as a collaborative journey—one where we explore sound, expression, and curiosity together. My lessons are personalized and upbeat, with a focus on jazz, composition, and theory. I love helping students achieve their goals—whether it’s writing original music, improving ear training, preparing for auditions, or simply playing with more confidence and joy. Through one-on-one lessons, group classes, and ensemble coaching, I aim to create a space where students can grow as musicians while connecting deeply with their own creative voice.
Reviews
Emi- 🎹 My 16 years old son has taken jazz piano lessons from Shai at SJA for three years. My son has really enjoyed the experience and has learned a lot from Shai and the other SJA instructors. Shai is incredibly patient, motivating, and cheerful, and always has positive attitude.
Stella - 🎹 Jude has been working with Shai for two years and is now heading into his third. Shai is an intuitive and responsive instructor, especially supportive when it comes to improvisation and helping Jude explore how to deepen and build upon what he’s already learned. What we really appreciate is that Shai takes the time to understand what direction Jude wants to grow in as a performer. This guidance helps a teenage musician think more intentionally about their next steps and opens up new possibilities. In their second year together, Jude made it into Eastlake High Jazz 1—a big milestone that reflects Shai’s thoughtful teaching. Highly recommend Shai to all jazz piano learners.
Amber- 🎹 Been here over a year and it's I’ve been taking piano lessons with Shai since August and he is an amazing teacher! From the very first lesson, Shai created a warm, welcoming environment and made learning the piano fun and engaging. He is patient, knowledgeable, and knows how to break down complex concepts into manageable steps. We covered 12 Bar Blues, Moanin' and Bossa Nova in the past 3 months. Along the way, Shai has helped me pick up new techniques, chords, and music theory. What I really appreciate is how he tailors each lesson to my learning style, making sure I’m progressing at a pace that’s both comfortable and challenging!
Kristy- 🎹 Been here over a year and it's been a great experience learning from Shai! I feel like I've grown a lot in my jazz experience and just finished my first year as a music major (with a jazz studies concentration). Can't wait to see what's to come!
Alison- 🎹 My 16 year old son takes Jazz piano from Shai and he loves it! We highly recommend Shai - my son has learned so much and loves to practice/improvise in his free time.