Private Instruction
Instrumental music lessons (piano, guitar, violin, saxophone, clarinet, flute trumpet and drums) are offered at PS 9 from 3:00 and 5:30 each day that afterschool is in session. Lessons are 30 minutes long. The price for a block of 10 lessons in $600.
Lesson schedule: Because all students progress at their own pace, the lesson schedule is independent of the regular afterschool cycles for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Once a student approaches the end of their block of ten lessons, families will be reminded to purchase another block. Once a day and time is agreed upon we’ll add the charge to your account.
Cancellation policy: If a student is unable to make it to a scheduled lesson, we ask that parents inform us 24 hours in advance so that another student can be scheduled for the time slot and the teacher doesn’t travel to school unnecessarily. Missed lessons will be charged.
Inquiries or to register: email Ryan@ArtsAndAthletics.org
Instructors:
Stephen Benson, Guitar or Piano
Stephen Benson, an active figure in the New York City Freelance music scene. His versatility spans various musical genres, from jazz and classical to rock, blues, Broadway, Bluegrass, and Klezmer. Stephen’s extensive experience includes performances and recordings with a diverse array of artists, such as Phoebe Snow, John Sebastian, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Natalie Cole, Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, Harry Connick Jr., Take 6, and more.
Stephen’s musical journey has taken him to prestigious stages, including the Grand Canyon Music Festival with Robert Bonfiglio, performances with Evelyn Blakey at the Carnival of Venice, and a two-year European tour with the Giora Feidman Trio. He contributed to a worldwide tour of “A Chorus Line” and recently played in Broadway orchestra pits for “Aladdin,” “Chicago,” and “The Lion King.”
Randall Klitz, Guitar, Piano
Meet Randall Klitz, a seasoned music instructor with a rich heritage of musicianship and education. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in music, his grandfather contributed his talents to the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, while his father served as a professor of music (history and theory) at the University of Connecticut.
Randall extends his passion for music through teaching, offering lessons in piano, guitar, and bass for students of all ages, including adults. Beyond instrumental instruction, he shares his expertise in songwriting, recognized as an award winner of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
With an impressive performance background, Randall has graced Broadway stages and toured nationally with Broadway shows. His musical journey has seen collaborations with various artists, from Nick Jonas to Jennifer Hudson. Notably, he had the honor of meeting his favorite musician, Stevie Wonder, during a tour in New Zealand.
Randall Klitz brings a wealth of musical experience and a genuine love for teaching to inspire and nurture the musical talents of his students.
Ed Horan, Drums, Piano and Voice
Ed Horan, a dynamic teacher, and composer/performer rooted in Brooklyn. A recent graduate of Princeton University, Ed channels his passion for music into teaching Musical Theater percussion, drums, piano, and voice with the Arts and Athletics afterschool program.
Ed’s artistic pursuits extend beyond the classroom, where he can frequently be found performing around the city or even further afield, with recent appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Outside of music, Ed enjoys expanding his skill set by learning new instruments and indulging in a love for old horror movies.
His vibrant energy and commitment to musical education make Ed a valuable member of the Arts and Athletics team, enriching the afterschool experience for students through his diverse musical talents.
Kevin Oliver Jr., Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute
Kevin Oliver, Jr. is a saxophonist from Atlanta, GA currently based in New York City. He has had opportunities to perform all over the world including during the inaugural year of NYO Jazz where he performed at Carnegie Hall and across Europe with Dianne Reeves and Sean Jones. He was a Youngarts Finalist in 2019. Since then, he has graduated from The Juilliard School where he gained insight from saxophonists Bruce Williams, Ron Blake and artistic director Wynton Marsalis. He also completed a YoungArts Mentorship with Vijay Iyer. As a sideman, Kevin has performed with Endea Owens, Jon Batiste, Immanuel Wilkins, Etienne Charles, and Giveton Gelin at clubs and venues such as Dizzys Club, Brooklyn Steel, DC Jazz Festival and Newport Jazz Festival. As a bandleader, Kevin has performed at jazz clubs across the US namely the Velvet Note, Goodtimes Jazz Bar and all over New York City.
Kevin is a passionate educator. During his time at Juilliard he was a Morse Teaching Fellow and was a Jazz House Kids teaching artist. He also teaches private lessons for flute, saxophone and clarinet. His teaching philosophy is a people centered approach that focuses on giving a student all the foundational tools they need to succeed while celebrating and cultivating their humanity. Kevin hopes to be a positive force that changes the world. Read more about Kevin here.
Camilo Molina, Trumpet
Camilo is a jazz trumpeter who grew up in North Port, Florida; a small town located just south of Sarasota. Right after high school, Camilo attended Miami Dade Community College before transferring to the University of Miami, where he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in jazz performance at the Frost School of Music. Camilo has been involved in the jazz scene in Miami, performing in many popular jazz venues, such as Lagniappe, Le Chat Nior, The Fish House, Miami Beach Bandshell and many more. He has also performed in several music festivals in Miami such as the Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival, Young Musicians festival and the Frost School of Music Festival. Currently, Camilo is an active performer in New York City. Camilo has been awarded second place at the 2022 International Trumpet Guild Competition in the jazz division. He has received mentorship from many present greats such as Marquis Hill, Philip Dizack, Michael Rodriguez, Etienne Charles, and Dafnis Prieto to name a few. He has also studied and performed with the likes of Brian Lynch, and Marcus Strickland and performed in a big band led by Christian McBride. Camilo Molina released his debut album, The Journey, in 2023 which is now available on all music platforms.