Our Story
Our Story
I didn’t start Heart & Soul Music Academy because I wanted to run a music school.
I started it because I knew how music lessons should feel, and how damaging it can be when they don’t.
Growing up, I worked with many different teachers. Some built me up. Others made me feel small. I was always a hard worker. I didn’t need to be pushed or scared into improvement, so the “tough love” approach never worked for me. In fact, it made things worse.
In college, I studied voice with a teacher who was extremely strict. I spent hours each week in the practice room, doing my absolute best to apply everything she introduced. I wanted to get it right. I wanted to make her proud.
But when I came back week after week, she seemed frustrated. And one day, she said something I’ll never forget:
“I don’t understand why you’re not getting this.”
That moment stayed with me.
I was trying my hardest. I just didn’t fully understand what she wanted, and I didn’t feel safe enough to say that out loud. Instead of feeling supported, I felt so embarrassed, small and defeated.
I decided that day that I would never let a student of mine feel that way.
The Problem With Traditional Music Lessons
What frustrated me most about traditional music education was just how disconnected the process often felt from the student.
Lessons were rigid.
Too focused on theory and technique.
Teachers were unwilling to work on music the student actually cared about.
Taught in a one-size-fits-all way that ignored individuality.
Some students thrive in that environment, but many don’t.
I saw so many talented, motivated musicians lose confidence because the learning environment didn’t meet them where they were.
That’s the gap Heart & Soul Music Academy was created to fill.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple and intentional:
To nurture individual expression and build confidence to ignite true passion.
Everything we do flows from that belief.
I believe students learn best when they feel supported, not beaten down. When they feel safe enough to ask questions. When they’re encouraged to express themselves, not molded into someone else’s version of “right.”
Confidence doesn’t come from pressure. It comes from feeling safe to take risks and seeing results.
Who We Serve
We work with children, teens, and adults who want to learn music, but may not yet have the tools or confidence to achieve their goals.
That includes:
Kids who are shy or hesitant at first
Teens who’ve lost confidence after a tough experience
Adults who were told they “weren’t musical” growing up
Parents who want lessons that build confidence, not anxiety
If you care deeply about how learning feels you’re in the right place.
What Confidence Really Looks Like
To us, confidence is deeply personal.
It looks like:
Singing in front of family for the first time
Performing on stage and feeling proud afterward
Raising a hand in class
Playing or singing a piece and thinking, “I didn’t know I could do that.”
Over the years, I’ve watched students go from being afraid to sing by themselves in lessons to landing lead roles in school musicals. From stopping themselves after every note in fear of cracking to belting notes they once thought were impossible. From not speaking up in class to confidently playing piano for classmates.
Those transformations never get old.
Our Team and Studio Culture
While Heart & Soul began with my personal experiences, it has grown into something much bigger.
I mentor our teachers closely and set the tone for our studio culture. Warmth, patience, and communication aren’t optional here—they’re foundational.
We work as a team. We support one another. We talk openly about our students and how to serve them best. Every teacher understands that technique matters, but so does trust.
When students walk through our doors, they’re stepping into a space designed to help them feel safe, capable, and excited to learn.
A Community Built on Care
For over 15 years, we’ve worked with families from Huntington and nearby Long Island communities. Along the way, we’ve built relationships rooted in trust, communication, and genuine care.
Parents often tell us they feel confident dropping off their child here because of how happy their child is and how comfortable they feel.
That trust means everything to us.
An Invitation
If you’re looking for a place where you or your child will be supported, challenged thoughtfully, and encouraged to grow, we’d love to welcome you.
You don’t have to take our word for it. Come see it for yourself.
— Cristina
Cristina as Young Cosette in the 1999 Broadway production of Les Misérables
"I don't think there is another place like it."
-Melissa Stark (Parent)
Questions?
Our friendly team would love to connect with you and answer all of your questions.