Gabriel Oldfield
About
I am a pianist, composer, and teacher who loves working with students of all ages and skill levels. I have experience teaching young or adult beginners up through conservatory-level students.
I studied Piano Performance at NYU, where I received a Bachelor's and Master's degree, and did extensive work in Music Theory, Music Pedagogy, and Composition. While in graduate school, I served as an Adjuct Faculty member in the Piano Department and tutored music theory, ear training, counterpoint, and music history classes. I maintain a private piano studio and continue to teach and tutor college students in their theory classes.
Teaching Style
I enjoy working with students longterm and coming to understand their specific needs over time. My primary goal with younger students is to build and maintain a passion for music that will last a lifetime. For more experienced students, I strive each lesson to foster a sense of curiosity and discovery. Often, with time, the wonderment of music can fade if it isn't adequately supported—I do my best to ensure that my students can experience that sense of awe in whatever aspect of music they are studying.
Curriculum
I tailor my teaching to student needs. Often, students come to me when they have not had success with their own teachers and professors and need a new approach. I am a flexible teacher and can come from a variety of angles in order to find what works best for the individual. Some of my greatest successes in teaching music theory have come from removing the conservatory contexts that surround music and rebuilding a student's understanding from the ground up. I create and source exercises from a variety of places (never AI-generated) depending on what style might work best.
With regard to teaching piano, I specialize in restructuring poor technique into a relaxed, momentum and weight-based approach. I can often provide small adjustments that make overly belabored passages feel easier, or can work with you longterm on erasing bad habits (many of which come from commonly taught standard piano techniques).
Credentials & Affiliations
New York University:
B.M. Piano Performance, 2021 — I was a piano student of Alan Feinberg, and composition student of Drew Krause. My primary mentors in theory and analysis were Dr. Panos Mavromatis and Dr. Sarah Marlowe.
New York University:
M.M. Piano Performanxe, 2023 — Studio of Alan Feinberg.
Adjunct Faculty at NYU from 2021–2023
Theory Tutor at NYU from 2019–2023
I was a pianist for the NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble and harpsichordist with the NYU Baroque Ensemble for several years. I have also extensively performed chamber and solo music around NYC.
