Testimonials

I have known Michelle for many years. We became a musical duo about 6 years ago, performing regularly in venues in New Jersey and New York. I am a jazz vocalist and Michelle partners me on the piano/ keyboard. We have grown to become an act that is renowned. Audiences love us and our chemistry. We listen intently to each other, drawing inspiration from one another as we create beautiful music. It is a joy to work with Michelle. She is the best piano player I have ever worked with. She brings out the very best in me.

In the last year or so, we have added a fine bassist and drummer to our act and thereby have expanded our repertoire. We are able to be more free in our interpretations of standards, jazz, movie and Broadway songs. I look forward to working with Michelle well into the future.

On the first day of school this year, Ms. Cardenas asked the kids to go around the circle and explain what “helps” them learn and what “doesn't help” them learn. I'm not too embarrassed to tell you that her example of what “doesn't help” was something her mother does....However, you'll be proud to hear, I hope, that her example of what “helps her learn” came from her piano teacher, Michelle Saacks, who not only tells Alicia what notes she might be having trouble with, but also shows her on the music and piano. Alicia told the class that hearing it and seeing it was really helpful :) So hats off to you, my dear!

Both of my boys recently started taking lessons with Michelle, and not only are they thriving musically under her tutelage, they look forward to going to piano classes each week!

After our moment of stage fright, Elisa thoroughly enjoyed herself, as did we. Thank you Michelle for a wonderful learning experience! Elisa used to dread going to her former piano class — now she skips there!

If a child is musically gifted, but frustrated by the fine-motor tasks necessary to perform it, Michelle sometimes calls on her cats Lilly (shown) and Tigger. Focusing on them, she says, helps center the mind while the brain processes the musical patterns the student¹s hands are learning. Michelle is both a well-rounded performer and a classically trained teacher. Most importantly, she has a musician's intuition, for left and right brain thinking, that translates quite naturally into right-and-left-hand training — one of the hardest skills for beginners to master. Once William had conquered Bach's Prelude to the Well Tempered Clavier, Michelle set right about getting him to work out, and write down, his own arrangement of a Christmas carol. See if you can read his first measure, and you'll probably recognize the song!

Michelle does what kids really love -- she makes music fun. She also does what adults want -- she teaches music theory. That's a combination that works for everyone.

My twin boys are having a ball. They look forward to their piano lessons every week, are noticeably more ‘rhythmic’ at home when they hear music and now want to take up guitar as well. Michelle is incredibly enthusiastic – not just with the kids, but with the parents as well. She writes me progress reports. Once, she even wrote an email to me while my son was standing right in front of her. She was so excited at his playing the ‘Blues’ she told him they must share the news with mom immediately. (He was so proud!) And I also agree that the public playing (recital) is handled so well by Michelle – with great sensitivity – it’s really a life-lesson for the kids. Although I’m not sure, I think they are truly learning something. My one son who isn’t very musical is pretty bad on the piano, but HE thinks he sounds great. The other son is allegedly doing very well, but he’s too shy to play for me. Who knows? I do know that they are having a blast, the positive effect of the lessons is rubbing off on them in other ways and Michelle is great with them."

(From Jane, Program Manager, PS 166 Enrichment Club and After-School Program)

I have had the pleasure of closely observing Michelle Saacks at work in keyboard, ensemble and musical theater classrooms. In a lifetime of my own work with children in enriched learning environments, there are few colleagues I would praise as highly as I would Michelle. She has an extraordinary talent for working with children and young adults. Her intelligence, joyful energy, wit and commitment to teaching effectively make her an ideal candidate for the most discriminating education employer. She creates inspired, fun and academically substantive music learning opportunities. She is also skilled at integrating math concepts in her music instruction, sequencing and patterning, for instance.

My experience of Michelle’s teaching skill in other settings led me to invite her to join the teaching staff of the Afterschool Program that I administrate at PS 166. We were not surprised when the enrollment for Michelle’s first keyboard class had doubled by mid-term, based strictly on word of mouth among her students and their families. Her classes receive the highest ratings from parents and kids alike. The Program support staff and other administrators of the Program find her articulate, responsible and pleasant. I can only highly recommend Michelle. Please feel free to call me if I may be of assistance.

I think Georgia is having a great deal of fun learning piano. Michelle is a really fun person for the kids. She’s affectionate and warm. Georgia adores her. Michelle is subscribed to some service through the internet that allows her to play any song pretty much. So if the kids want to learn a specific song (ie. Dreidel, Dreidel), or one day Michelle wants to teach them a blues rhythm, she has them listen to it several different ways if student and teacher are interested in listening. I don’t think it’s ever boring or overly teacher directed and if it is, Michelle’s ideas are fun. Also Michelle teaches Georgia how to perform in public and they did a fair bit of role playing before the first recital. I feel that these are really valuable lessons.

Georgia loves her lessons and looks forward to them every week. Michelle picks her up from school, so it’s a bit special. She also has gotten to know some of Michelle’s other students. In fact, I sent my babysitter and my two year old to pick Georgia up last week. The student for the next lesson was already there when they showed. Michelle had that student play guitar, Georgia play piano and my two year old was given some percussion. They all “jammed” according to Michelle, and she emailed me the pix. I find Michelle to be spontaneous and creative with the kids."