At WillYouLearn, we pride ourselves on teachers who bring not just their musical expertise but their passion and personality into every lesson. One of those incredible teachers is Joe Graziosi, a saxophonist, pianist, award-winning composer, and overall musical powerhouse. Whether he’s arranging recital performances, creating stunning recordings (or leading our faculty at holiday party sing alongs) Joe’s dedication to both his music and his students sets him apart.
Epic Recitals Joe’s creativity, experience and expertise shines through in his students' recital performances. His arrangement of “I’m Just Ken” .... New York City is known for its vibrant music scene, offering everything from intimate jazz clubs to grand concert halls. But when it comes to enjoying live music with the whole family, finding the right venue can be a bit tricky. Fortunately, the city is home to several fantastic spots where music lovers of all ages can experience the magic of live performances. Here are some of the best family-friendly music venues in NYC where you can enjoy a great show with your kids.
At WillYouLearn, our teachers are more than just instructors — they’re dynamic performers who bring their passion for music into every lesson. Today, we’re spotlighting one of our standout educators, Charlie O’Connor, whose unique blend of humor, creativity, and musical expertise creates a learning experience like none other. Charlie's rendition of "Row, Row, Row Your boat"
 One thing all the good and memorable teachers I've had in my life have in common is that they could made me laugh. From a high school history teacher who threw erasers at sleeping students to a grad professor who could tell you you sound terrible in a way that made you look forward to hearing it. They weren't all Jerry Seinfeld but they had humor in their own way. Some witty, some dry, some sarcastic, some even a bit shocking, but all funny. I remember these teachers more vividly than the rest and I remember their lessons more clearly. Is there a correlation between laughter and learning? I've always said that a laughing student is a happy student and happy students make happy parents. But it seems there's more benefit to laughter than just a happy student. Laughter can have tremendously positive physiological benefits on learning. Laughter activates regions in our brains which release the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is the major component that regulates desire and motivation, it reinforces pleasure-seeking behavior and greatly influence our happiness. In other words, dopamine makes us feel good and can make students enjoy their lessons more. Dopamine secretion also improve our memory. Studies have shown that when dopamine is present during an event or experience, we will remember it; however, if it is absent, we usually won’t. Dopamine is tied to your reward center, so if you don’t feel interested in specific activities or learning certain subjects, then dopamine levels will decrease in your prefrontal cortex. If this happens, then your brain will not feel the motivation to remember the facts presented to you. So if you make your students laugh, not only do we get happy students and happy parents, a laughing student is learning. |
AuthorWill Armstrong is the founder of WillYouLearn. He's a professional pianist with over 20 years of teaching experience. Archives
March 2025
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