Will Armstrong - Founder of WillYouLearn
Name: Will Armstrong
Instrument: Piano I like to play ... Jazz, pop, funk, R&B, Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Trad Irish. Students Say ... patient, flexible, creative, encouraging, supportive, great with young children, funny, inspiring |
Years Teaching: 10+ years
Hometown: New York, NY Education: Master of Music, NYU (Jazz Performance) Expertise: Piano pedagogy, Improvisation, Technique, Ear training, Sight Reading, Early Childhood Music Education, Adaptive Music |
Will Armstrong is one of New York City’s most sought-after music educators and a highly respected jazz pianist, known for his ability to connect with students of all ages and deliver real, lasting progress.
Since founding WillYouLearn in 2013, he has grown the program into one of NYC’s most trusted sources for in-home and online music lessons—grounded in an ear-first philosophy that emphasizes creativity, connection, and musical fluency.
Will’s musical foundation runs deep. He began his jazz studies at the University of the District of Columbia under the legendary Calvin Jones of the original Ray Charles big band, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College, received a Certificate in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory, and completed a Master’s in Jazz Piano from NYU.
As a pianist, Will has performed with jazz legends including Ron McClure, Stefon Harris, and Ari Hoenig, and brings deep understanding of the jazz tradition to both the stage and the classroom.
His performance career spans genres and mediums. He’s headlined at NYC venues like the Iridium Jazz Club and Don’t Tell Mama, served as the in-house pianist at Michigan’s historic Grand Hotel, and toured nationally with indie and traditional ensembles. Will was the leader, composer, and arranger for WildTonic, a Brooklyn-based band that blended original songwriting with jazz and cabaret sensibilities. His debut album, It Is Solved By Walking, was praised by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as “haunting and Irish-tinged.”
As a composer and recording artist, his work includes original scores and appearances for film, television, and publishing—with credits including Mozart in the Jungle, Union Square, Price Check, The Caretaker, and Netflix’s Maniac, where he also appeared on camera stunt-doubling as Gabriel Byrne’s hands.
Will has taught at NYU, Avenues: The World School, the Hewitt School, Marymount, and several Boys & Girls Clubs. In addition to his teaching, he creates a wide range of educational content, including method books, practice materials, and original children’s literature that make music learning more intuitive and fun.
He also serves as a behind-the-scenes consultant for emerging music education companies and is actively involved in shaping the future of learning through his own technology company Metempo—bridging the gap between traditional instruction and modern digital tools.
At the heart of everything Will does is a simple goal: to help people become musicians—not just by reading notes, but by listening deeply, playing joyfully, and making music a lifelong part of who they are.
Since founding WillYouLearn in 2013, he has grown the program into one of NYC’s most trusted sources for in-home and online music lessons—grounded in an ear-first philosophy that emphasizes creativity, connection, and musical fluency.
Will’s musical foundation runs deep. He began his jazz studies at the University of the District of Columbia under the legendary Calvin Jones of the original Ray Charles big band, earned a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College, received a Certificate in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory, and completed a Master’s in Jazz Piano from NYU.
As a pianist, Will has performed with jazz legends including Ron McClure, Stefon Harris, and Ari Hoenig, and brings deep understanding of the jazz tradition to both the stage and the classroom.
His performance career spans genres and mediums. He’s headlined at NYC venues like the Iridium Jazz Club and Don’t Tell Mama, served as the in-house pianist at Michigan’s historic Grand Hotel, and toured nationally with indie and traditional ensembles. Will was the leader, composer, and arranger for WildTonic, a Brooklyn-based band that blended original songwriting with jazz and cabaret sensibilities. His debut album, It Is Solved By Walking, was praised by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as “haunting and Irish-tinged.”
As a composer and recording artist, his work includes original scores and appearances for film, television, and publishing—with credits including Mozart in the Jungle, Union Square, Price Check, The Caretaker, and Netflix’s Maniac, where he also appeared on camera stunt-doubling as Gabriel Byrne’s hands.
Will has taught at NYU, Avenues: The World School, the Hewitt School, Marymount, and several Boys & Girls Clubs. In addition to his teaching, he creates a wide range of educational content, including method books, practice materials, and original children’s literature that make music learning more intuitive and fun.
He also serves as a behind-the-scenes consultant for emerging music education companies and is actively involved in shaping the future of learning through his own technology company Metempo—bridging the gap between traditional instruction and modern digital tools.
At the heart of everything Will does is a simple goal: to help people become musicians—not just by reading notes, but by listening deeply, playing joyfully, and making music a lifelong part of who they are.
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