About
At New York School of Music, we believe music can be transformative in people’s lives because it has transformed ours. That’s why we do all we can to give musicians of all ages the tools they need in their tool boxes to build a creative life that is meaningful and rewarding. Whether that’s as a hobbyist, gigging musician, fulltime pro, soundman, producer… you name it… we provide a positive place for people to explore their interests and express themselves creatively.
Our music school is located less than 75 miles from Manhattan in Orange County, in the historic downtown of Walden, New York. We are one of the top-rated music schools in the Hudson Valley, located right at its heart! Based on the philosophy that the best way to learn music is to make it, the school is a welcoming spot for aspiring musicians of all ages to learn, compose and share music; where the unique talents and interests of every individual are recognized, fostered and encouraged.
We offer private lessons, ensemble classes, summer workshops, seminars, seasonal programs, masterclasses and more for everyone from beginners to lifelong learners. Whether you're looking for music lessons as an adult or for your children, there's always a place for you here! We also offer a modest selection of quality music equipment, accessories, sheet music and lesson books for sale.
We encourage our students to not just participate, practice and excel, but to become part of our collaborative and supportive musical community, which includes peers, instructors and our network of professional mentors who absolutely rock! And, we love family involvement – from meeting instructors to attending performances to encouraging daily practice, it all builds up our culture of encouragement and enthusiasm in ways that supercharge your student’s success.
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Meet Tim & Rosie Porco, two musicians who met at a music club in 2010. It was love from the first measure. They started a band called Tanager and quickly proceeded to book opening slots for musical acts including Pete Seeger, Adam Levy and Jim Campilongo. Five years later they got married in a ceremony officiated by their bass player, overlooking the seat of Americana music, Woodstock, New York. Amy Helm & the Handsome Strangers were the wedding band. Two years later, the couple bought a music school in Walden, New York. They are living happily ever after!
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WEDDING SONG: Songbird (Christine McVie)
Rosie Rion Porco
Rosie's earliest musical experiences were in and around the vibrant and historic Woodstock scene. In fact, it was during her senior year at Onteora High School that The Band’s Levon Helm helped raise more than $5,000 to save the school’s music program. The significance of the moment – the connection between education and performance; professionals and students – was not lost on Rosie. Mentored by electric violinist Betty McDonald, Rosie gained access to the world of professional musicians, club gigs with her band Mango!, and got to see both the good and tough realities of the creative industry. While studying at Syracuse University, Rosie worked internships for the Syracuse Symphony, The Syracuse Society for New Music, Dreissig Apparel, and the S.U. First Year Players theater group, all with a focus on marketing and business development. After completing her degree in Cello Performance and Entrepreneurship, Rosie returned to the area and became General Manager of the venerable Hudson Valley music venue and art space, The Falcon*. There, she continued to make industry connections while putting her degree to work, until she was recruited by Donna Hall to manage – and do some teaching at – New York School of Music. You already know how that turned out! Rosie is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist whose primary axe is cello, though she can also pick it on electric and acoustic guitars and plays a mean fiddle!
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DIGITAL vs. VINYL: Vinyl
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FAVORITE BAND/ARTIST: The Rolling Stones
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FAVORITE ALBUM: Exile on Main St. (The Rolling Stones)
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TOP 5 ALL-TIME PLAYLIST TRACKS:
Runnin' Down a Dream (Tom Petty)
The New World Symphony: Finale Movement (Dvorak)
Deconstruction (Daniel Lanois/Rocco DeLuca)
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac)
Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (The Rolling Stones)
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FAVORITE MUSICAL MEMORY:
The time I got to play lead drum with the Syracuse University Brazilian Ensemble in a performance at Crouse Auditorium, at a time when the ensemble was just over 50 members strong. BOOM BOOM!
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* That’s where she met Tim. He was a regular. As Neil Young would say, “[He] used to order just to watch her float across the floor.”
Tim Porco
Tim has never met a Telecaster he didn’t like, and that’s exactly how he feels about workdays now that he spends them at New York School of Music. Business owner by day, gigging guitarist by night – and lifelong music lover – Tim has been sharing his passion for music in one way or another for as long as he can recall. Tim played in bands throughout his high school career in Marlboro, NY, and his collegiate years studying Entrepreneurship at SUNY Plattsburgh. He first combined his business acumen and appreciation for guitars working in sales at the popular music retailer Alto Music. Tim learned a lot about the ins and outs of locally owned, family-run business working for his family’s company as a teen. He had been working there again when he and Rosie decided to buy New York School of Music.
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DIGITAL vs. VINYL: Vinyl
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FAVORITE BAND/ARTIST: Neil Young
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FAVORITE ALBUM: After The Gold Rush (Neil Young)
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TOP 5 ALL-TIME PLAYLIST TRACKS:
Heart Of Gold (Neil Young)
Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground (Willie Nelson)
The Maker (Daniel Lanios)
Slippery People (Talking Heads)
Starman (David Bowie)
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FAVORITE MUSICAL MEMORY: The time our band, Tanager, opened for Adam Levy at The Falcon, and Adam sat in to play lead guitar on one of my original tunes!