“Both of our children love Akiko and Jesse! They’ve been taking lessons from them for several years now—-classical and jazz. By the good fortune of the gods, Beacon has been blessed with their piano studio. They bring a vast knowledge of musical traditions to their lessons, as well as patience, enthusiasm, and a lifetime of performing experience, while making learning the piano fun and exciting. Hooray for Forte!” ”

“Families in Beacon are so very lucky to have Forte Piano Studio as a resource. Professional, inspiring and all around awesome instruction in classical and jazz genres. Student-oriented, kind, fun and an overall excellent approach. Theory and sight-reading are covered thoroughly.”

“Forte Piano Studio is EXCELLENT! My daughter has been studying there for years and has consistently been given engaging lessons. Akiko goes the extra mile for all her students and Forte recitals are always a treat. It’s been a wonderful experience, highly recommended!”

“We are so thrilled to have Jesse as our son’s piano teacher. He is thriving - Jesse brings an ease and joy to his practice, focuses on his interests, teaches theory and improvisation, and allows him to grow in a way that is just right for him. Forte Piano’s recitals are so much fun to attend, the studio is filled with students who really love to play!”

“I am so grateful to have found Forte Piano Studio. As an adult student with only 2 to 3 years of experience scattered throughout my childhood I did not have high expectations for my progress. Since studying with Jesse I am constantly amazed at the improvements in my playing. He brings deep knowledge, enthusiasm and patience to every lesson. If he had been my teacher in my youth I probably would not have stopped playing!”

“My name is Cory Shen and I am writing to convey how amazing Jesse Stacken is as a music teacher!! My son David, who is now a Freshman at Columbia University, had the tremendous fortune of having Jesse as his piano instructor for 10 years!! All during David’s time in elementary, middle, and high school. Jesse did not simply “instruct” David in piano - he enriched his music educational experience by guiding David to appreciate and understand music and music theory, to learn about the work and the life stories of important musicians, and, most importantly to stretch beyond his limits to truly grow as a musician. Early on while David was in elementary school, he expressed an interest in Jazz, so it was ideal to have Jesse as his instructor since this is Jesse’s specialty. Jesse always reached beyond instruction — he helped David to identify the Jazz at Lincoln Center program, which David participated in during middle school and high school. He helped David prepare a video for his college applications and even wrote David a recommendation letter for college. Most importantly, when Jesse moved from NYC to set up shop in Beacon, he continued to come to NYC for David’s music lessons until David graduated from high school. As a freshman at Columbia, David carries with him his love for music and he is still playing now with the Columbia Jazz ensemble!”

“I could not ask for better piano teachers than Jesse and Akiko. Two of my children have been taking lessons with them for over 4 years, they are both engaging in a way that makes specific piano techniques and pedagogy relatable to young kids. Their professional approach to music and teaching has inspired and motivated my kids to work hard and perform to the best of their abilities. They look forward to lessons and practice diligently at home, with clear direction on what is going right, and what they need to improve upon. We really appreciate having them in our kids’ lives!”

“Our daughter has been taking classical piano lessons with Akiko for years and she has grown musically by leaps and bounds. Before Forte she’d had lessons for a few years, but it wasn’t until working with Akiko that she learned to play using dynamics, mood, music theory, and other elements that have enriched and elevated her musical ability. Now she loves classical music, has favorite composers (Chopin, Debussy, Shostakovich), and has even done a few competitions. Akiko and Jesse are also behind some fun local community outreach efforts like bringing old pianos onto the streets of Beacon to encourage people to strike up a tune and classical performances at the Howland Center. We couldn’t be happier with Forte Piano Studio.”