No Goodbyes Program - Revolutionizing the way that music is taught, one class at a time.

If you are someone who yearns to excel at an instrument such as the guitar, piano, drums, or violin but hasn't been really happy with the teaching pros you've met with, so far, help is on the way in the form of the ground-breaking NO GOODBYES PROGRAM. The team at No Goodbyes Program dares to be unconventional in their approach to teaching students and they are justifiably proud of it. In addition to providing first-rate musical instruction for over a dozen instruments, the teachers at No Goodbyes program focus on music education as a catalyst for change, an impetus for personal transformation. After taking classes with the professional, award-winning staff at No Goodbyes Program you will see the positive results, in every facet of your life, not just musically speaking.

They aim to cultivate dreamers who envision with their eyes wide open, not closed. In short, the staff at No Goodbyes Program is dedicated to creating students who will become masters of communication, creation and imagination. You will hear these words often from your instructor. Most importantly, it's all about personal growth. The founder of No Goodbyes Program carefully curates his staff of talented and caring instructors. Not everyone who applies will make the cut.  And that's the way it should be. Your potential, as a musician and person, is in their hands. It's a matter of trust.  At No Goodbyes Program, students will delight in learning their instrument of choice. But, they will also acquire problem-solving skills that can be applied to other areas of life. This is customizable tutoring at its finest.

The No Goodbyes Program is proud to announce its residency at Astoria Soundworks, located in the charming Ditmars neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. Only a short stroll from the Ditmars Blvd. N and W train station, Astoria Soundworks features state-of-the-art facilities equipped with top-tier sound isolation and cutting-edge audio equipment, not to mention a very cool and friendly ambiance. Both private and group lessons are on offer. Decide what makes YOU comfortable. But, never, ever forget to challenge yourself. That's a huge part of the deal with the No Goodbyes Program.

Now, it's time to introduce you to one of the dynamic instructors who make up the core of the No Goodbyes Program, pianist par excellence BRENDA GREGGIO.

A rising young star on the Big Apple jazz scene, Brenda Greggio is a valued member of the team at No Goodbyes Program. She is a vital part of the transformative process that students will experience when they take classes with the No Goodbyes Program. Brenda's specialty is the piano and she totally makes the keyboard sing, weaving melodies around the room while drawing the listener into her musical world. Like many New Yorkers, Brenda originally hails from someplace else. In Brenda's case that locale would be the city of San Diego; home to miles upon miles of pristine, sandy beaches, a mild year-round climate, Petco Park, home of the Padres baseball team, Sea World and the iconic San Diego Zoo. Hey, with all that going for Brenda's home city, Aplez.com wanted to know: "Why the move to New York City? " The talented pianist was only too happy to explain.

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"During my freshman year of high school, my jazz band made it into the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition. We came to New York and, after a few days here, that was when I knew for sure that I wanted to make music in the Big Apple. I am always inspired by people and the musicians who are around me and, of course, by NYC's rich musical heritage."

Classically trained since the age of four, Brenda got into jazz piano when she was just eleven years old. There was just something about the genre that spoke to Brenda. "When I was a child, my mom placed me in a lot of different extracurricular activities, including ballet and piano, which I loved. In the end, though, the one that was for me was the piano! Specifically, I like jazz piano, as I find that I am able to express myself and my emotions through my playing."

Brenda has quite an impressive resume in terms of musical education and experience. In high school, Brenda was part of the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory in San Diego and she also attended the prestigious Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles.  Our instructor in the spotlight has won a few composition awards as well including a very notable one with Downbeat Student Awards. Always seeking to explore new horizons and grow as both a performer and a teacher, Brenda currently has the privilege to be studying with the renowned Ted Rosenthal who teaches at Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music. Over the past few years, Brenda has taken the stage at a wide array of world-class venues such as the famed Monterey Jazz Festival, Dizzy's Club and, wait for this one: Lincoln Center!   Brenda shared her memories of performing at these legendary places.

"Generally speaking, I'm not very nervous when I perform. But, truth be told, at Dizzy's and Lincoln Center, I was not only feeling nervous but was also very excited." The adrenalin rush must have been something! Continuing on, Brenda said " During both of these performances, I had a solo piano section and during those, I was a bit, well, terrified, for lack of a better word. However, I got through it okay and looking back, they were wonderful experiences. I felt great AFTER they were over! "

As you might expect for a musician like Brenda, the pianist's musical influences and inspirations are quite eclectic, to say the least. At the moment, Brenda cites Oscar Peterson, Phineas Newborn Jr. and Brad Mehldau as artists whose music moves her. But, Brenda can also go a little "old-school" with bands such as the immortal Earth Wind and Fire. Hey, it's all about having an open mind. In fact, that's a quality that will find you in good stead when you take a class with Brenda or one of the other welcoming and talented instructors at the No Goodbyes program.

Brenda has been working with the No Goodbyes Program for about a year and has thoroughly enjoyed the overall experience.  Working with the students and interacting with her fellow instructors has expanded Brenda's horizons.  No Goodbyes Program's focus on personal growth affects the teachers, not only the students.  As we know by now, the No Goodbyes Program's mission is to utilize music as a CATALYST FOR CHANGE. We asked Brenda what those words mean to her personally.

"Music is a great way to instill confidence in a student and develop their communication, imaginative and creative skills. All of the music education that I have received has helped me to become a better person and musician. Over time, I have even learned many life skills from different teachers. I think that music is a very wonderful thing that can truly connect us all ."

As a piano teacher, Brenda relishes the challenges that being part of the No Goodbyes Program presents. She loves working with new students to find the key that unlocks their desire to become the best musician they can be. "I think that the biggest challenge with most students is keeping them motivated.  I try to overcome this by allowing them to choose songs they would like to learn, maybe something they've heard on the radio or from a movie they like. I do this to keep it fun for them and, hopefully, it inspires them to practice. And, of course, I still teach them the important things as well!"

In tandem with the No Goodbyes Program, Brenda wants to assist her students in achieving their goals in life. This is far removed from the usual " clock-in/ clock-out" music lessons that you may be used to. And, Brenda absolutely ADORES that aspect of being part of their professional team. "As a professional musician who has been performing since I was 11 years old with my piano trio, (The Pink Trio), I am able to give insight and advice on many things, especially the BUSINESS side of being a professional musician. It is SO important to learn how to market your gigs; to get people aware of your brand.  Music can definitely help with all sorts of life goals ."

Speaking of goals and plans for the future, we asked Brenda where she saw herself in a few years' time. "I feel that my ultimate goal would be to tour around the world with my trio. I am not sure exactly when this will happen, but it would be enriching, to see different cultures. At some point, I would also like to teach at a University level, but that would be far in the future. The more gigs I can pick up locally, here in NYC, the better." concluded Brenda. 

The No Goodbyes Program  -  Become a musician, for what it will make of YOU to achieve it.

The No Goodbyes Program - Empowering students to take control of their destiny as musicians and entrepreneurs in life.

If you've been following the Aplez.com blog over the past few months you'll notice that we have been introducing you to some of the caring and talented instructors who help to make the NO GOODBYES PROGRAM, one of the most unique musical education programs in the city.  The brand's founders have invested a great deal of time and effort in making sure that when you take lessons with the No Goodbyes Program you will do more than simply elevate your musical chops. You will become empowered with a multitude of real world benefits that will enable you to be successful, no matter which career path you may choose in life. As great as their teachers are, though, it is the CURRICULUM itself that is the heartbeat of the program.

Let's talk about the word VALUE, which you hear a lot about these days, no matter what field you're in.  In addition to the financial and cultural aspects of the word, we frequently find ourselves asking " What do WE value most in life? "  Keep this in mind when setting both your personal and professional goals. Because the team at the No Goodbyes Program certainly does. And that alone ups the value of what they have to offer their students.

Human history proves that imagination, communication and creation ( or implementation, if you prefer ), are among the highest levels of value. CHAPTER 2 of the No Goodbyes Program's curriculum will challenge YOU, the student to rise above your comfort zone and become the MASTER of the COMMUNICATION aspect of the three values.  As you become more and more immersed in CHAPTER 2 you will be somewhat surprised by how your body and mind react to the curriculum. What you take away from Chapter 2 are skills that you will NOT learn in most conventional educational institutions. This, my friends, is something very special, indeed. The team at the No Goodbyes Program stands alone in their focus on connecting to your emotions, heart and mind, all while, not so coincidentally, turning you into one badass musician!

One of the real-world benefits that you will take away from Chapter 2 of the No Goodbyes program's curriculum is achieving an entrepreneurial mindset. Now, right off the bat, one might associate having an entrepreneurial skill set with being a business owner. In reality, that is just setting up limitations for yourself. At No Goodbyes Program they invite students to learn entrepreneurial skills and THINK like an entrepreneur in order to seek the wisdom that results in productive consumption. Try ruminating on the question " What does the world need me to be ? " as opposed to only asking " What do I want to be? "This thinking is something along the lines of President John Kennedy's famous quote " Ask not what your country can do for you; but ask what can I do for my country? " Taking this line of thought a step further, we recall one of Bobby Kennedy's most celebrated lines from his campaign speech when running for President: "Some people see things as they are and ask why? I see things that never were and ask why not? "

Similar to the relationship between human potential and the limits of time, there really is no upper limit to our development but there IS a lower limit. Which is to say that we must continue to advance a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial mindset because stagnation in the middle ground can have a catastrophic effect on society. The world needs more leaders, creators, givers and the entrepreneurial mind is the absolute key. When one stops to think about it, entrepreneurs do more good than almost anyone in society. Without entrepreneurs we wouldn't even have charities.

It is highly recommended that all students participate in and fully embrace every part of the program, Chapters 1,2 and 3. You cannot simply just jump in at midstream and expect to get full value out of what No Goodbyes Program has to offer. A nice analogy would be in sports, both amateur and on the pro level. Coaches always ask their players to buy into the process. Success is never achieved in one single step. You get out of it whatever you're willing to put into it and, becoming your personal best at the goals that you set in life takes time. If you are looking for shortcuts then, maybe the No Goodbyes Program isn't for you.

The program offers private, individual and group classes. Please note, however, that, unlike most other music educational brands, The No Goodbyes Program favors classes of no more than three students. In point of fact, a transformative focus such as Chapter 2 integrates well with group classes. As opposed to receiving feedback only from their teacher, in a group setting, each individual will get some constructive criticism from their peers. The students will also, in turn, do some teaching, as well. Hence the name of the Chapter 2 transformative focus: STUDENTS WILL BECOME TEACHERS. The teaching and critiquing portions of Chapter 2 encourage leadership skills while also sharpening your focus and bringing out creativity. Students are absolutely encouraged to treat their peers with courtesy, kindness and respect. A great leader knows how to motivate and offer criticism when needed, without being harsh, belittling, or judgemental.

One of the perks of participating in the No Goodbyes Program is being able to take classes at ASTORIA SOUNDWORKS. The program's bias towards quality, abundance and professionalism are among the reasons as to why the founders chose Astoria Soundworks for their Astoria residency. The good folks at Astoria Soundworks work seamlessly with the No Goodbyes Program's instructors.  All of their studios are equipped with state-of-the-art sound isolation and top-tier, cutting-edge audio equipment. When you take music lessons here, you'll want for nothing. Session rooms are perfect for one-on-one private lessons. Perhaps the most stunning studio of them all is the Jazz Den, which the program utilizes for the free introductory piano class, held every Friday. The class, which takes place from 5 until 6 PM is taught by Brenda Greggio, who we have featured previously on Aplez.com. If you have any interest at all in learning how to tinkle the ivories, then you owe it to yourself to check this class out. Please contact the No Goodbyes Program for further details on this and all of their other classes.