Private Music Production Classes & Instructors in Hackensack, NJ

"All art is a kind of confession."~James Baldwin From my beginnings as a vocalist, actor, and director, I have embarked on an incredible journey that continues to surprise me. My passion for music composition and video editing has allowed me to transition from experimenting with sounds to crafting immersive video narratives, all fueled by a deep love of storytelling.

I've been teaching private music lessons for 30 years. My goal is to have my students learn more about who they are as an individual through a methodical and interactive study that involves the deep roots of foundational theory combined with improvisational interactions and applications to create a wholistic knowledge of 3 dimensional self expression. My Bio: Sean Nowell holds degrees from Berklee College of Music in Jazz Composition and Manhattan School of Music in Jazz Performance and is a 30 year musical freelancer, educator and recording artist. He has played broadway shows, composed and improvised film scores, music for ballet and theatre, 20th century classical music, big band and small jazz ensembles, commercial music and has pushed the boundaries of saxophone and flute by integrating electronic effects pedals into his musical language. He has traveled and collaborated with dancers, actors, painters, stilt walkers, and acrobats on multiple international tours as Musical Director for Bond Street Theatre and has represented The Istanbul Jazz Festival at Universities around Turkey with his Multimedia Electro-Jazz Ensemble, The Kung-Fu Masters. With his hip-hop theater collective, Soul Inscribed, he has represented the United States as Artistic Ambassador in Russia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Peru, and Mauritius. Soul Inscribed won a Fulbright grant to continue their work with kids in Mauritius. He performed at The Shaolin Temple, did a 6 city tour in China and was the American Representative at International Jazz Day in Accra, Ghana. He toured Europe multiple times with his NYC/Stockholm acoustic jazz band, The New York Jazz Exchange and hosted weekly Free-Improv R&B Funk jams in Queens, NY. He is also the American Representative for an innovative electronic Midi wind instrument for saxophonists called the EMEO. His interest in utilizing cutting edge music technology has led him to recently give masterclasses at The American School of Modern Music in Paris and Loyola University in New Orleans.

"Sean Nowell is a music instructor with great integrity, enthusiasm and vision. His passion for both music and teaching are apparent in every lesson. As non-musicians, we were most impressed with the time and care he took with our son explaining how to get the best out of his instrument including care and maintenance. Most importantly, Sean provided the necessary inspiration to help our son move beyond seeing himself as just playing in a school band to a confident musician who looks forward to pursuing a career in music.

Hello! My name is Ryan. I teach deejaying, music production, sound design, mixing and mastering, and recording with Ableton Live, as well as live, interactive audio/visual art and music videos with VDMX. I hope to work together toward manifesting your vision as a real-life event!

"Ryan has made the process of mxing more fun and liberating! Ryan has taught me how to use Traktor proficiently, and I have since been able to grow my career collecting music, recording mixes, and performing at clubs and festivals.

Hello! My name is Ryan. I teach music production, sound design, mixing and mastering, and recording with Ableton Live, as well as live, interactive audio/visual art and music videos with VDMX. I hope to work together toward manifesting your vision as a real-life event!

"Ryan has made the process of creating music and videos more fun and liberating! Ryan has taught me how to use Ableton Live proficiently, and I have since been very active in utilizing the templates which we created in class to compose full albums and live performances.

Keyi Ding is a music producer and sound designer specializing in electronic music, immersive audio, and interactive media. Graduating from Berklee College of Music in Electronic Production and Design and recently completing a Master’s degree at NYU Tisch ITP, his work combines songwriting, sound design, and technical audio production across music and digital experiences.

Michael Goldwasser has produced for some of the biggest names in music, including Jason Mraz, Kelly Clarkson, and Janelle Monae. He is also behind reggae classics such as Dub Side of the Moon and Radiodread. Michael has had many albums on the Billboard Charts, including multiple #1s on the Billboard Reggae Chart. His solo album Goldswagger went to #1 on the UK Soul Chart. Michael also teaches a college course called "The Art and Business of Record Production" at Marymount Manhattan College.

"I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you shared with us in Record Production this semester. I genuinely feel like this class changed the way I listen to and understand music. Before this class, I would mostly just listen to songs as a listener, but now I catch myself noticing production choices, vocal layers, effects, textures, and so many small details that I never paid attention to before. I feel like my ear for music developed so much, and that honestly means a lot to me as someone who wants to keep growing as an artist.    I also really appreciated the way you taught the class and shared your knowledge with us. It made the whole process feel exciting and inspiring instead of intimidating, and it pushed me to want to keep creating and learning more outside of school.

I work with students of all levels — total beginners, returning players, and those preparing for auditions or performances. My specialties include technique refinement, performance prep, and building confidence for players re-entering violin after time away. In your first lesson, expect a friendly assessment of your current level and goals, followed by a clear, personalized plan. MM (NYU), BM Violin Performance (DePauw); NYC-based, teaching in-person and online.