Ava and Anousha first crossed paths at Tehran Music School, where they spent six years studying together. Following their graduation, they pursued music studies in New York, California, and Salzburg. Their shared passion for music education led them to dedicate many years to teaching music in various settings. Eventually, they found themselves in New York, where they combined their expertise and embarked on an innovative music program.​ Together, they decided to create Prelude Music Program NYC.
Their approach stands out from conventional music programs as they incorporate the latest updates in music education to create engaging lesson plans. They prioritize making lessons fun, easy to follow, and enjoyable for students, while also emphasizing creativity, empowering students to take an active role in the music-making process. In both private and group classes, they place a strong emphasis on developing children's musicianship through various activities such as ear training, music theory, improvisation, and movement. This holistic approach allows children to not only enjoy the process of making music but also fosters a lasting relationship with it.
Ava Nazar www.avanazar.com
Co-founder
Private Piano Lessons
Summer Programs
Pianist Ava Nazar is a co-founder at Prelude Music Program NYC. She is a graduate of the Juilliard school where she received her Master of Music degree, and Manhattan School of Music where she received her Bachelor of Music degree.
Ava has performed at notable venues such as the United Nations, Merkin Hall at Lincoln Center, Peacock Theater, National Sawdust, American Museum of Natural History, Duke University, Santa Clara University, Stanford Jazz Workshop, Aspen Music Festival, and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara.
With 16 years of dedicated experience in education, Ava is a seasoned piano instructor. Her expertise spans private and group piano instruction at institutions such as Brooklyn Music School, Nord Anglia International School, and Opus 1 Music Studio.
Passionate about expanding musical access across communities, Ava has served as an AmeriCorps fellow through the ArtistYear organization, teaching music to around 100 low-income middle schoolers in a public school in New York. Her efforts extended beyond teaching, as she successfully fundraised for instruments essential to the school's music program. Additionally, Ava has volunteered as a pianist with the Sing for Hope organization, which aims to bring art to communities in need.
Anousha Farshid
Co-founder
Private Piano Lessons
Summer Programs
Anousha Farshid is a distinguished pianist, educator, software engineer, and co-founder of Prelude Music Program NYC. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of California, Irvine, and continued her education at Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria, where she explored computer music.
Anousha has a second bachelor's degree in computer science at Oregon State University. She developed an interactive sound installation commissioned by the Salzburg Museum of Modern Art during her time at Mozarteum, blending her passion for music with technology.
After graduation, Anousha worked as a software engineer at Apple and then Intel for several years. She also developed and published her first music-related app, iClef, on the Apple App Store. iClef allows users to practice reading music from staff paper using different clefs, while tracking progress and training for sight-reading.
Throughout her career, Anousha has performed on renowned stages such as the Solitär Uni Mozarteum and the Salzburg Museum of Modern Arts in Austria, as well as the Paris Lodron University in Salzburg.
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With over a decade of experience in music education, Anousha is not only an accomplished performer but also a dedicated piano instructor. She is experienced in both private and group instruction, having taught at esteemed institutions such as Musicum in Los Angeles and the Carl Orff Institute in Salzburg.