Inspire your child with private music lessons from the world’s best musicians.

Meet some Forte teachers.

Learn from members of the prestigious Recording Academy, including GRAMMY® nominees and winners.

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  Claudia Brant

  GRAMMY® winner

  

  Composition lessons

  Claudia was named Latina Songwriter of the Year by ASCAP in 2012 and 2015. Her song, “No Me Doy Por Vencido”, written with Luis Fonsi, was named a Song of the Decade by Billboard Magazine, as it held the #1 position in the Latin charts for 19 consecutive weeks. Claudia was also inducted into the Latin Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2016.
  
  Her songs have been recorded by dozens of major artists, including Camila Cabello, Carlos Santana, Barbra Streisand, John Legend, and Tim McGraw. Claudia specializes in teaching Latin songwriting to Spanish speaking students.

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  Makeba Woods

  GRAMMY® nominee

  

  Piano and songwriting lessons

  Makeba has co-written and co-produced songs for some of the biggest artists in the world, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Mariah Carey.
  
  About teaching, she says: “I enjoy offering guidance and direction to young artists that aspire to greatness. I was once that person. Offering my knowledge and expertise is what fuels my creativity.”

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  Mike Errico

  Recording Academy member

  

  Guitar lessons

  Mike teaches at universities including Yale, Wesleyan, the New School, and NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. He was nominated for 2019’s David Payne-Carter Award for Excellence in Teaching and taught the 2022 GRAMMY® Museum’s inaugural Summer Sessions in New York City.
  
  About teaching, he says, “I've always tried to connect deeply with students and draw them out with a combination of laughter and vulnerability."

Teachers from the Royal College of Music, the top-rated conservatory in the world.

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  Esther King Smith

  RCM Junior Department teacher

  

  Violin lessons

  Esther is a prize-winning graduate of the Royal College of Music in London. She currently teaches in the Royal College of Music’s Junior Department, where she works with some of the country’s most talented young musicians. Her students have been successful in auditioning for places at UK music conservatoires and gaining places in national ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She has also acted as a syllabus consultant for London College of Music Examinations.
  
  About teaching, she says: I believe in teaching the whole musician and giving my students they need to become independent learners. This means consolidating theory and aural through the music we are learning, understanding the social and musical context of works being studied, all of which is backed up with solid technical teaching and musical development. I love teaching and I am of the firm belief that a good teacher-pupil relationship is a two-way process. Most of all, learning music should be fun and fulfilling!

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  Dominic Doutney

  RCM alumni teacher

  

  Piano lessons

  Dominic Doutney is a British concert pianist, based in Chicago. He is currently undertaking his Doctor of Musical Arts at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, as a recipient of the Eckstein scholarship. He is a graduate of the RCM, where he was awarded the prestigious Tagore Gold Medal, given to two students annually for outstanding musical contribution to the Royal College. He performed for His Majesty King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) at the prize-giving ceremony.
  
  About teaching, he says, “Passing on my expertise to students and fueling their enthusiasm for the instrument is, to me, one of the most satisfying and inspiring of all musical endeavors.”

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  Isaac Prince

  RCM alumni teacher

  

  Clarinet lessons

  Isaac is an award-winning clarinetist, teacher, and arranger currently residing in Chiswick, London. He recently completed his studies with Distinction at the Royal College of Music as an HR Taylor Trust Scholar, pursuing a Masters of Performance. In 2021, he graduated with first-class honors as a Bachelor of Music from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he had the honor of winning the college's Concerto Competition. He’s collaborated with top orchestras in the country, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and London Mozart Players.
  
  About teaching, he says, “My teaching philosophy is rooted in a fresh, youthful mindset, emphasizing a strong musical foundation, problem-solving, efficient practice techniques, determination, and above all, the joy of music.”