Note & Flourish — Music Education. Learn • Create • Thrive.
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Music lessons for curious young minds

Find their rhythm.
Grow their confidence.

K–8 private music lessons with Cristina Gallagher in Seaford, Long Island — plus live virtual lessons wherever you are. Joyful, encouraging lessons where children can explore, create, and discover what they can do — one note at a time. Every lesson is one-to-one, hands-on, and shaped around your child: singing, movement, rhythm games, and real playing, with no wrong answers.

  • One-to-one lessons, 45 minutes
  • No experience needed — beginners are warmly welcome
  • Seaford home studio, your home nearby, or virtual
See the lessons Inquire about lessons
A student holding a guitar during a live video music lesson at home

Lesson photos are illustrative stock images of children learning music, not Note & Flourish students.

Warm, supportive instruction Beginner & intermediate In person on Long Island + virtual No experience needed

Private music lessons

Find the instrument that sparks their curiosity

Explore three ways to begin making music. Each private lesson is shaped around your child’s interests, starting point, and growing skills — or tell Cristina “not sure yet” and she’ll help you find the right first step.

A young student holding a ukulele at home

01 / Ukulele lessons

Small instrument.
Big musical possibilities.

Small, light, and kind to young fingers — a welcoming way to start playing songs, finding a rhythm, and making music right away, with songs your child can sing along to.

  • Starter chords & changes — C, Am, and F first
  • Strumming and a steady beat
  • Playing favorite songs, and singing along
  • Listening, musical creativity, and reading music little by little

By the end of the four-lesson starter (one 45-minute lesson a week): tuning with a clip-on tuner, 3–4 chords played cleanly, 2–3 strum patterns, and 2 complete songs start to finish.

$60per 45-minute private lesson
Beginner-friendly · In person or virtual
A young student holding an acoustic guitar during a lesson

02 / Guitar lessons

Build skills.
Play with confidence.

For children ready for six strings: a strong foundation, steady and encouraging, while discovering the songs and sounds that make guitar exciting.

  • Instrument basics & care — holding the guitar and tuning with a clip-on tuner
  • Chords and transitions — Em, C, and G first
  • Strumming and rhythm
  • Reading music and song practice, side by side with playing by ear

By the end of the four-lesson starter (one 45-minute lesson a week): 3–4 chords played cleanly, 2–3 strum patterns, and 2 complete songs start to finish.

$60per 45-minute private lesson
Beginner-friendly · In person or virtual
A young student playing an alto saxophone

03 / Saxophone lessons

Find their sound.
Express every note.

A warm, expressive sound, taught by a saxophonist — Cristina’s own instrument, the alto saxophone. Children learn how the instrument speaks: breath, tone, and their very first notes and melodies.

  • Breath and tone foundations — a steady tone, embouchure, and safe assembly
  • First notes — G, A, and B — and simple rhythms
  • Notes and music reading, built up step by step
  • Melody and expression

By the end of the four-lesson starter (one 45-minute lesson a week): safe assembly, a steady tone, 3–4 beginner notes played cleanly, simple rhythms, and 2 complete songs start to finish.

$60per 45-minute private lesson
Beginner & developing players · In person or virtual

Lesson photos are illustrative stock images of children learning music, not Note & Flourish students.

The same $60 rate applies to each lesson above. Starters run one lesson a week, in order — if a chord or a note isn’t clean yet, it’s repeated in the next lesson rather than rushed past.

$60

Clear, simple lesson pricing

One 45-minute, one-to-one private lesson — in person on Long Island or live and virtual. Packages are paid up front; package sizes and prices are shared when you inquire, so nothing here is a guess.

Ask about availability

How it works

A simple start — three steps to get the music going

  1. 01 Say hello

    Fill in the inquiry note below — your child’s grade and interests, your town, and anything else that would help. “Not sure yet” is a perfect answer.

  2. 02 Find the fit

    Cristina replies personally to talk through the instrument, the format, and a time that works for your family.

  3. 03 Start making music

    Begin with an encouraging first lesson and grow from there. Lessons stay fun and low-pressure: hands-on playing, singing, movement, and rhythm — at your child’s own pace, with no wrong answers.

Seaford home studio

Lessons in Cristina’s home studio in Seaford, Long Island.

At your home

In-home lessons within 30 minutes’ drive of Seaford, on Long Island.

Virtual, live

Live online lessons wherever you are — the way to learn when you’re more than 30 minutes from Seaford.

About Cristina

Meet your music teacher — expert guidance, a little laughter, room to grow

Hi, I’m Cristina Gallagher. I believe children learn best when they feel welcome, supported, and free to try — and that music lessons should feel like play first and practice second. My goal is to make music meaningful and fun while helping each student build confidence, creativity, and skills that last.

My lessons are warm and encouraging, built around each child — what they love to hear, how they like to learn, and the pace that lets confidence grow. I bring a decade of classroom experience to every private lesson, so beginners get patient, clear teaching from someone who knows K–8 learners well. The saxophone is my own instrument.

  • Molloy, 2013
  • Master’s in Music Education, NYU, 2017
  • Ten years teaching in Gravesend, K–8
  • Beginner & intermediate players

Learning beyond the lesson

More ways to make music

Online learning experiences are part of the Note & Flourish vision, alongside private lessons. Prerecorded courses are planned in the areas below, and will be shared as they become available — no launch dates or prices are set yet.

  • Beginner ukulele courses
  • General music courses
  • Parent-child activities

Mention “online learning” in your inquiry and Cristina will share what’s available when courses open.

Questions

Good to know — a few helpful answers

How much are lessons?

$60 for a 45-minute private lesson. Every lesson is one-to-one. Packages are paid up front; if you’re interested in a package, mention it in your inquiry and Cristina will share the sizes and prices available.

Where do lessons take place?

In Cristina’s home studio in Seaford, Long Island, at your home within 30 minutes’ drive of Seaford, or live and virtual wherever you are. Beyond 30 minutes from Seaford, lessons are virtual. In-person lessons are on Long Island only.

Does my child need any experience?

No experience is needed. Beginners are warmly welcome, and lessons are designed to meet students where they are and help them progress at a comfortable pace — singing, movement, rhythm games, and hands-on playing, with no wrong answers.

What if we’re not sure which instrument to choose?

That’s completely fine. Tell Cristina what your child enjoys listening to or singing along with, and she’ll help you find the right starting place — including whether ukulele, guitar, or saxophone is the best first step.

What does a starter set look like?

Each starter is four private 45-minute lessons, one per week, in order — for complete beginners in grades K–8. By the end of lesson 4, ukulele and guitar starters aim for 3–4 chords played cleanly, 2–3 strum patterns, and 2 complete songs; the saxophone starter aims for safe assembly, a steady tone, 3–4 beginner notes, simple rhythms, and 2 complete songs. A skill that isn’t clean yet is repeated in the next lesson rather than rushed.

What should we have at home to start?

Students need their own instrument for lessons and home practice — ukulele, guitar, or alto saxophone, as applicable. Tell Cristina what you already have in your inquiry, including if you don’t have an instrument yet, and she’ll advise on getting started before your first lesson. A rental, where offered, is for class use only, unless take-home use is agreed in writing in advance.

What if we need to cancel or reschedule?

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice — no fee. A same-day cancellation is 50% of the lesson fee, and a no-show or cancellation without communication is the full fee. Rescheduling is subject to availability. Additional policy details are shared during enrollment.

Are prerecorded courses available yet?

Not yet. Beginner ukulele, general music, and parent-child courses are planned and will be shared as they become available. Ask about online learning in your inquiry and Cristina will let you know when they open.

Inquire

Your child’s musical journey starts here — let’s find their first note

Have a question or want to talk about lessons? Even if it’s just “not sure yet.” Fill in the card and it becomes a ready-to-send note you can email, copy, or download. Cristina replies personally.

Prefer to reach out directly? [email protected] 516-965-3688

Inquire about lessons

Prefer to reach out directly? Email [email protected] or call 516-965-3688.