Veit Piano Studio
Julia
Veit
NYC
Meet Our Teaching Team
Veit Piano Studio is a carefully curated team of teachers focused on the same teaching philosophy:
Creating Meaningful Musical Experiences
Our team prioritizes positive lesson experiences and healthy growing spaces. All our teachers are extremely qualified with graduate degrees in piano, and have years of teaching experience in all ages and levels, from young children, to adult beginners, to advanced players.
Lessons are offered in NYC, Bronxville, New Jersey, and online.
Julia Veit,
NYC & Bronxville Lessons
Founder
Raised on a dairy farm in the rural southern United States, U.S. pianist Julia Veit is now based in New York City as a piano pedagogue and performer.
Described as a "wonderfully friendly and approachable teacher," Julia Veit is a Steinway Educational Partner and the founder of Veit Piano Studio, which offers lessons in NYC, New Jersey, and online. Previously, Julia served as Instructor in Piano Studies at New York University, teaching undergraduate private lessons in addition to group piano courses. Additionally, Julia is passionate about pedagogical research in the field of adult beginners, and has been selected to present at multiple conferences, including the Florida State Music Teachers Association State Conference.
As a performer, Julia Veit strives to bring light to new and under-performed piano works. Some of Julia’s most notable performances include performing George Antheil's Ballet Mécanique with the NYU Percussion Ensemble; works by Leôs Janácêk in Prague; and performing the U.S. premiere of Arlene Sierra’s Painted Bunting in New York City. Julia also regularly collaborates with saxophonist Galo Morales to perform both standard and contemporary compositions for saxophone and piano.
Outside of her work in NYC, Julia Veit serves as the Festival Coordinator for Prague Piano Festival, an annual piano intensive located in the Czech Republic.
Julia Veit holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from New York University and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Florida State University. In her spare time, Julia enjoys teaching group fitness, hiking in the Adirondacks, and watching reruns of the Golden Girls.
A graduate of Mannes School of Music (M.M. in Piano Performance 2021) and Florida State University (B.M. in Piano Performance 2018), Christopher Banka has won numerous awards for solo and chamber piano.
Chris has performed in more than 100 recitals, concerts, and master classes, including at the International Keyboard Institute & Festival, Kinhaven Music School, Meadowmount School of Music, the Princeton Festival, and Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall. In 2020, Chris was selected to represent the state of New Jersey in the MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition.
As a teacher, Chris uses his passion for music to keep students engaged and interested. He has been described as “[keeping] the lesson fun while introducing a lot of information.”
Chris believes in constantly furthering his own piano education and is currently studying piano with Vladimir Valjarević and Adrienne Kim.; previous teachers include Read Gainsford and Joel Hastings.
Kristyn Van Cleave, Online Lessons
A proud California Bay Area native now based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Kristyn Van Cleave received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano and Pedagogy at Louisiana State University and Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from New York University. At LSU, Kristyn held a graduate assistantship in the School of Music as a pianist and coach, accompanying voice lessons, masterclasses, lyric diction, acting and conducting classes for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as teaching keyboard skills classes for undergraduates. While at NYU, Kristyn served as music director for Classical Voice Collective’s “French Cabaret” series, “Songs About Love” at 54 Below, and as the assistant music director for “New Student Spotlight” and the Opera Theatre’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. She also held an adjunct faculty position teaching Keyboard Skills classes and private piano lessons, in addition to being a staff accompanist for the Vocal Performance department.
Outside of NYU, Kristyn has played in masterclasses for renowned collaborative pianists such as Martin Katz, Margo Garrett, and Jonathan Feldman. In addition, she recently completed an operatic vocal coaching apprenticeship in Dijon, France with Académie de la Roche d’Hys. She also serves as the resident pianist and coach for Building Voices of the Future - an online voice intensive created by NYU alumni for high school students, focused on developing well rounded and impactful artists.
Kristyn has a deep passion for teaching and mentoring young musicians, with over 13 years of experience teaching all ages and skill levels. She has maintained a private piano studio of up to 35 students, with select students receiving high marks and honors in the Royal Conservatory Music Development program, as well as regional awards through Music Teachers Association of California’s Certificate of Merit program. Kristyn has held positions teaching general music for elementary school students, in addition to 3 years of teaching at a private high school in San Jose, California. During that time, she held a position as a staff accompanist for the school’s musical theatre department and jazz vocal ensembles, while also substitute-teaching various art and social studies classes and long-term substitute teaching musical theatre repertoire and acting classes. She has a soft spot for educating junior high and high school aged students and finds great joy in meaningful connection with them. Her goal is to cultivate the next generation of impactful musicians by creating a warm and welcoming environment where students feel the freedom to express themselves through music.
When not sitting at a piano or teaching, Kristyn can be found wandering the French Impressionist collection of an art museum or trying a new restaurant with friends!