Piano

Francis Ambrico

I’ve been working at Raritan Music Center for 17 years and teaching piano there for 13. I started taking piano lessons at age 5, inspired by my grandfather and aunt, who were both musicians. As a toddler, I would crawl to the piano and try to make a tune, mimicking what they played. In addition to piano, I played alto and tenor saxophone in school while continuing my piano lessons at Raritan Music Center. Later, I enrolled at Rutgers University, where I earned a BA in history with a minor in music.

Throughout my musical journey, I had many influential teachers, including Lou Colonna, Alessandra Tiraterra, Neal Edelberg, Douglas Lundeen, and Grigory Smirnov. They not only helped me develop technical skills, but also encouraged me to think about interpretation on a deeper, more emotionally mature level that would transcend from mind to instrument. My music history professors at Rutgers also helped me appreciate the theory, analysis, and background behind classical repertoire. These mentors gave me a profound passion for music and the fine arts that shapes my life today.

I love music, teaching, and the process of sharing knowledge in a way that meets each student's unique needs. Every student has potential, and it's the teacher's job to find the key to unlock it. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing students succeed, find inspiration in their art, and develop a greater appreciation for the beauty in the world. This experience is a spiritual one, and I hope every student can encounter it at some point in their journey.

I have a long list of favorite musical artists across many genres. Some of my favorite classical composers are Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Rachmaninov, and Debussy. I also enjoy modern bands like Tame Impala, Led Belly, College, Foxygen, The War on Drugs, and Tyler Childers. My music tastes vary depending on what’s going on in my life. I believe every piece of music has a perfect setting, and that setting changes with the time of day, weather, location, or even my emotional state. Give me a moment or a place, and I’ll tell you the perfect piece of music to match it.

Beyond teaching, I also jam with friends on the weekends and occasionally lay down tracks in a casual setting. I enjoy attending concerts, reading biographies of my favorite composers, and exploring the outdoors. Whether it's hiking, camping, or fishing, I love spending time in nature. I could happily sleep in the woods for a week straight!