WELCOME TO MATTHEW HAGERTY MUSIC

Private lessons in piano, guitar, ukulele and voice.

Since 1999, Matthew Hagerty has offered private music instruction in Newport, RI. All ages are welcome! A fine choice for students with special needs.

Fully vaccinated and boosted, Mr. Hagerty has returned to teaching full-time at his studio in Newport. Lessons via FaceTime are also available.

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Experienced and Highly-Qualified Musician and Teacher

ABOUT MR. HAGERTY

Mr. Hagerty's background is rich and varied. He holds a degree in music from Brown University, and has also worked as a K-12 music teacher in the RI public schools. A busy professional jazz and classical performer, Matt has studied privately with distinguished teachers from The Eastman School of Music (NY), The Berklee College of Music (MA), and Westminster Choir College (NJ).

Matt serves on the music faculty of Salve Regina University. In addition, he is the Music Director at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Newport.

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FEES

Lessons are $35, $45 or $60 for a half-hour, 45 minutes, or an hour, respectively. The hourly price of $60 is also available for two family members who wish to take successive half-hour lessons.

First lessons are always free!

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Mr. Hagerty believes that developing a lifetime love of music in students is just as important as teaching instrumental technique. It's all about making lessons fun! A warm and encouraging instructor, he also focuses on musical mastery as a means of developing self-esteem.

The emphasis is on addressing the individual needs and interests of each student. An advanced piano student, for example, might be encouraged to refine her expression by singing the melody. With guitar, Mr. Hagerty helps each student find his or her own style. To this end, he exposes budding players to everything from rock to folk fingerstyle to jazz. And from his experience as a jazz, classical and popular pianist/vocalist, Matt is great at coaching and accompanying his voice students as they choose and perform whatever songs inspire them the most.

Creativity is key! In addition to developing technical and interpretive skills, Matt encourages his students to improvise and even compose their own pieces and songs. For some, this is the most meaningful aspect of their music study.

Contact Information

Mr. Hagerty is always delighted to hear from prospective students! Contact him at matthew.g.hagerty@salve.edu or 401-849-8421. This site also has a chat app and contact page.

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"Great piano teacher who develops the love of music in children". Shannon B.

"Matt Hagerty was a great guitar instructor. I took lessons from him for three semesters and began as a beginner and finished with a large arsenal of songs, chords, and music knowledge. He is a very kind, helpful, and caring teacher. He does a great job at explaining theory and technique and chooses songs that really make learning guitar fun!". Rate My Professor

"Experienced and patient teacher. Very good with kids". Superpages

"In retrospect, 'Mr. Matt' was the best piano teacher my kids ever had. As a military family we have moved often and had many piano teachers. Matt was patient, taught to the needs of the student (both my kids attended), and made great progress while still having a good time. We still miss and talk about Matt 6 years later!" Superpages

My 13 year--old son started lessons with Mr. Hagerty at age 8 and over the last 5 years Mr Hagerty has consistently worked to meet the changing needs and musical interests of my son - always keeping piano lessons fun and interesting. We highly, highly recommend Mr. Hagerty.

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