DEA Music & Art – Manhattan

Since 2003 1 on 1 classes  Expert instructors

DEA Music & Art has inspired thousands of young musicians and artists for over 20 years, and we’re excited to bring our award-winning programs to the heart of the city.

Start with a free trial class.
Visit our Manhattan location, meet our instructors, and experience our personalized, one-on-one approach firsthand. It’s the best way to see how our programs build confidence, creativity, and real skill.

After your trial, families are be eligible for exclusive incentives and special enrollment opportunities available for a limited time.

What Do Our Music School Students Think?

Shout out to Mr. Ronnie and Mr. Elis. Great teachers who always inspire students.
Great teachers and great instructions. Both of my kids are here for the classes.
We’ve had such a great experience with Mr. Elis at DEA Music and Art. I signed up both my 7-year-old and my 12-year-old for piano, and it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made for them.

Mr. Elis is incredibly patient and really knows how to work with kids. He explains things in a way that makes sense to them and keeps the lessons interesting and fun. What I appreciate most is that he adjusts to each child’s pace and personality. Both of my kids enjoy their lessons and are actually excited to play and practice, which I didn’t expect but love to see.

DEA Music and Art is also a wonderful place, friendly, organized, and very welcoming. You can tell they truly care about their students and their progress.

I would absolutely recommend Mr. Elis and the school to any parent looking for a supportive and skilled piano teacher.
We are thrilled with our experience so far at DEA. I am very impressed with the owners and staff. My son has had a few lessons with Mason and has fallen in love with the guitar! Mason is teaching him fundamentals, while still keeping it cool for my (8 yr old) son by teaching him riffs from his favorite band, and even some power chords!
Sherma (an owner) is absolutely lovely. She is warm, and inviting and the children are obviously at ease around her. Her speaking voice is so melodic, and smooth. I can only imagine what she sounds like when she sings!
Mark (another of the owners) is obviously very knowledgeable, and the few lessons my friend's son have taken with him have been great.
Very excited to check out there summer camp offerings. Feeling very lucky to have such a high caliber school right around the corner!
My daughter has been going to DEA for singing and piano lessons for about 4 years. Her teacher Ms. Noa has been amazing. She is patient and caring and has really excelled in teaching my daughter how to use her voice. I’m very happy with the way she has progressed and is becoming a great vocalist and getting better and better at piano. I highly recommend!
I think this place is good for my kid. She learned many piano pieces and some warm ups for piano. My daughter barely complains about this place. She even said she wanted to be in summer school here again.
We like DEA Music and Art. My 2 kids are coming here for piano lessons and our teacher Mrs Krystyna is very nice, kids love her. Happy and continuing our lessons here.
We are incredibly grateful to have found Refika at DEA Music School. Our girls have been learning piano with her for the past three years, and the growth we’ve seen—both musically and personally—has been amazing.
Refika is an exceptional teacher: patient, encouraging, and highly skilled. She knows exactly how to teach children in a way that keeps them motivated and confident, while still maintaining high standards. She adapts her teaching style to each child, which has helped our twins develop their own musical strengths and love for piano.
DEA Music School provides a warm, professional, and well-organized learning environment. Communication is always clear, lessons are structured, and the overall atmosphere truly supports students’ progress and passion for music.
We highly recommend Refika and DEA Music School to any parent looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and inspiring piano teacher. It has been a wonderful journey
, and we look forward to many more years of learning.
Response from the owner:Thank you for this wonderful review. We are thrilled to hear how much your daughters have grown in the past three years and we are so happy they love studying piano with Mrs. Refika. She is a dedicated and inspiring teacher and we are lucky to have her on our team. Thank you for being part of our DEA Music and Art family.

Music Lessons, Visual Arts & More

Beginner to advanced • Kids, teens, and adults.

Technique, reading, and repertoire for all ages.

Young guy playing the classical guitar

Acoustic & electric, chords, riffs, and theory.

A girl playing violin with green background

Classical foundation with modern motivation.

Classical foundation with modern motivation.

Woman vocalist singing in microphone on a vocal lesson

Healthy technique, range, and performance.

Drawing, painting & digital art.

Pro music training and advanced visual arts.

kids playing chess together

From beginners to chess masters.

Bunch of cheerful joyful cute little children playing together and having fun. Group portrait of happy kids huddling, looking down at camera and smiling. Low angle, view from below. Friendship concept

Summer music and art programs.

Join Our Legacy of Creativity and Success.

The DEA Journal

Stories, Events & Inspiration from Across Our Schools

Every great performance begins with inspiration and The DEA Journal is where we share ours.

Discover what’s happening inside our music and art school community of young artists and musicians. From student showcases and grand openings to creative tips from our instructors and updates from each DEA location.