Creative Harmonies Music Studio

Our History

First opened for business out of Dee’s personal home in 2004 as “Piano for Special Kidz”, Dee Cucinotta has long sought to fill a gap in private piano lessons and available services for students who learn differently. At the time, there were very few studios offering piano lessons exclusively for students with special needs, and even fewer with a New York State certified Special Education Teacher. We have made our name on our ability to bring out the best in all of our students, no matter their challenges. In addition, we are proud to have expanded our services since first opening, creating an inclusive piano studio offering lessons for students of all abilities, as well as providing unique solutions to teachers and students near and far. We strive to be New York Capital District’s #1 resource for piano students who want a little something more out of their piano lessons.

Creative Harmonies has been featured in numerous articles as well as a feature on News Channel 10 .

• “Piano for Special Kidz,” now Creative Harmonies, in the Troy Record, 2011
• On “Piano for Special Kidz/Piano for Guys and Gals,” now Creative Harmonies, and their performance at the opening of Puzzles Bakery and Cafe in Schenectady, NY, 2015
• “Piano for Special Kidz,” now Creative Harmonies, on News Channel 10, 2016

In addition, Creative Harmonies offers a performance group to those comfortable performing to the public at large. While the group has been on hold due to COVID-19, we look forward to entertaining once again as restrictions ease.

About Dee

Dee Cucinotta is an award-winning piano instructor, active community participant, and one of the very first music instructors within NY’s Capital District to offer specialized piano lessons backed by education and experience to individuals with disabilities. She holds a BA in Music and an MS in Special Education, and was the recipient of the 2016 Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award.

Dee has taught private piano lessons since 2003 and continues to teach students of all ages, abilities and skill levels. Her education supports expert piano instruction for individuals who may benefit from additional attention, including students with Down Syndrome, Autism, ADD/ADHD, TBI, SPD, learning disabilities and students with anxiety, focusing, fine motor skill and executive functioning deficits. She is also sensitive to the diverse needs of all students, and welcomes those with communicative, sensory, behavioral, or physical challenges.

For almost 20 years, Dee has been a highly-recommended instructor with a reputation as an exceptional music educator, with students demonstrating proficiency in musicality, technique, and theory in their performance settings. She is known for her unique approach to lessons, teaching the whole individual and treating music as not only a skill for performance, but also as an activity for lifelong enjoyment and fulfillment. Before relocating to NY’s Capital District, Dee worked both as an aide and Special Education Music teacher for BOCES on Long Island, NY, teaching children with emotional and behavioral disorders, developmental delays, learning disabilities, Autism, ADHD, ADD, PDD and Down Syndrome.  She was also a Special Education teacher for the New York City Board of Education and taught children with learning disabilities and behavioral issues.

Dee has received multiple awards for her excellence in teaching and community outreach:

• Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award 2016
• The Arc of Rensselaer County Community Partners Award 2010

Professional Associations include:

• CEC (Council for Exceptional Children)
• MTNA (Music Teachers National Association)
• NYSMTA (New York State Music Teachers Association)

Dee is the parent of two adult children, one of which is diagnosed with ADHD.