Faculty & Partners

John is an active performer and teacher based in Prospect Park South, Brooklyn. Mr. Austin has over twenty years of teaching experience at numerous private and public schools. He is currently on faculty at the Wharton School of Performing Arts in Berkeley Heights & New Providence, NJ. Previously, he taught at P.S. 310 'The School for Future Leaders,' and P.S. 219 'Kennedy-King' Elementary. He also taught as a guest teacher and lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia, McGill, and Louisiana State Universities.

John has performed as principal violist with the Manhattan and Bergen Symphonies (among many others) at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and most other major performance venues in the NYC area. Before moving to New York, he was a member of the Asheville, Hilton-Head, Roanoke, and Winston-Salem Symphony orchestras. In addition to his classical roots he has recorded and performed live with folk, contemporary jazz, and rap groups including Deltron 3030 & Tarbaby.

Mr. Austin was the viola studio teaching assistant to Sheila Browne at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts while pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance. John also holds a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Childhood Development and The Arts from SUNY Empire State College. All of John's primary teachers are graduates of the Juilliard School where they studied with Karen Tuttle, long time teaching assistant to William Primrose (commonly known as the greatest violist of all time). John is among the few teachers of Karen Tuttle's 'Coordination' method of physicalizing musical expression. Mr. Austin completed Suzuki Violin teacher training at the Virginia Suzuki Institute.

John is also an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique teacher. He has taught continuing education workshops for AmSAT, the most rigorous certifying organization for AT teachers. He completed the 1600-hour teacher training at the American Center for the Alexander Technique in Manhattan. While operating, ACAT was the longest running and most prestigious AT teacher certification program outside of the United Kingdom.

Miranda's educational journey began with an intense love of reading and literature, she has always been moved by the power of a good story. A native Mandarin speaker originally from Taiwan, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages and Literature from National Cheng Kung University. Her desire to support diverse and inclusive learning brought her to NYC, where she shifted focus to Early Childhood Special Education. Miranda blends her literary roots with her classroom expertise to create a space where every child feels seen, heard, and excited to find their own voice.

Miranda currently teaches dual-language 1st grade at P.S. 169 Sunset Park Elementary. She has over a decade of teaching experience in early childhood education and holds a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education from New York University. She also obtained a bilingual teaching license after further studies at Queens College. Her approach is rooted in responsive observation and the transformative power of play. She fosters confidence and curiosity by meeting children exactly where they are developmentally, which is necessary for natural language acquisition and lifelong learning.

While the foundations of her expertise were built in the classroom, the heart of her community work began at home as a mother raising children in a bilingual household. Miranda wants her Mandarin Storytime and Play to emulate the village she envisions for her own family. Her mission is to provide a joyful space where local families can socialize, practice Mandarin in a natural setting, and celebrate their shared heritage together.

Cherie grew up in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. She leads Music Therapy sessions with children and adult groups across the country. She has taught music workshops and performed internationally for over 20 years at multiple schools and hospitals. She also developed music and entertainment content for over a decade while working for Youtube. Cherie holds a Masters of Arts in Music Therapy from New York University. Cherie is happy to have recently moved back to the neighborhood and is excited to provide fun and engaging musical experiences for people of all ages.

Sarah Chung is a Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist with a passion for bridging performance and education. She is a classically trained pianist and flautist, guitarist & bass guitarist, ukulele player, and percussionist with a focus on handpan. As a musician, Sarah particularly enjoys applying her classical background and knowledge of technique to non-classical contexts, through composition, looping, songwriting, and more.

Sarah has nearly twenty years of teaching experience. She received a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from NYU and Master of Arts in Music Education from Columbia University. After spending a number of years as a full time public school music teacher in the NYC Department of Education, she transitioned to solely teaching privately. Her students have ranged in ages from 4 to 70 and she has extensive experience teaching students with a variety of special needs. Sarah's teaching creates a strong foundation with technique and theory while allowing students to guide the learning process, playing the music they most enjoy.

Sarah's newest offering, PB&Jam Instructional Rock Band, will provide high quality group instruction while fostering an environment of collaboration and connection amongst musicians. At PB&Jam, students will learn how to collaborate, lead, create balance, understand each other's roles, and have fun being creative with each other.

Connect directly with Sarah at sarahstudio.org.

Steven-Jon Billings is a Ditmas Park based trumpet player, recording artist and teacher. He began his recording career at age 15 and has since recorded at Avatar Studios (The Power Station), Platinum Sound Recording Studios, The Log Cabin Recording Studio, Studio G, Studio 42, and Colorado Sound Studios.

Steven-Jon has taught at Third Street Music School, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Fairfield School of Music, the Bergen Academy of Music, and he regularly subs at P.S. 139. He runs a private studio and runs Ditmas Music Lessons where he specializes in teaching trumpet and other brass instruments. Steven-Jon also teaches piano and enjoys coaching ensembles.

His extensive performing career includes everything from shows with many Grammy award winning artists to TV commercials and film scores. He has performed with numerous regional and local orchestras around NYC and has even played on SNL with Jack Black and the Saturday Night Live Band as well as Leon Lacey's Freshly Orchestrated at Radio City Music Hall.

Steven-Jon holds a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Metropolitan State University of Denver and was a semi-finalist at the 2010 National Trumpet Competition. He has studied with Chris Martin of the New York Philharmonic, Justin Bartels of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and with Ron Miles.

Nick Dinnerstein is a versatile musician—composer, cellist, and multi-instrumental teacher. Based in Prospect Park South, Brooklyn, he has taught cello, piano, and violin throughout New York City and New England for over 15 years, working with students of all ages and levels.

Nick values building personal connections with students and enjoys guiding their artistic and technical development, so they can fully express themselves through music and connect with others. His teaching draws upon in-depth study of the Dounis method—which combines relaxed physical technique with personal expression—as well as ongoing reading and reflection on psychology and the learning process.

As a cellist, he has played in a wide variety of settings, from performances with Boston Ballet and chamber concerts at the Greensboro Music Festival to recordings with The Shills, Mary Bichner, and 30 Seconds to Mars (MTV Unplugged). He has also collaborated on meditation music with producer Jesse Gallagher.

As a composer, Nick has written a number of commissioned works, alongside pieces for his own chamber concerts and cello/loop pedal performances. He also recently released a recording of his original music titled: Dream Loop Spells.

Nick earned a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Mannes School of Music, with additional studies in cello with George Neikrug, composition with John Morrison, and violin with Virginia Neikrug.

Connect directly with Nick at dinnersteinmusicstudio.com.

Yakov Dyman is an accomplished music educator, performer, and conductor with decades of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. Mr. Dyman is the Band Director at I.S. 89 The Bay Academy, a magnet school for Arts and Sciences. He is also the founder and director of Summer Camp Dyman.

He previously taught music at J.H.S. 227, P.S. 112, and P.S. 48. Mr. Dyman also served on the faculty of Manhattan School of Technology as a Professor of Music History. As a conductor, Mr. Dyman has worked as a guest conductor with the Rockaway Five Towns Symphony and the West Islip Symphony Orchestra.

Yakov's musical journey began at an early age, performing as a vocal soloist at school, community, and family events. By the age of 18, he was already enjoying an active professional career as a bassoonist, teacher, and conductor. His performance career has taken him to some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Barbican Centre in London, and the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, among many others.

Yakov teaches students ranging from age 3 to adult learners, from complete beginners to advanced and professional-level musicians. His primary instruments include flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, recorder, piano, guitar, and trumpet. His instruction emphasizes strong fundamentals, musical expression, and confidence-building.