EzraGuitar To Bring Lessons, Equipment & Performances To 785 Coney Island Avenue

Fabulous news for local guitarists, music lovers, and general art fans–neighbors Leilah and Maoz Ezra, who have lived in Ditmas Park for about seven years and run the EzraGuitar program across Brooklyn for the past six, are opening a permanent location at 785 Coney Island Avenue (between Cortelyou and Dorchester).

With the budding scene for families in our area and two young kids of their own, the Ezras decided conservatories in Park Slope and well-served school programs in Caroll Gardens weren’t enough–and now, they’re hoping to offer our neighborhood its own affordable hub for instruments, supplies, and formal lessons, as well as a venue for art, performance, and musical appreciation activities for children.

The pair are currently wrapping up painting and construction on the storefront, and plan to open their doors later this month. Once open, they’ll be selling high quality guitars for kids in correct sizes (which can’t be found at big retailers like Guitar Center, or even in classical guitar stores in NYC), as well as accessories and nylon string guitars in full sizes with a range of price points.

They hope to have their full stock, which will eventually include ukeleles and musical toys, by February–but for now, they’ve got guitars and accessories covered.

For those unfamiliar with EzraGuitar, Maoz created the method so that budding musicians could start learning classical guitar from as young as four years of age. The program trains kids to read music and play, and addresses the physical issues many small kids encounter with large instruments.

The EzraGuitar team, made up of teachers with masters and doctorates in classical performance, will begin offering on-location, conservatory level classes (including group classes for Pre-K kids to second graders and private lessons up to a professional level) in January–but registration is already open, so those interested should enroll by December 31 via the EzraGuitar site or by calling 718-434-2103.

In addition to classes and three performances per student, per year, the new EzraGuitar location will offer musical story time (likely beginning in January as well), aiming to give kids an appreciation of classical music early on in life. Activities for kids will include listening to different types of music while incorporating movement and acting exercises, as well as introducing musical parts written by Maoz into well-loved children’s stories, and playing with small instruments.

“We want to introduce a classical voice to little ears,” says Leilah, an opera singer who will also offer her talents to story time.

The crew has also built a stage in the back of their space for unplugged, salon-style concerts featuring teachers and other up-and-coming artists. Leilah calls the venue an intimate space, which will hold about 30 people for performances of classical and world music, plus some jazz and even slam poetry.

“It’ll be like sitting in someone’s living room and listening to great music,” she says.

In addition to music and performance, the Ezras want to make their space something of a cultural center featuring art from local talent on the walls, and are considering combination performances and gallery openings.

“We’re trying to put all our dreams into this one space,” Leilah says.

Once open, the store will be open from 10am-7pm Tuesday through Sunday, and will offer after school lessons on weekdays as well as full days of lessons on weekends. Anyone interested in performing unplugged music or poetry inside the space should email info@ezraguitar.com.