Parents are spoiled for choice at ISTEIN Education Center, a center offering after-school programs, music classes, and Chinese language courses. Located in the heart of Forest Hills, close to bakeries, coffee shops, restaurants and doctor offices, ISTEIN is an ideal center for parents looking to enrich their child’s musical talents, learn a second language or participate in an after-school and summer school program.
Want to know about ISTEIN? Learn more from Kelly, the front desk manager at ISTEIN:
1. We read that ISTEIN Education Center is made up of 3 different schools: School of Music and Art, ISTEIN Academy, and Chinese School. When did ISTEIN start and why did the founder(s) choose Forest Hills?
Istein was founded in 2013, but our company has 15+ years of childcare and education services. Forest Hills is a very family-oriented community with parents truly invested not only in their child’s academic performance but as well as the extracurricular activities their children participate in. Forest Hills provides us the opportunity not just to offer our services but we have other local businesses/facilities provide options for our summer day camp trips without having to travel too far.
2. Could you please tell our readers what services/classes are available at ISTEIN?
Istein offers after-school homework assistance, Chinese language lessons, private and group music lessons, academic enrichment classes for State Test and Gifted + Talented Test prep, and a summer day camp.
3. What age groups do you cater to?
We have academic and Chinese language programs for students from Preschool age to 6th grade. However, we offer music lessons catered to students from 4-years old to adulthood. For students too young for an instrumental study we have music appreciation classes to get children acquainted with the variety and fun of music.
4. How’s your music school different from other music schools in the area?
Many music schools only offer one on one instrumental lessons, but we offer various group lessons and incorporate music into our other programs such as our Chinese language class and summer day camp. While we have classical instrument programs, we also have a very strong jazz and pop music program and provide unique group lessons such as jazz choir and ukulele group lessons. All the teachers in this school are all experienced, acclaimed music performers on the New York music scene. Additionally, Istein hosts semi-annual recitals at a local venue open to the public for all of our students to perform various musical acts.
5. At what age would you recommend a child start music lessons? How would a parent know a child is ready for music lessons?
For instrumental practice, we advise students as young as 5 to study, but from an even younger age we recommend children gain an appreciation for music through musical games and singing. However, our own Annie Chen (Music Program Director), an internationally praised Jazz musician started studying piano at the age of 4-years-old and recognizes some children have the potential to master an instrument from such a young age.
6. How has the Forest Hills neighborhood changed in the last 10 years and if improvements are needed, what should be the first thing we should do to make this neighborhood even better?
Over the last ten years, we’ve seen several small local businesses close and are afraid to see this continue. Every summer ISTEIN’s day camp goes on weekly field trips, and we prefer to keep it local since there is so much the Forest Hills community has to offer, and we’re afraid high rent prices will drive away these opportunities with so many businesses closing their doors.
Schedule a tour or learn about enrichment programs at Istein’s website: ISTEIN
Forest Hills Pet-Friendly Apartments