Heights Piano Teacher is Always Proud of Her Students

Hasbrouck Heights resident piano and voice teacher Marietta Prato and all her students just completed their annual March recitals for their families and friends.

Prato has been opening her Cleveland Avenue home to her students for more than a decade and continues to celebrate in their achievements every day.

She's even started a billboard on her wall where she posts the achievements of her students and she's adding another to highlight the accomplishments of her students who now compose their own works.

"The greatest part of being a teacher is seeing your students grow," says Prato.

The recitals were held over a period of four consecutive Saturdays this month.  Prato says the students performed two selections, one classical and one popular piece in piano and voice.

In addition there were piano duets, original compositions, and a new category of piano and voice performed together. A student must have years of piano and voice to play chords on the piano and sing a different melody to it, said Prato.

She's proud of all her students. Some of them may even follow in her footsteps. Prato says Theresa Olivo, a senior in Hasbrouck Heights High School plans to go into music education. For her recital performance she sang and played "The Climb" on the piano.

Some of her students are already composing. Prato says Alyssa Guggliotti, a Heights resident, has been composing since 7-years old.

"She performed her brilliant composition 'Rise Again' on piano and sang the honest lyrics with strong emotions in her rock voice," said Prato. who added the young girl plans to record her compositions and perform her music.

Some of her students are already performing out regularly. Prato says Andrew Macera, an eighth grade students at plays piano on Friday and Saturday nights at Tuscany Touch Restaurant.For the recital he performed a medley of Italian songs entitled "Medley from Tuscany Touch."

As always she gives the students a gift at the recital. Red roses for her senior girls, pink roses for the junior girls and pink carnations for the younger ones, all from Bill O'Shea's Florist, says Prato. And for the boys - homemade chocolate guitars.