CERTIFIED TUNELARK INSTRUCTOR
Russell K.
piano
Russell teaches video chat lessons from his studio in Argentina.
Meet Russell K.
Russell is a jazz pianist, musical director, and educator based in Buenos Aires, originally from Brooklyn, NY. He studied under Geri Allen at the University of Michigan and quickly became an in-demand performer and teacher in NYC, working with Grammy winners like Nicole Zuraitis, Sam Weber, and Dan Pugach. For over a decade, he served as musical director for four gospel churches, playing multiple services weekly. As both a sideman and bandleader, Russell has performed at major venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Arthur’s Tavern, Thelonious, Bebop, and Centro Cultural Recoleta.
A passionate educator, Russell maintains an active teaching studio focused on jazz, gospel, and contemporary styles. He specializes in repertoire, ear training, improvisation, and recital preparation. With a deep interest in the psychology of music, he helps students develop freedom, confidence, and joy in their playing—always prioritizing individual expression and solid technique.
Videos from Russell
Russell plays ¨Games¨ live at GB´s Juke Joint in Queens, NY
What Russell's students are saying
"I studied piano with Russell for a couple years right after the pandemic. He is a very thoughtful teacher, good at explaining musical concepts related to improvisation and always prepared with material for me to work on. My musicianship grew tremendously under Russell's tutelage and as a result I now feel comfortable playing gigs with great musicians." ~ Matthew
"I am an experienced classical singer who studied jazz vocals with Russell for two years. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about pop music and jazz theory, but more importantly, he gave me incredibly valuable guidance about my vocal style, corrected stubborn mistakes that I couldn't perceive on my own, and transferred the intangible quality of jazz musicianship into my approach to singing. He wrote chords, and taught me how to write them, for the melodies I composed; recorded beautiful backing tracks for me; and played with me at my gigs. He's a truly gifted pianist who can play lots of different styles." ~ Isabel
"Russell has really helped me get organized with my piano practice. His lessons are clear and build up step by step with useful exercises. I used to be very unstructured in my daily practice, and now I feel more confident and motivated to keep learning thanks to his lessons. He teaches ear training, improvisation, jazz repertoire and piano technique all in a super fun and creative way." ~ Juan
Book a trial lesson with Russell
Trial lessons are $25 off, and you can book one for yourself or for a child.
About Tunelark:
A diverse community of exceptional teachers.
Tunelark connects students with world-class educators for 1-on-1 virtual lessons. Teachers in our community have been hand-picked from a large pool of applicants, and every teacher has been vetted and background-checked.
Our vision is to help our students connect with their intrinsic love of music and follow their curiosity to grow as musicians and people.
Common questions
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