About Echo City Music Lab

After a decade of teaching in-home lessons in Brooklyn, New York, Nate Terepka founded Echo City Music Lab. The goal: to build a community of like-minded teachers and families. The school became known for its “gig nights” where students perform at cozy, house-show-like events.

Local musicians and bands headlined these shows to help inspire this new generation of creators and performers.

The sudden upheaval of 2020 meant no more Gig Nights or group band classes. Still, Echo City kids continued to thrive in high-quality virtual lessons and recitals.

They even did a studio-wide song collaboration:

Later that summer, Nate relocated to Portland, OR, to be closer to family. The Echo City community now includes teachers in Portland and Brooklyn, with students across the world.

“Both of my kids have found their own relationship to music and instruments where it is no longer a chore (have you ever begged your kids to practice their music??) It’s pretty special.” -Danika L

A Note From the Founder

I quit my piano lessons at age ten. I loved music. I just hated the boring music my teacher gave me…so my piano collected dust. All that changed when a friend asked me to join a garage band. The plan was to play at the middle school talent show! I started practicing on my own non-stop…and then loved being able to play what I learned with my friends.

What changed? Why did I suddenly have the motivation to play? I started playing music I liked to listen to, not what my teacher thought I was “supposed” to learn. Suddenly playing the piano didn’t just mean sitting alone in a room practicing scales. It was something exciting that could connect me to my peers.

This is what caused me to fall in love with playing music… And it’s the philosophy that drives our music program. We let kids play music that excites them, and play it for each other. It’s the secret to our student’s success.

-Nate Terepka, Echo City Founder.

A Note From the Founder

WANT TO GIVE US A TRY?