Marietta Prato Keeps Music Alive in Heights

Marietta Prato has been surrounded by music her whole life. Some of her early music memories are of learning the piano at her aunt's Hasbrouck Heights home. That love for music has brought her full circle as she has devoted her life to teaching piano and voice instruction to children in Heights and surrounding communities.

Prato, who is originally from Wood-Ridge, started out teaching four students when she lived in Rutherford. She also taught part-time in schools. When she and her husband moved to Hasbrouck Heights in 1999 she began teaching from her home and she’s been doing it ever since.

“I love what I am doing,” says Prato who added that she has a very understanding husband who doesn’t mind that they eat dinner like they do in Europe - late at night after her teaching for the day is done. 

She has always loved music. Growing up she was surrounded by many members of her family who played instruments including her grandfather who played saxophone during the Big Band era. She went on to perform in school productions and later studied music at Fairleigh Dickinson University where she earned her degree in music education with a concentration in piano and voice.

One of her biggest influences in music and teaching comes from one of her professors. She never forgot how he motivated students to achieve their goals.

Prato works with children as young as 6 all the way up to college age. Her students hail from Heights and the surrounding communities. People come to her through word of mouth she says.  Prato works with students at different levels customizing their study towards their individual goals. She even trains some of her students for college music programs and can also train for musical theater.

Each Saturday in March she opens up her home for the annual recitals.  The students work all through January and February to prepare. Prato says they each perform two pieces, one classical and one of his or her own choice which can be a popular piece.

Just like an old-fashioned piano recital she sets up folding chairs in the living room for parents and after the performances she hosts a reception in the sun room.  She groups the students into four different events so all have time to perform and their families can come watch. Prato says she also groups the students together based on who knows each other so they all can take part in the same recital event.

Prato says what she loves most is watching the children grow, giving them confidence and keeping their interest. One of her former piano students who studied with her for 10 years is now a student at the University of Delaware. She came to visit and attended one of Prato’s recitals. It meant a lot to her.

Prato said some of her students are even writing their own music now. She does not require them to write they do it all on their own, she says.  Encouraging their creativity is a great thing, she says.