TESTIMONIALS

"The reason I find Bill’s teaching to be so masterful is that he combines his personal musical training, teaching and performing experience, his extensive Alexander training and practice, his beautiful and commanding speaking voice, and his deeply considered personal philosophy into a highly effective pedagogy that uplifts and guides me as I meet the challenges of life. I plan to work with Bill as long as we both are able."

Lisa Terry - professional Viola da Gamba player with award-winning Parthenia Viol Consort - June 24, 2020

"William Barto Jones’s spirited, elegantly nuanced piano performance, beautifully adjusted to the vocal performance he was accompanying, was the lynchpin of an utterly delightful evening of operatic arias and duets in Burlington on January 4, 2020. When Mr. Jones himself took a vocal part in a duet, he showed himself no less accomplished as a singer than as a pianist. Most impressively, it was clear that it was his presence that gave coherence and cohesion to the work of an ensemble cast that had come together from different quarters to perform excerpts from operas by a range of composers from a range of periods. William Barto Jones is clearly a master and master- teacher."

Daniel Mark Fogel, Professor and Chair, Department of English, The University of Vermont
(former President of the University of Vermont)

"I first started coming to Bill when I started to experience tendonitis in my hands for the first time. As a professional pianist, I often have to play for many hours every day, and the pain from playing was a source of real concern for me. A few doctors that I saw were of absolutely no help. So I decided to try something different, and made an appointment with Bill at his cozy apartment, conveniently located on the Upper West Side. In Bill, I found an invaluable resource; an intelligent, comforting presence who helped me to improve my use of myself when I play and also to develop a better internal dialogue while at the piano. I also noticed a big improvement in other areas of my life, especially in my singing and my yoga practice. In addition, Bill is a very supportive teacher, warm and generous. A real highlight for me was when I played Chopin 24 Preludes in performance after studying them with Bill and felt no pain at all. Thank you, Bill!"

Jason Wirth, Professional Pianist, Yale University and Mannes School of Music graduate

"Bill Jones teaches the transformative power of positive thinking. For him, it is more than just a concept; it is something everyone can experience. I’ve experienced it by making music more expansively, freely and energetically than ever before. Bill's accompanying is magnificent. He is a virtuoso who plays with grace, sensitivity, and heart. With Bill as my teacher, the Alexander Technique has given me access to my entire instrument. Through Bill’s guidance I have discovered greater range, power, flexibility, and beauty in my singing. Bill is thoroughly committed to his students. He is generous and kind, and invests deep thought and creativity into how to help me accomplish my goals. "

Cantor David Acker, Philadelphia, PA - June, 2020

"Working with Bill Jones -- Absolutely Phenomenal! Stratospheric heights and cavernous lows have opened up in my voice as an actor– with a new kind of energy, ease and joy that his vocal work and Alexander Technique sets free within me!"

Ginger Grace, Actor, Singer, Writer, Producer

"I have had many Alexander lessons with Bill Jones, and the effect has been transformational. He is extremely effective as a teacher, and the results of his process in terms of posture, relaxation, breathing, freedom, and energy are truly remarkable. He has the ability to gently guide you to greater body awareness, and in a completely comfortable and relaxed manner. Bill is also an excellent pianist and coach, and I have relied on his musical experience to learn some of my most difficult repertoire, while applying the freedom and ﬂexability of Alexander Technique to my vocal work. Whether you are a musician or just want greater freedom of movement or release of tension, Bill Jones is a true expert, and his lessons are always an incredibly positive and beneﬁcal experience."

Jason Adamo, (Operatic Baritone, Actor, Masters student at Mannes School of Music)

"Bill is everything a singer could want in an accompanist! His playing is so very beautiful and sensitive, as his ﬁngers seem to ﬂy eﬀortlessly over the piano keys, no matter the style. And if you’re lucky, you may also get to hear his wonderful, rich baritone, whether he’s singing solo, or part of a choir."

Cantor Dana Anesi ( cantor, Temple of Universal Judaism; faculty, Hebrew Union College)

"My chiropractor originally recommended I take Alexander lessons and I’ve been studying and practicing Alexander with Bill for over 10 years. I went to him for help with occasional back spasms, a twisted and somewhat frozen neck, and an incipient slump.These have all abated, but like all things, they are a work in progress. Bill continues to help me with posture and overall body organization and use and by his own deepening practice and positive attitude, helps me sustain an attitude of possibility and positiveness. His instruction is clear, his answers to questions apt and thoughtful, he keeps the procedures fresh and interesting, and he’s always renewing his practice."

Beth Alberty (retired museum curator, aspiring painter).

"After 15 years of weekly Alexander/voice lessons with Bill ( now via Zoom) I keep discovering how to do my best vocally, artistically and emotionally. I appreciate what I am learning daily and enjoy the great beneﬁts of correct breathing, posture, muscle tone and vocal health. Bill is a gifted teacher, coach and accompanist who is versed in classical, cantorial and popular repertoire. Call him! Happy to share more."

Cantor Nitza Shamah, cantor, Temple Sinai, Tenaﬂy, NJ

"Bill Jones has taught me how to use the Alexander Technique to markedly improve my life.
There are so many aspects to this. In each session, I learned a greater awareness of how I’m using my body. He did this in a gentle and caring manner, and it gave me the tools to learn how to use my body well, whether for singing, playing the ukulele, or just walking.

I now have the ability to ﬁx numerous day to day physical issues, naturally. Rather than use steroid injections for tennis elbow or trigger ﬁnger, I am now able to alleviate or solve this kind of thing through the Alexander Technique. An acquaintance of mine has told me that I have the best posture of anyone she knows and I no longer have the protruding pot belly that I had before.

I never hesitate to recommend Bill to anyone who tells me about a physical discomfort. The musicians and singers I have referred to him echo my praise."

Bob Erenberg (retired Engineer, amateur singer and experienced and passionate English Country Dancer.)

"I am very happy that Bill and I re-connected a year ago. I had known Bill as a superb accompanist and coach, and now I also know him as a smart and dedicated Alexander teacher. I am a classical soprano, actress, and former corporate VP. My lessons with Bill consist of doing Alexander work followed by working on a spoken monologue and/or classical operatic arias.

Bill makes suggestions so that my posture, breathing, speaking or singing are working together as eﬃciently as they can, which I feel also enables me to connect more directly to the world around me. Both my speaking and singing voice have improved greatly, as have my posture and breathing. Bill is generous with his knowledge, talent, and time. He listens to my questions and occasional diﬀerences of opinion with respect and attention. He makes connections to whatever I am doing that is positive, no matter how oﬀ the mark I might be. It is clear to me that he cares about his students and their progress; It feels like a real team eﬀort. I highly recommend him."

Karen Lundry, (classical soprano, actress, and former corporate VP)

"William Barto Jones was my piano teacher at Kean University for three and a half years, and my piano playing has improved tremendously due to his guidance. Applying the Alexander Technique at the piano allowed me to play freely, and it unlocked my true potential at the piano. Bill was great with words and in using the Alexander directions. I’m so lucky to have studied with him since I started playing late, was not very advanced, but from the start I developed good playing habits through his help. Through my hard work and having Bill as my teacher, I was able to play the first movement of Mozart Sonata K. 310 as well as other difficult pieces by the end of my senior year in college. I highly recommend William Barto Jones as a Piano Teacher, Alexander Technique Teacher, or both in one lesson."

Edsel Flores (Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Kean University Music Conservatory, 2020)