JERSEY EXPLORATIONS: RIDGEWOOD CONSERVATORY     bY CALVIN SCHWARTZ     May 17th 2015

It’s not often when I leave my journalistic confines of Central Jersey and actually head north on the Garden State Parkway, passing several toll plazas, traversing my old Essex County stomping grounds ( I was born  there) and landing just off Route 17 in Paramus, Bergen County.  Some people would walk a mile for their proverbial indulgence; I would drive over an hour for mine; exploring musical offerings in new worlds.  And thanks to all the advancements in social media, my name and occupation (journalist with proclivities in music, environment, homelessness, hunger) was  picked out of a random hat and I was asked if I’d like to explore the Ridgewood Conservatory/School for the Performing Arts in Paramus. The decision was instant; it would be a positive wonderful learning experience.

At the Ridgewood Conservatory, I asked for some keyboard time

Donna Baccaro, Program Director actually found me and my writings on social media and NJ Discover. Just prior to meeting Louis Caimano, Director and Jan King Caimano, Associate Director, Donna and I went through the discovery process as she enhanced my understanding of all they do at Ridgewood Conservatory. Of course I was taken with the depth and breadth of their programs as we toured the facility. To me, there are music schools all over, but there was something special here from the physical plant, to the faculty, most with Masters Degrees, to the wide variety of programs for all age groups, even mine.

Rather than outlining all that I absorbed, I asked Jan Caimano to provide me with general information

Calvin Schwartz   May 17, 2015  

You can appreciate the scope and size of the Ridgewood Conservatory (during my tour)

Donna Baccaro, Program Director, Lou Caimano, Director, Jan King Caimano, Associate Director, Warren Carr, Admissions/Operations Manager

Thanks to Jan Caimano for the encapsulated information:

The Ridgewood Conservatory School for the Performing Arts offers premium instrument, vocal, acting and dance education for students of all levels and ages without going into Manhattan.

The Conservatory’s Director, Lou Caimano, is a consummate professional performer with credits including three degrees in music, 14 Broadway shows, three CD-releases, and too many live and recording performances to possibly list here. Critically acclaimed as an “extraordinary saxophonist,” Lou’s latest CD Dyad Plays Puccini, recorded with pianist Eric Olsen, and was listed as one of the Top 50 Jazz CDs of 2013 by Jazz Times.

The current location has 14 private teaching studios, a large Early Childhood Music room and an elegant Dance/Recital space. This year, The Ridgewood Conservatory’s dance program is undergoing enormous growth under the direction of professional dancer, choreographer and educator, Donna Baccaro. The Conservatory’s newly expanded Dance Program includes private instruction and group classes for students of all ages and levels in ballet and pointe, modern/contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop, dance acrobatics, musical theater and ballroom, as well as in pilates for adults.

The Ridgewood Conservatory offers private music lessons by world-class virtuosi on strings, woodwinds, brass, piano, percussion, guitar, and voice; private acting lessons and group workshops; chamber music and jazz ensembles; jazz improvisation workshops; theory and musicianship, composition, music history, audition preparation and music AP coaching for children, teens and adults at all levels.

The Rock Shop offers private lessons as well as band, performance and songwriting coaching, to aspiring rock musicians and vocalists of all ages by our staff of top Rock and R&B professionals. The Early Childhood Program at The Ridgewood Conservatory includes joyful, non-competitive, Music and Dance classes specially designed to meet the developmental needs for the youngest students.

To find out more about The Ridgewood Conservatory, call 201-612-6686 or visit them on the web at www.ridgewoodconservatory.org.