Music is my life!

Hi, my name is Paul Mason, I am 69 years old and I've done just about everything that you can do in the music business! I've been a performer, music producer, television writer and producer, composer for radio and television, arranger, publisher, agent, manager and a teacher!

My single claim to fame came about in 1989 when Joe Raposo, the 5-Time Emmy Award Winning Composer and Music Director of Sesame Street, hired me to compose the "cue" or background music to Season One of a new PBS Television show called, "Shining Time Station", featuring, Thomas the Tank Engine and Ringo Starr from the Beatles as "Mr. C." I composed, performed and produced this music in each of the twenty shows of the first season. I then composed and adapted music for their Christmas special, "'Tis a Gift" featuring legendary actor, Lloyd Bridges.

As a performer:

I've been performing on stage as an actor/singer since I was 7 in musical theater and chorus all the way through high school. I performed as a singer with the New York City All-City High School Chorus and sang at Lincoln Center, Gracie Mansion for two different mayors, Federal Hall, Saint Patricks Cathedral and other venues.

I started piano lessons at 16 but became very proficient, very quickly. I played in 10 different local Long Island bands from 1978-1988. All the while playing keyboards at parties and events. I started composing almost immediately at the piano and started writing original music. 

As a teacher:

What makes me so good as a teacher? I've become really good at breaking down complex music pieces for the piano into EASY, short snippets that anyone can learn and memorize, instantly, whether you are brand new to studying the piano, a beginner, an intermediate or at the advanced level. I have a very unique approach to teaching... I believe you can learn to play just about any piano piece ever written REGARDLESS of whether you just started piano or have been at it for years.

I can take a piece like Beethoven's, "Fur Elise", and break it down to just a few notes at a time for each hand. Once you see me do it, all you have to do is copy me. You don't need to even know how to read music–UNLESS YOU WANT TO–That's it!!

I will teach you how to play the entire piece or any other piece one phrase at a time in my ZOOM lessons.

NEW YORK STATE CERTIFICATION

School District Leader (Principal/Superintendent):  Professional Certificate (May, 2013)

School Building Leader (Assistant Principal):              Initial Certificate (May, 2013)

Music Education K-12 (Teacher):                                      Professional Certificate (2009)

EDUCATION

2 Certified Advanced Graduate Studies Degrees (2013) Major: Educational Administration

     College of Saint Rose (2013) Albany, NY, & Center for Integrated Teacher Education, Oceanside, NY

Master of Arts in Music Education (2009) Five Towns College of Music, Dix Hills, NY

Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (2006) Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College (CUNY), Flushing, NY

PUBLIC MUSIC TEACHER EXPERIENCE

• Lincoln Elementary School, Riviera Beach, Florida                                                            2021-2022
• High School for Youth and Community Development at Erasmus, Brooklyn, NY        2007-2021
• Islip High School, Islip, NY                                                                                                      2006-2007

PRIVATE MUSIC TEACHER EXPERIENCE

• Long Island, NY-Boynton Beach, Florida                                                                               2005-2025

PUBLISHING/COMPOSING/ARRANGING EXPERIENCE

• Published, composed, arranged, and performed original music compositions for television networks, music publishers, and local retailers. Highlighted credits include:
• Shining Time Station, PBS Television Network, the premiere 20-episode season of the hit children’s television series, starring Thomas the Tank Engine and featuring Ringo Starr (from the Beatles) and a one-hour Christmas Special, starring Lloyd Bridges. The series aired for ten years in seven English-speaking countries worldwide.
• Fox Sports (SportsChannel NY, FL, OH) – on-air promotions and highlights package
• Music Connection Series, Silver Burdett The Answer Lies In You And In Me