Nyasha Rhoden Music Educator Philippa Schuyler Middle School for the Gifted and Talented
"To Whom Music is Given, Much is Required"
A professional flutist, pianist, steelpanist and educator. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Nyasha Rhoden started playing the piano at the age of 3. Currently she teaches at her alma mater, Philippa Schuyler Middle School for the Gifted and Talented for over 20 years.
She is proud to have started the school's Major Steel Pan Ensemble with the help of Abdullah Pollard, Philippa Schuyler's first parent coordinator and member of Trinidad and Tobago's Scherzando Steel Orchestra.
The school has one the first steel pan programs and curriculum at a NYC public middle school that has developed approximately over 250 music students a year. Her Major Steelpan Ensemble has had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Borough Arts Festivals held at Tow Performing Arts Center, Pace University, and St. John's University.
In the June 2019 edition of the School Band and Orchestra Magazine (a nationwide publication for Music Educators also called SBO), Spencer Hale of Music Will wrote an article about Philippa Schuyler's Major Steelpan Ensemble and our philosophy on music education.
Several graduates continue to perfect their craft on steel pan and have competed in several steelband competitions, such as Panorama. While Ms. Rhoden has lectured at Berklee School of Music and Modern Band Summit through Music Will (formerly known as Little Kids Rock).
In 2024, she received a NYC Department of Education Fellows Scholarship through the Jazz House Kids program a community-based arts organization with a mission to provide year-round musical, educational, and cultural programs to students.
Presently in 2025, Ms. Rhoden is receiving the Save the Music's Sonidos Latinos grant which will deliver equitable access to music education for students to achieve their full potential through the power of making music.
In addition, Ms. Rhoden is excited to share that she recently attended an improvisation intensive course at Rutgers Newark created by award winning xylophonist Stefon Harris who has been developing an improvisation approach and app called Harmony Cloud. She plans to incorporate the Harmony Cloud app with her budding Afro-Latin Jazz band students.