Our Story

The Heart Behind Instrumate

Music lessons with heart. Built by parents and musicians to inspire your child's musical journey.

Graham Parker

Founder

I wanted to be James Galway. Why, because in England in the 1980s and you were a bit of a classical music nerd, “Annie’s Song” was the #1 on the Top Ten, and James Galway was a flute god. And, I fancied myself James Galway. So, learn the flute I did.

I was lucky enough to be able to find a teacher through my high school, and went on to being a pretty OK flute player. I ended up stopping playing the piano (massive mistake to my later ambitions of being a conductor) as the flute became my life. I didn’t go full flute-nerd, but I will admit to playing in an all-flute orchestra, writing arrangements for said all-flute orchestra and nerdfest of all nerd-fests, and fell in love playing bass flute! Maybe I am a flute nerd….

My career and life has blissfully been spent working in the music industry – working with orchestras, leading a big radio station and then president of a lot of classical record labels. I call composers, conductors and soloists friends and can look back with pride on a lot of projects I helped bring to life.

"The seed of all this joy and success was playing an instrument. It gave me purpose, discipline, and so much joy."

I would never change all those hours I devoted to learning to read music, get fingerings right, breath control, tone exercises and the rest. I hope you find the same in your own Instrumate.io journey.

Alex Ambrose

Co-Founder

I really wanted to play the trombone. It was just so shiny and impressive. It had the most majestic placement in the music store window that I passed walking back from school every day. But in a decision that was probably for the best for our tiny Manhattan apartment, my parents said "no way.” I was diverted to the piano and a Casio keyboard perched on two wobbly fold- out legs.

So at the age of five, I begin taking piano lessons at Manhattan’s Turtle Bay Music School. I remember my first piano teacher, one I had for almost a decade. I can see how instrumental his patience and contagious enthusiasm was for awakening my love for classical music, even if I was never destined for the concert stage.

That love for music has inspired every step of my career, from programming classical radio stations, to starting podcasts and producing live concert series, to connecting with international composers and musicians for record labels and as an artist manager.

As a father now, I find myself returning to the piano, with the discipline to practice regularly, and with the hope that in doing so, I inspire my own children to learn to the value of patient work and the joy of finding their own voices.

"Piano taught me how music actually works and a new way to express myself"

Our Mission

Instrumate isn’t just a website—we’re a community built by parents and music lovers, for families like yours. We’re here to make learning easy and fun, matching inspirational teachers with kids who can’t wait to discover their favorite instrument.