Chess lessons in Staten Island at DEA Music & Art.

Sharpen your mind.  Master the game.  Enjoy the challenge.

DEA Music & Art in Staten Island offers engaging, skill-building chess lessons for kids and teens of all levels. Whether your child is picking up a chess piece for the first time or aiming to compete in tournaments, our experienced instructors guide them through every move.

I’ve recently taken up drumming lessons with Mauro at DEA Studio. He is an incredible, patient, and smart teacher who takes the time to help me understand how to listen to music. It is not easy to teach a newbie like myself but Mauro has the patience and education to teach me every step of the way. I am having such an incredible experience at DEA!
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your review. We greatly appreciate you being part of our family.
My daughter is doing remote classes with teacher Elis. He is a wonderful teacher and a person. I highly recommend the teacher and DEA.
It’s been great since Mr. Elis took over my son’s piano lessons! He is knowledgeable and friendly. He is easy to get in touch with. Scheduling is better. Overall, we are pleased!
DEA is a special part of my daughter's life. Everyone at the school is very welcoming and supportive. But I believe that her piano teacher Elis, is the reason she has remained motivated and consistent in her study of piano.. Elis is a patient and kind teacher. It is not always easy for a teen to take learn a new instrument for the first time. In the words of my daughter, "Elis makes it easy to learn everything." This will be her second year! She has come a long way and learned so much. We miss the school very much, but Elis has even made learning remotely a wonderful experience. Thank you, Elis and thank you, DEA Music and Art School. We are grateful!
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your review. Indeed Mr. Elis is a dedicated teacher. We are so happy your daughter is enjoying the piano classes.
Ellis is a wonderful piano teacher for my 2 boys. He makes sure to understand each of their strengths and that they are learning the proper technique while still making it fun. We are very lucky to have him as our teacher!-Michele Mooney
My 8 year-old son is learning piano with Elis for over a year now. I appreciate the teacher’s approach very much. Elis makes sure my son knows both playing piano and the music theory. He makes the classes engaging and fun, picking the songs my son truly enjoys, while making sure he continues to learn. I’m grateful for the flexibility and ability to continue my son’s development remotely when so many places are closed. Highly recommend DEA school and the teacher.
We’ve been going to the school for the last two years taking piano lessons in person and virtually. Good school with great and professional teachers that motivate their students.
Response from the owner: Thank you so much for your review. We cherish our students and cannot be more proud of their work.
I have taken piano lessons at DEA since I was very young. I have learned a lot of important fundamentals in Classical Music with Magi which have helped me as I explored other genres of music in high school. I wanted to continue to expand my repertoire before leaving for college and joining a band in the future. In the past few months I have been immersed in the Jazz and Classic Rock genres with my current teacher Elis. I feel that, even with the change to virtual lessons due to the pandemic, I am learning a plethora of musical skills that will have lasting impacts as well having a lot of fun! Whenever a change in scheduling is needed, he is very easy to reach. The communication and quality of every teacher at DEA is exceptional.
Response from the owner: We greatly appreciate your review and we are so happy that you are continuing to develop your skills thru the virtual piano lessons. Cannot wait to see everyone in person again.
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Why Learn Chess at DEA Music & Art?

Beginner to master β€” everyone’s invited!

Beginners ages 6+ learning the basics.

Intermediate players looking to improve strategy.

Advanced students preparing for rated competitions.

Chess Lessons – Frequently Asked Questions

A: Kids can start as early as age 6. At DEA Music & Art, we adjust lessons to match each student’s age and skill level.

A: Not at all! We teach everything from the ground up β€” from how each piece moves to advanced strategies.

A: Most group and private lessons run for 45–60 minutes, giving plenty of time for instruction and practice games.

A: Yes! We offer one-on-one sessions for students who want personalized coaching and faster improvement.

A: Absolutely. Our classes include supervised games so students can apply what they’ve learned.

A: We provide all the equipment for lessons. Students can bring their own set if they prefer.

A: Yes β€” we teach tournament rules, notation, time management, and strategies to help students compete with confidence.