by Julie D. Andrews
Your Neighbor Profile: Ben Finane
Age: 29
Occupation: Assistant Director of Music, 92nd St. Y School of Music
Status: Single
Ben Finane, a Pisces, takes a seat behind the black and whites
Ben Finane is a long way from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, his home of origin. But, having lived in New York City since 1999, his apartment at E. 87th St. and First Avenue has become a de facto home – one that’s a mere seven-minute walk to his office at 92nd St. and Lexington Avenue.
Finane began playing piano at five years old. Throughout high school and college, he maintained an on-again, off-again relationship with the instrument. At times, he was serious and concentrated, winning five state piano competitions in Tennessee with the State Federation of Music Clubs. And, at times (after playing at a highly competitive level in high school) he took long breaks, quitting the long, arduous daily practice sessions in college.
“No matter what else I was doing or how long I broke with it, I always was able to go back to piano and inevitably went back. Music. The piano. They were always there for me,” says Finane.
So, it only made sense that even though Finane started out at the Y in the position of publications manager, he would find his way mysteriously to the more music-centric position of assistant director of the school of music.
Finane, who works Tuesdays through Saturdays, likes the way that his job allows him to be involved with people who want to make music – people who come in for classes on the weekends, in their scarce free time ... on their own volition.
“This isn’t degree-granting education,” says Finane. “This is continuing education. People are here because they want to be here, learn music, and have it fill their lives,” says Finane.
Still, to this day, when the administrative duties of his post – the scheduling, meeting with teachers and parents, running of daily operations — are complete, Finane makes time to practice piano on his keyboard at home, or sometimes on the Steinways at the Y. To Finane, sitting down to the keys is as routine as hitting up the gym is to others.
“Music for me is expression of the inexpressible. Some things, feelings, and truths I don’t think can be put into words. What I find so amazing about music is that its language is universal. It’s as close as we can get to those things that can’t be explained,” says Finane.
Among his musical influences, he includes Maurice Ravel, Philip Glass (Check out Metamorphosis I-V, suggests Finane), Theloneous Monk.
“Every genre has its own proper genius,” says Finane, who is also director of chamber music at the school of music, who adds that he couldn’t deny the genius of Doc Watson.
“I’m not someone who feels classical music is the pinnacle and all else subordinate. Bluegrass is tantamount to the genius of Debussy –to music that transcends genres,” says Finane.
In the other free time he finds, Finane writes music reviews. His classical music features and reviews have appeared in The New Criterion, San Francisco Chronicle, Newark Star-Ledger, Strings, Stereophile, Symphony, Time Out New York.
He’s also been known to return to his alma mater, Haverford College, to teach arts journalism.
The link, for Finane, between his passion for music and his passion for words is inextricable.
“Music helps my writing. There’s linguistic grammar, but musical grammar doesn’t obey the rules of writing,” says Finane. “Good writing often sounds like music. If writing is absent of this musicality, it can be dry.”
Although he admits to finding the Upper East Side neighborhood a bit dull at times, Finane likes that his default hangout, the East Village is just a short jaunt on the 4,5,6. And, it’s not hard for him to run into a few fellow Upper East Siders with whom to share a cab home.
Catch Ben Finane’s free-of-charge faculty concert on April 20, at 2:00 p.m. Click here for more information.
Or, run into Ben at his favorite neighborhood haunts:
Nina’s Argentinean Pizzeria at 1750 Second Avenue because it was named after owner Marcelo’s grandmother
Blondie’s at 1770 Second Avenue and E. 94th St. for its hearty turkey burgers
Yura & Company at 1645 Third Avenue for its seared salmon salad
Biddy’s Pub at 303 E. 91st St. for Barry and J.J.’s uncanny ability to make the place THE neighborhood pub.
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