About Us

Our Team

Ben Crowder

Co-Founder & Music Educator

Master of Music in Jazz Studies

Ben holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in jazz studies from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. With 20+ years of trombone performance experience, he has worked with hundreds of students over the last decade. He currently teaches instrumental music with Harmony Program, a non-profit organization that provides music education to underserved communities in NYC, and is an active performer within the five boroughs and surrounding areas. 

Ben loves writing improvisational music, and enjoys collaborating with other musicians to bring that music to life.  His music is inspired by a wide variety of genres and artists, and his ultimate goal is genuine, honest, and unconstrained expression through music.

Havovi Desai

Co-Founder, Music Educator, & Music Therapist

MA, MT-BC, NRMT, LCAT-LP

Havovi holds a dual bachelor’s degree in music and psychology from Ohio State University and earned her master’s in music therapy from NYU in 2022. Havovi is a board-certified music therapist with an advanced certification in Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. She is currently working toward her LCAT and holds a limited permit.

Primarily a flutist, Havovi also plays trumpet and loves all brass instruments. She enjoys exploring new instruments and studies electric bass, guitar, and piano to deepen her understanding of various genres. Passionate about jazz and improvisation, she actively seeks opportunities to grow in this art form. Since moving to NYC, she has also developed a love for musical theatre, aspiring to play in a Broadway pit orchestra. Recently, she began studying Indian classical music—sitar and Carnatic vocals—as a way to connect with her culture. Havovi embraces the many layers of her musical identity, constantly exploring and evolving as an artist.

Our Story

After teaching music lessons separately for years, Havovi Desai and Ben Crowder founded Colbrook Music in 2024 as a way to combine their talents, passions, and goals. Havovi and Ben met through The Ohio State University Marching Band and further developed their connection in the Ohio State Jazz Department. Through their shared love of music and creative freedom, they developed a strong friendship and foundation that led to them to co-founding this studio together. With Havovi and Ben’s deep roots in Columbus, Ohio and their new path in Brooklyn, New York, the name “Colbrook Music” aims to honor the earliest stages of their professional growth while looking to their future in this city of opportunity. 

Our Philosophy

Be - See - Music

At Colbrook Music, we believe in simplifying the music process in a way that feels tangible, organic, and inspiring. “Be See Music” is a philosophy that embodies this three step process. 

  • Be

    Find and explore yourself in your truest and rawest form. Allow your own ideas, expression, and creativity to emerge and let yourself tell your own unique story.

  • See

    Envision your goals and realize that the future you see for your creative self is possible. Believe in your unique vision and see yourself growing into the artist and person you want to be.

  • Music

    Allow beautiful music to emerge from within. With a combination of self authenticity and a strong, clear vision or dream in place, the music you want and believe in for yourself will begin to transform all around you.

 

Music Education

  • We meet each student where they are and craft lesson plans that cater to the unique needs, interests, and learning styles of every individual.

    We believe there are many ways to learn and understand music, and we allow our students to choose their own musical paths.

  • Some of our students learn everything entirely by ear, while others focus on understanding chord structures and learning to read lead sheets.

    Some students prefer the structure of lesson books and some choose to carve their own unique path with us.

  • We believe it is important to give our students the freedom to be expressive and to advocate for themselves.

    We make sure they receive a well-rounded music education while honoring their musical goals, interests, and learning styles.

  • We build on our students’ strengths while encouraging them to be bold and vulnerable, often guiding them beyond their comfort zones.

    We take pride in nurturing all aspects of wholistic musicianship through a nuanced and customized approach to music education.

 

Music Therapy

  • We believe music can help meet a variety of needs including physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual.

    We use a humanistic, strengths-based, and music centered approach heavily influenced by Nordoff-Robbins music therapy.

  • We truly believe in the power of music and know that there is a natural musician that lives within each of us.

    The therapeutic relationship is at the center of our work and we strive to build deep and unique connections with each client through music.

  • We use clinical improvisation to explore the intimate and organic feelings, thoughts, and experiences that emerge within the therapeutic process, creating shared music in the moment.

    We work to develop a unique repertoire for each client that reflects and honors their musical, religious, and cultural identities.

  • We are passionate about continuously learning and growing as therapists, and we advocate wholeheartedly for the voices of those we work with.

    Our commitment to ongoing therapist education and client advocacy is at the heart of who we are, helping us stay connected and responsive to our clients’ needs.

 

 

Our Logo

  • We believe in building a strong foundation through therapy and education rooted in raw passion and organic creativity.

    This foundation is represented by the seeds or roots of the tree. 

  • We believe in fostering independent, free-thinking minds, as this is vitally important for one’s artistic development and personal discovery.

    This infinite, never ending growth is represented by the tree blooming in all directions. 

  • We allow our students and clients to feel and experience a shared journey with others - all while honoring their unique stories and voices. 

    No two trees are the same, yet their path from roots to growth reflects a shared experience.

  • We believe that music is meant to be shared and felt with others. It is a timeless and universal language that connects us across all barriers. 

    Our logo shows two trees growing and working together in harmony.