- When did you first start playing your instrument?
I started Music School when I was 7 years old. I had piano lessons twice a week for 45 minutes, solfeggio lessons twice a week for 45 minutes, plus music theory and music history each week. It meant 2 -3 nights every week were dedicated to music classes, plus practicing my instrument at home!
- Who was your favorite piano teacher and why?
I loved my first piano teacher Rita! She was young, beautiful and very friendly! I thought one day I will work together with my teacher Rita at the same Music School! It never happened…. but we are still good friends and often talk about our students and experiences.
- What made you decide to pursue teaching as a job?
Both of my parents are medical doctors and my brother is veterinarian. I thought maybe I should go this path too. One summer as a high-school student I was working at a hospital, but I found it a very sad and depressing environment to be every day. I knew I couldn’t do it…
While studying at the University I started to teach piano at the Music School and I loved it! I just love working with the children! There is always so much positive energy around them!
- What is your favorite piece to play?
I love romantic music –Chopin, Liszt.
I like playing Liszt’s “Liebesträume”. I also played this piece at the first Piano Studio Gala Concert in February 2004.
- Do you play in a band/orchestra?
I played flute for 4 years at the University brass band.
I also sang for 8 years with the University Female Choir and we travelled all over Europe for choral contests. It gave me the opportunity to see Europe a lot.
- What is one of your favorite songs/artists/styles of music, and why?
I like to listen to classical music…
Often I am just happy to enjoy a moment of silence, because I work with the small children in the mornings and I always have children and their songs and music around me…
- What other interests do you have, unrelated to music?
I have never been much into sports….. but now with my own children you can find me running on the soccer-field, biking in the neighbourhood, skating and playing hockey.
- Did you ever think about wanting to stop music? If so, what made you continue?
When I was about 14-15 years old I saw that my friends who didn’t go to the music school had so much more free time and it didn’t seem fair.
The same summer we visited Moscow with my family and we had a chance to listen to the famous Tchaikovsky Pianist Contest. It was very impressive!!! Wow! What the pianists could do with the instrument! Amazing! I understood that learning music is just so great!
- What is your advice to parents whose children are having difficulty finding or making the time to practice at home?
Make it a daily routine like reading or homework. For the beginners 10 minutes a day is enough, but just keep it up every day! Also don’t be scared to remind your children to practice. I leave written notes for my children at the kitchen table to practice their piano! The amazing thing is when you practice, you will enjoy playing your instrument even more and you will have lots of fun!
- If you could learn to play another instrument, what would it be?
I have accompanied violin and cello students for many years and I admire how much they have to use their ear and musical hearing for learning the instrument! Maybe one day I will try to learn the violin.
