Teaching

A: I grew up desperately wanting to be a musician: a pianist, lecturer, teacher. That desire was an immense part of my identity as far as I can remember. As a child, I used to take music books and my journal everywhere. I would open the music books on the bus (it was one-hour ride to school each way) and study it, then write in journal my observations. Then, I would go to library to read about a composer, a style, a genre, and find out answers to the questions I did not know. I also went to concerts, lectures and master-class several times per week and was ferociously writing in my journal everything I could learn from it. My house was full of art albums and art magazines. My mom and I would sit on the floor for hours and she would explain me things and point to details. It was not until I was in high school that teaching became important to me. During my freshman year I have been given a chance to teach several piano students. It is during that year I decided I wanted to become a professional music teacher.

A: It is impossible to predict if one is going to make a career out of music or to make music a life-long hobby. What possible is to identify the points that inspire him or her to appreciate and relate to music. Like life, a student develops, evolves and changes, you never know what happens next.

A student, first of all, is an individual, a character. I see every student as a path on my teaching journey, with its own difficulties and exciting turns. I understand that every word I say and every gesture I make will affect student’s musical development and my own perception of a student. One of my main jobs as a teacher is to grow in understanding of a student’s inner narrative of life today.

Teaching the right repertoire piece at the right time takes care of the rest. Put a pinch of fun and a competitive edge, and a student starts to like piano practicing. Suddenly, you might have a student who says that he/she wants to become a piano teacher one day 🙂

A: Every teacher on my path played a significant role. I appreciate every single one of them for making me understand life and music under a different angle. However, I do have a teacher whose perspective on music was and still is very special to me. When I was 10 I was in a six-hours-a-week musicianship class (for 3 years!!). That teacher became my role model! She was extremely focused, direct, professional to her core and the best disciplinarian I have ever met! She challenged every student, and we loved her so much for it! She gave praise for the specific tasks and paid full attention to every one of us in the class! She treated us as little professionals. It is because of her, I later started extensive studies in music theory, music history, and world art! Her love for knowledge and teaching became my lighthouse. If I was not in her class, I would be doing something else today.

A: The most important point I learned is that music instruction has to speak student’s language. Your language has to become a narrative that the student understands. Imagine a 5 year old who is at the age of active environment exploration, and a college professor talking musical terms. I am not sure it’s either interesting or inspiring for the child. If you have a college-level student, you operate with a different set of semiotics.

A: I was always fascinated by medicine.

A: To become a good teacher, you have to be flexible in your teaching style, be open minded, and have a deep appreciation of a student’s personality.