My students and their parents say:
I met and had my first piano lesson with Anna at the age of 12 and to this day she remains my most trusted teacher. What Anna brought to me during those critical early years of development was not only a delightful realization of my potential as a pianist but also an establishment of a massive growth in my broader education in culture and the arts. While working together on a piece, Anna would communicate in her uniquely well-worded way, metaphors, anecdotes as well as references to various subjects such as literature, film and world history, to inspire my imagination and instill a fuller understanding of the music. Anna is very patient and kind, but also demanding as she always encourages me to reach for my highest potential. Lessons with her are infused with humor, fun, and dialogue, and I always leave a lesson feeling more enlightened, loving to learn and simply happy to be making music. There is no question that every lesson I have had and still continue to have with Anna is a rich and fulfilling experience that has made me the musician and person that I am today.
Fiona Wu, student
Anna always goes the extra mile for her students. Her knowledge extends far beyond that of the RCM curriculum, and she brings her musical experience and undivided focus to every lesson. She is always prepared with the up-to-date and relevant exercises. I learned so much by trusting Anna’s musical expertise. She is a phenomenal teacher.
Marika Galea, student
We don’t play instruments and wanted to give our daughter a chance to learn to play the piano.
We did thorough research looking for a music teacher and when we found Anna even our teenage son decided that he wants to take piano lessons. Anna is a great musician and experienced teacher, in a very short time she was teaching kids to play duet for a small concert where all her students performed – this was such an experience when kids learn to overcome stage fear and learn to work with each other on stage.
Anna’s lessons are not only focused on music, but Anna also gives kids musical education by teaching them Italian terms for music, theory, and history of music. Each student gets a very personal approach with personalized homework and exercises, and kids are happy too because they often get to choose what music they will play. Kids are encouraged to practice and take Music Theory exams that could count as credits in High School.
As hard as piano may be, Anna succeeded to pass our kids her love and passion for music. If you are reading this then most likely you are looking for a piano teacher and we’d very pleased to recommend Anna.
Weintraub family
After a disappointing experience with the traditional North American music schools, I made a decision to find a private teacher who was trained in the Soviet Union, as there is a tremendous difference in methodology. This was how we stumbled upon Anna and never looked back.
In less than two years, my daughter started playing classical pieces, as well as music written for the movies. Before we knew it, Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Nino Rota and other classical and modern composers became part of my daughter’s repertoire. I am in awe how much my daughter learned with Anna in such a short period of time!
Anna’s credentials and experience are beyond impressive. A graduate of St. Petersburg Conservatory, a teacher of music with 30+ years of teaching experience, a choir conductor assistant, a performing artist and accompanist for vocalists and instrumentalists, a guitar player (and she taught my daughter for some time to play guitar), a published writer of short stories (for those of you who didn’t know), Anna excelled at many things throughout the years, and now decided to dedicate her time to teaching.
Anna’s passion for music, her kindness, her patience and individual approach to students, coupled with her ability to challenge her students to help them grow is next to none.
My daughter enjoys every lesson and can’t think of having a different teacher. As a parent, I enjoy attending recitals that Anna organizes for her students and parents twice a year. We are very grateful. On a personal level, I feel blessed to have found Anna. Aside from being a talented teacher, she is also an incredible person with a big heart and became a tremendous influence in our lives.
Dina Mitnik, parent
I am very grateful that I have Anna as the piano teacher for my son and daughter. I was prepared for the frustration and even battles to push the two pre-teens to learn. But it turns out to be an enjoyable journey with little pain. Anna is a very professional musician. She is highly experienced in teaching. She tailors her teaching to the individuals and knows well how to stimulate the most out of the students. Both my kids progressed amazingly well in trying different music styles, practicing the technique and learning the theory. The piano class has been such fun for my kids. They have progressed to RCM level 4 just six months after they started from scratch. The speed of upgrading itself is not important to us at all. But it is a good indication of my kids’ passion for the piano and willingness to practice. Amazingly, this happens to the boy and girl who have very different personality and learning style I can see Anna’s deep love for the music and her effort to instill it to my kids, which will benefit them all through their life. Anna is not running the studio just for business. She has been so kind, thoughtful and flexible that I take her more as a respectable friend. She is brilliant!
Lin, Phil and Cynthia’s mom