Portland, ME Piano Lessons

All genres - pop, folk, blues, rock, R&B, singer/songwriter, classical, world, etc.
Improvisation soloing
Proper technique
Repertoire
Music analysis

I've been teaching piano now for 15 years. My goal is for the student to learn to play by feel in addition to reading music. A standard lesson would consist of some playing in books and going over some music theory followed by playing by feel. This would include blues,jazz, and rock grooves. My approach is creative and customized to the prospective student. The student needs to enjoy learning the piano. A happy student is a successful one.

I enjoy finding innovative ways to encourage and challenge my music students. I am very down-to-earth and all of my students and parents enjoy working with me. My own training and experiences have given me a very open-minded but direct approach to WHAT you should learn, and HOW FAST you should be able to progress each individual student. Just ask how my tailored style may assist you personally, or ask any questions that you may have.

Learn the Tricks of the trade and get up and going fast!!!

I've been playing piano ever since I was in elementary school, and it's proven a valuable asset as I've continued my career as a musician. No musician can afford not to know piano, let alone how to read and play sheet music, and anyone who wants to pursue music, or just the arts in general always benefits from it.

We will learn the scales, chords and of course songs! The main focus is to play with good technique as to prevent injury and expression!

Get ready for a truly rich and rewarding experience. Maria studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Viktor Merzhanov. She is a 4th-generation pupil of Franz Liszt and 6th-generation of Beethoven. She was one of the fortunate few (Garrick Ohlsson among them) to study with Roberto Eyzaguirre, who was a student and friend of Claudio Arrau, one of the 20th-century's greatest pianists. Arrau studied with Martin Krause, who was one of Franz Liszt's final pupils. Liszt was taught by Carl Czerny. And Beethoven was Czerny's teacher. Through this great lineage, learn an incredible technique that will enable you to play the music of your dreams!

This is my first time teaching, but I have played piano for 12 years. I have a lot of experience with music. Base on your level, I'll teach you foundation skills such as scales, side-reading, music theory and more. Also we will have fun with pieces in different genre. Let's have a walk in the musical world together!

I teach how to read, play, collaborate and listen. I take an interest in the student in particular, by allowing them to work towards being able to play their favorite songs on the piano. I always include fun activities into my lesson plans, which are always relative to the students' age. I am not only a teacher, but also a mentor - one that will help students get where they want to be with their lessons, regardless of how high their goals are set.

I've taught at Concordia Conservatory in New York, the International School of the Hague and the Portland Conservatory. At the Oberlin Conservatory, I did a pedagogy minor and after completing a post-graduate degree at the Juilliard School I spent over a decade teaching at Conservatories and performing in the major concert halls in New York and around the world. During my fifteen years in Holland, I founded my own music school specializing in violin, piano and voice and then taught instrumental music including conducting the orchestra and chorus at the International School of The Hague. Most recently, I've been playing in the Tahoe Toccata Symphony and instituting an instrumental program at an International boarding school. For me, playing the piano has been a lifelong source of learning and great joy and giving that to others is a privilege I value highly.