Piano with Elena S.

Hi there! My name is Elena Svetalkina-S. I am a concert pianist and senior instructor (Assistant Professor) at Sobinov Conservatory in Russia. I received the Artist Diploma from the Sobinov State Conservatory in Saratov (Russia) under the tutelage of Professor Albert Tarakanoff and Professor Maria Christiansen, from which I graduated with distinction in 2002. I have won numerous awards in Russia and Europe and received a grant to teach piano in Hong Kong. Place and date of birth: Penza (Russia) – 16 March 1979 1985-1993 Music School of Penza 1994-1998 Gradated from Penza College of Music with B.A. My professional debut was at the age of seventeen with the Penza Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), playing the Mozart Piano Concerto in A-major. 1997 First Prize in All-Russia Youth piano competition in Astrahan. 1997 Grant from Minister of Culture (Russia) 1998 Government grant for talented young musicians. 1998-2003 Sobinov Saratov Conservatory (under the tutelage of Professor Albert Tarakanov) with Masters Degree 2003 -2005 Post-graduate student Artist Diploma in Music Performance Master classes with: Professors Yuri Slesarev, Nikolai Petroff, Ludmila Roshchina, Michel D’Alberto, Manfred Vagner-Artz 2003-2005 – piano instructor - Sobinov State Conservatory 2005-2010 – senior instructor (assistant professor) at Piano department of Sobinov State Conservatory, Senior Lecturer for the course of Method of Piano teaching 2008-2009 – piano instructor at the Music Center in Hong-Kong (by invitation of the Piano Association of Hong-Kong) Awards: 2005 Second prize “Delphian games in Arts” 2006 Diploma International Piano Competition “Hopes, Talents, Masters” Bulgaria 2007 Second Prize in Piano Duet Shubert International Competition, Ruse Bulgaria Performances: I play with Nadezda Tokareva (violin), Associate Professor of Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Tatiana Nechaeva Associate Professor of Sobinov Saratov Conservatory. Concert tours in Russia (Rachmaninoff’s Hall in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Samara, Astrakhan and elsewhere), China, Bulgaria Repertoire: Bach (All Toccatas, WTK, Goldberg Variations,) Brahms (Variation and Fugue on a theme by Handel) Beethoven (Sonatas, including N 28,30,31) Mozart (Sonatas, Concertos) Schumann (Symphonic etudes, Piano Concerto, Fantasia, etc.) Chopin (24 Etudes, 4 Ballades, Scherzos, 24 Preludes) Debussy 12 Preludes (First Volume) Rachmaninoff (etudes-tableaux, Variation on a theme by Korelly, Preludes) I have been teaching music professionals, adults, and children for 14 years. Many of them have won awards at international piano competitions and festivals. In 2010 I moved to US and I played numerous recitals in Maryland, MA, Virginia, New York. *** Lesson Details *** I am classically trained teacher and i think that classical music is the basement for any kind of music. I also would like to teach you some jazz or to play your favorite songs as you wish. I adjust to my students' needs and goals. Every student is unique and so my point is to teach anyone in according to one's ability. I assess my student's ability during the first lesson and spend time discussing what the goals shall be for the next 5 lessons. Then I pick exercises and music pieces, and design a practice plan for my student that will help him or her reach their goals. *** Studio Equipment *** I have "Stainway & Sons" piano and "Yamaha" digital piano as well. *** Specialties *** I have a comprehensive knowledge and expertise in piano literature, baroque, classical, romantic, impressionist and contemporary. I help my students to distinguish different style of different epoch.