Zhana is a great teacher, who has taught me a lot in just a few months. I started as a complete novice and each lesson with her makes me more interested in the instrument. She will identify weak points right away and provide helpful tips to remediate. She has always been flexible to accommodate me in her schedule. Her private studio is located very centrally and is easy to reach.

For more than two years I have taken weekly online violin lessons from Zhana. I am not only delighted with the enjoyable experience of the lessons themselves but am also grateful for how Zhana has greatly enhanced my technical ability, freedom in playing and sense of musical accomplishment. I have taken in person lessons from several teachers over the span of many years and I can honestly say that none of these have advanced my abilities as efficiently and effectively as my online lessons with Zhana. I began lessons with Zhana because, even though I was taking regular in-person lessons at the time, I was frustrated struggling with making progress due to years of accumulated bad habits which had gone uncorrected by other instructors. These habits hindered my ability to play expressively, led me to procrastinate practicing and limited the range of music available to me. So, not knowing what to expect, I decided give online lessons a try as a supplement to my regular in person lessons. One difference with in person lessons is that, because of the slight but significant time lag involved in most internet connections, simultaneous accompaniment by the instructor isn’t often a very workable teaching option for on-line lessons Because of this limitation online lessons require, in my view, an experienced and focused instructor who has an ability to observe and communicate. Instructors with these qualifications may not be available in your local neighborhood but Zhana is just such a person. She has patiently and perceptively identified and corrected my accumulated bad habits, helped me develop my technical abilities beyond my expectations, provided me with a concrete approach to and enthusiasm for regular practice and guided me into a larger world of repertoir and musical expression. After two years of lessons from Zhana I consider myself indeed fortunate to have found a teacher who demonstrates such ability and enthusiasm for teaching, such genuine interest in and concern for me as a student, and such a kind and empathetic attitude towards me as a person. I encourage violinists, both those who are just beginning and would like to benefit from learning proper technique from the outset, (rather than have to painfully unlearn bad habits later on) and intermediate to advanced players, who would like to take advantage of the conservatory level instruction that she provides, to contact Zhana for a lesson.

Zhana is very attentive and a great teacher! I have already learned so much from 4 lessons and can't wait to continue.