Highly-experienced, award-winning, Russian-trained pianist & organist offers top quality lessons both online and in Knoxville TN in person.

Learn more about Maria

• When did your passion for music begin?

  I was born into a musical family in Russia. My mother was a piano teacher at the local music school. She gave me my first piano lessons but then decided that it would be better for me to have another piano teacher, who would be able to evaluate my progress more objectively.

• Do you agree that some instruments are harder to master and, if so, which ones?

  Generally speaking, I would say that string instruments are harder to master than keyboard instruments. This is because they require an almost perfect sense of pitch from a student in order to produce a pleasing sound, since the precise placement for the notes is not marked on the strings as it is on the keyboard.

• In your opinion, what does it take to be a successful musician?

  Perseverance of practice and love of music.

• Which famous musician would you most like to have a conversation with?

  Valery Gergiev

• What is your most inspiring experience as a musician?

  When an adult student comes to me wishing to realize their life-long dream of learning to play the piano and when I help them to learn their favorite piano piece.

• In your own opinion, what does it take to be a Superprof in music?

  Love of music, patience, and compassion. Of course, it helps to have a wealth of performing and teaching experience. I was very fortunate in this regard as my musical education spans two continents, including both Russian and American schools of piano playing.

• Describe your best Superprof lesson and explain why it was so great.

  One time a student came to the lesson in pain. We chose to work on a beautiful Nocturne of Chopin, concentrating on the beauty of sound production, and by the end of the lesson, the pain was gone. This is just one dramatic example. But with every lesson, there is always some beneficial therapeutic effect, be it only the release of tension from the stresses of life. Truly, music can heal the soul.

• Finally, if you had to choose a piece of music or album to play on loop for a day, what would it be?

  Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto