Olga Voronzova

New to Lessonface
Piano
Lesson Fees
$50.00 / 30 Minutes

About

Hello! I'm a classically trained piano and music-theory teacher, and I have been teaching music since 1999. I graduated from the Maykop College of Arts named after U. Tkhabisimov in 1992 with the qualification Teacher of Music Theory, and in 2002 I completed a five-year university degree in Preschool Pedagogy and Psychology at Rostov State Pedagogical University. That combination shapes how I teach: I bring real musical depth to every lesson while understanding how students actually learn, stay motivated, and build confidence at the keyboard.

I began at the Labinsk Children's School of Arts in Labinsk, Krasnodar Krai, where I taught piano and music-theory subjects from 1999 to 2006 and also served as the school's educational psychologist from 2004 to 2006, earning the Second Qualification Category. From 2018 to 2023 I taught in private music studios, and from 2019 to 2023 I was Music Director at the Child Development Center and Kindergarten No. 115 in Krasnodar, where I earned the First Qualification Category. I moved to the United States in 2023 and now teach privately, online and in person. I keep my professional training current, including coursework in the methodology of teaching solfeggio and composition at the Adyghe College of Arts (2005) and in musical-rhythmic education and theatre pedagogy at the Anichkov Most institute in St. Petersburg (2021).

Results matter to me. In 2005 and 2006 I prepared laureates of the Republican Music Theory Olympiad, and my student Margarita Ogneva took second place at the Interregional Olympiad in Music Literature in Maykop in 2001 and won a First Degree Diploma at the "Christmas Holidays" open festival-competition of children's and youth creativity in Sochi in January 2006, where the jury was chaired by E. M. Batyarov, professor at the Moscow State Conservatory and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.

Alongside piano I teach music theory, solfeggio, improvisation, and music literature, so students don't just learn to play pieces, they learn to understand and feel the music they're making. My students describe me as patient, warm, and encouraging, and I take real pride in creating a relaxed, positive space where mistakes are simply part of learning. Whether you're a young child taking your very first steps, a teen preparing for a recital or competition, or an adult returning to a long-held dream of playing, I would love to help you get there. I teach in English and in Russian, so students in the United States and Russian-speaking families anywhere in the world are equally welcome.

Teaching Style

My teaching is warm but focused. From the very first lesson, I set clear goals with each student and build a step-by-step path to reach them, so there's always a real sense of progress. I believe every student can succeed, and I'm genuinely dedicated to getting results, not just going through the motions of a lesson.

I especially enjoy working with students who find music challenging at first. I hold a degree in preschool pedagogy and psychology from Rostov State Pedagogical University and spent two years as the educational psychologist at the Labinsk Children's School of Arts, so I'm patient and observant, and I adapt my approach to how each individual learns rather than forcing everyone through the same mold. When something isn't clicking, I find another way in. That combination of persistence and flexibility is how I've helped students who struggled early on go on to play confidently, and in some cases win prizes at competitions and festivals.

In lessons you can expect a positive, encouraging atmosphere with real structure behind it. We'll cover solid technique and the fundamentals of music theory, but we'll also make time for improvisation and pieces you actually love to play, so the music stays fun. With the youngest children I work through movement, singing and play rather than long stretches at the keyboard, drawing on my training in musical-rhythmic education and theatre pedagogy. I give honest, constructive feedback, keep expectations clear, and celebrate progress along the way. My goal is for every student to leave each lesson a little more capable and a lot more inspired to keep going.

Curriculum

My method blends the thoroughness of the classical Russian piano tradition with a flexible, student-centered approach. I was trained in the rigorous Russian school of piano playing, and I draw on that foundation while adapting it to each student's age and goals. We start with the fundamentals that everything else is built on: healthy hand position and posture, a reliable sense of rhythm, note reading, and listening to your own sound. From there I balance three things in each lesson, technique, musicianship, and repertoire you enjoy, so your skills grow while the music stays motivating. I introduce music theory and solfeggio gradually and always in context, connecting them to the pieces you're actually playing rather than treating them as separate homework. As you advance, we add scales, arpeggios, sight-reading, ear training, and expression work so you become a complete, confident musician.

I choose materials to fit each student's age, level, and goals. For beginners, including young children, I use a graded method series such as Faber Piano Adventures or Alfred's Basic Piano Library, chosen to match the student's age. For students who want a strong traditional grounding I draw on The Russian School of Piano Playing edited by Nikolaev, the classic method I trained with. For technique we work from Hanon's The Virtuoso Pianist along with age-appropriate scale and exercise material. Early to intermediate repertoire comes from Burgmuller's 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, the studies of Czerny, and Bach's Notebook for Anna Magdalena. At intermediate level and beyond we move into selected pieces by Bach, sonatinas by Clementi and Kuhlau, and classical, romantic, and modern works chosen to stretch you while keeping you inspired.

You don't need to buy everything up front. In our first lessons I'll assess where you are and give you a short, specific list so you have exactly what you need and nothing you don't. Most of these are widely available in standard editions, and I'm happy to guide you to the right one.

Credentials & Affiliations

EDUCATION
1992, Maykop College of Arts named after U. Tkhabisimov, Maykop, Republic of Adygea, Russia. Professional music college diploma. Qualification: Teacher of Music Theory. Diploma issued under my maiden name, Olga Aleksandrovna Vorontsova.
2002, Rostov State Pedagogical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Five-year university degree (Specialist) in Preschool Pedagogy and Psychology. Qualification: Teacher of Preschool Pedagogy and Psychology.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2005, Adyghe College of Arts named after U. Tkhabisimov, Maykop. Advanced training course: Methods of Teaching Music-Theory Subjects (Solfeggio, Composition) in Children's Schools of the Arts.
2021, Anichkov Most Institute of Continuing Professional Education, St. Petersburg. Course: Musical and Rhythmic Education of Children, Applying Theatre-Pedagogy Methods.
Participant, XI All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation: Theory and Methodology of Innovative Directions in Physical Education of Preschool Children.
Additional thematic certificates in musical and rhythmic education in the modern kindergarten (communicative dance-games), artistic and aesthetic musical education, delivery of the Cultural Code of Russia educational program, effective collaboration between the music director and parents, staging musical fairy tales, impromptus and improvisations, the teacher's craft in organizing play-based activities, and running holiday performances.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1999 to 2006, Labinsk Children's School of Arts, Labinsk, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. Teacher of piano and music-theory subjects. Awarded the Second Qualification Category.
2004 to 2006, Labinsk Children's School of Arts. Educational psychologist, held concurrently with the teaching post.
2018 to 2023, private music studios in Krasnodar, including Planeta Studio. Piano and music teacher.
2019 to 2023, Child Development Center, Kindergarten No. 115, Krasnodar, Russia. Music Director. Awarded the First Qualification Category for the position of Music Director.
2023 to present, private piano and music-theory lessons, taught online and in person.

AWARDS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
2005 and 2006, prepared laureates of the Republican Music Theory Olympiad.
2006, certificates of merit for preparing students who took prize places at the music-theory olympiad and for preparing diploma winners at competition.
2001, student Margarita Ogneva, second place, Interregional Olympiad in Music Literature, Maykop.
2006, student Margarita Ogneva, First Degree Diploma, Christmas Holidays open festival-competition of children's and youth creativity, Sochi, January 2006. The jury was chaired by E. M. Batyarov, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, State Prize laureate, and professor at the Moscow State Conservatory.
Prepared a laureate of the All-Russian Competition-Festival in Improvisation.