Online Piano Voice Lessons with Ira 

Ira - Teacher #3687

Instruments:
- Piano
- Voice

Services:
- Composition
- Dictation
- Ear Training
- Harmony
- Jazz Improvation
- Music Appreciation
- Music Theory (Advanced)
- Music Theory (Beginner-Intermediate)
- RCM - Basic Harmony
- RCM - Basic Rudiments
- RCM - Intermediate Harmony
- RCM - Intermediate Rudiments
- Solfege

Languages:
- English

Teaching Philosophy

Learning to play the piano is fundamental to every human being. It not only exposes the beauty of the sounds of music but also develops the musicality of the individuals and their abilities to think on their feet, to train their memory, to be flexible and reflective to the always changeable musical flow and structure, and often to be able to handle sudden shifts from fast speed to sudden stops and vice Versa. One can also learn to feel the power of the silences in a musical piece which are called pauses.
Here's what V.A.Mozart says in this regard, " Music is not in the notes, but in the silence between."

Engaging equally physically, emotionally and intellectually at the same time is a unique characteristic of only two human activities - playing the piano and conducting an orchestra. This and the combination of being an abstract subject and still quite mathematical is also very beneficial to every individual.

I am convinced that playing the piano is one of the best way to find the freedom of self-expression and create confidence in one own ability to achieve their goals in every endeavour they undertake! Although It is challenging, the challenge is entirely positively charged! The satisfaction of it brings joy and lifts our spirits no matter our age of 3 or 83!

I feel confident to say that everyone who succeeds in learning the piano will succeed in any other area of their lives.

Playing music has been proven to be incredibly therapeutic. This is the most possibly healthiest way to treat Anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder, Depression, Split Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.

For those who would hesitate to start learning to play the piano because they are afraid that they will often make mistakes by hitting the wrong key I will write down a quote by my favourite composer, L.V. Beethoven. Here is what he says:
"To play a wrong note is insignificant. To play without passion is inexcusable."

Last but not least, MUSIC is a high level of vibrational frequencies. To play music, not to just play notes I call SCULPTING THE SOUNDS! Whoever achieves that even with a simple tune, is a MASTER!

Musical Education

European Musical Education.

I want to share what lead to my studies in music.
The credit for my pursuit of a music career belongs to my mother. She has notice the extraordinary musicality I had exhibited in the very first months of my existence. Only as a two-month-old baby, I was bouncing in her hands in the rhythm of whatever music she was listening to.
At the age of three, I was singing from morning till night! I have learned more than 100 songs, all of different genres! Practically, I have shown the ability to memorise every musical piece I hear streaming on the radio.
On my 5th birthday, my mom bought me a piano as a birthday present. It was glossy ebony and I cried out of joy when I saw it waiting for me in our living room! Since then, the piano has become my best friend!
This is how my piano journey began.

I started taking private lessons and I kept on doing so until I reached the age at which I could apply for acceptance at Music High School "Lubomir Pipkov", in Sofia City. I graduated from it in 1974 with three specialities: piano, voice and bassoon.

I continued my musical education at the State Conservatory of Music and obtained a Bachelor's degree in classical piano and minor in jazz, in June 1979.

All of my teachers were using a combination of German (attention to details and technical punctuality) and Russian (attention to tone extraction, phrasing, sound
nuances and emotional expressions) methods of teaching.

Meanwhile, I showed a keen interest exploring in rock, blues and jazz genres. Along with my classical studies, at the age of the "sweet sixteen", I started to play keyboards and sing in various rock and jazz groups.
A curious fact is that I happened to be the first female pianist and keyboardist to play in such bands in Bulgaria back then.

Special Skills and Training

All my life I have been juggling music and theatre and I couldn't be happier than that! During my long career as a musician, actor, theatre director, playwright and producer I have had many chances to write music for theatre plays and to perform some of it live. I have worked as a sound designer and sound technician for certain theatrical performances as well. I have composed 10 songs for my originally written script The Little Red Riding Hood, based on Brothers Grimm's fairy tale. The play produced & directed by me has taken place in Centaur Theatre Children's Theatre Series and at Hudson Children's theatre festival as well. I am also skilled in sound editing.