Viktoriia Zimovych

As a private piano teacher, I have taught both children and adult students to play the piano. My students included not only beginners but also those with prior skills and specific goals, which I helped them achieve. I helped students prepare for exams at music schools and colleges, as well as for concerts and performances.

For adult students, I supported their dreams of learning piano. I believe it’s never too early or too late to start – all you need is enthusiasm and effort!

My lessons were flexible and adapted to each student’s goals and preferences. I was combining basic music theory with plenty of hands-on practice.

As an active performer myself, I didn’t just explain how to play – I demonstrated techniques and pieces, showing students exactly how it’s done. During lessons, I shared my performing experience, gave tips on overcoming stage fright, and taught them how to practice effectively on their own. I made sure our lessons were structured and focused on progress but also enjoyable and motivating.

I believe classical music is the foundation for learning piano, so my students often played works by J.S. Bach, F. Chopin, L. van Beethoven, W.A. Mozart, C. Debussy etc. However, I also respected their preferences, and we occasionally included pieces by contemporary composers like Ludovico Einaudi, Philip Glass, Yann Tiersen, and Eric Christian. I maintained a thoughtful balance between classical and modern music.

In my private teaching practice, I also had the rewarding experience of working with a student on the autism spectrum. This taught me the importance of patience, adaptability, and creating a comfortable environment for learning. This experience further enriched my teaching and showed me how music can positively impact everyone.

The School of Open-Minded Kids is a modern Ukrainian school the main task of which is to educate a free, happy, decent, open-minded and caring person on the basis of our values, knowledge and experience.

I teached children from scratch to play the piano. During the school year, we prepared for the technical exam (twice a year): performance of gams and exercises and sketches of Cherni, Mosheles, Bertini, Berkovych and other composers. I also prepared my students to pass two exams, the repertoire of the exams included: a polyphonic work, a sonate en allegro, a small form and a concert sketch.

During my time at this private music school, I taught about 40 students aged 5 to 16. I found an individual approach for each child, which helped them enjoy the lessons and stay motivated. We played a mix of classical and modern music, learned music theory, improved technical skills, and talked about different composers and their works.

Together, we prepared solo pieces and ensembles for open concerts, which the school organized 2-3 times a year. I also had my first experience working with children on the autism spectrum, which was a rewarding and meaningful part of my work.