Individual Piano Lessons Online
We offer individual online piano lessons tailored to each student’s artistic goals, technical needs, and repertoire.
Lessons are offered separately by Denis Zhdanov and Elina Akselrud (click on our names below to learn more about our approach and teaching styles).
Denis Zhdanov focuses on technical clarity, pianistic efficiency, and interpretive depth, drawing on his extensive international performing and teaching experience. His down-to-earth approach to optimized piano playing guarantees progress if you follow the directions.
Elina Akselrud works with students on technique improvement in order to tailor a unique interpretation and stylistic understanding that emphasizes the student’s artistic identity. Her focus is performance-oriented thinking, informed by her background in artistic research and interdisciplinary work.
Lessons are designed for intermediate & advanced students, conservatory-level pianists, and serious learners seeking long-term development.
To apply for individual lessons, please complete the contact form on this website and tell us about yourself. A link with video recordings is always a plus! You will be contacted to discuss availability and suitability, whenever our schedule permits.
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The short answer is yes!
You should have a stable Internet connection, a piano or a digital piano, and a device with Zoom installed. We would recommend devices with a larger screen so you can see your instructor better. The use of additional microphones/cameras is welcome, but it is not required. Modern devices provide enough sound quality for your instructor to be useful.
Zoom has settings, such as "original sound for musicians", which is something that does not suppress the sound of your instrument and is necessary for an online lesson, as well as the echo cancellation.
We prefer to avoid other platforms, since after many attempts, zoom has proven to be the best software for transmitting the sound without significant distortion.
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Even though we currently work with pianists of intermediate, advanced, and professional levels — you are more than welcome to reach out and we will recommend a trusted instructor to you!
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We do indeed, however only in person (not online) until they are at least 10-12 years old, since it is important for the instructor to be near the child, in order to not only provide demonstration, but also to correct the posture and arm/hand/finger position and movement. Otherwise there is a risk of the child getting used to physical habits and sensations that one should avoid while playing the instrument, as it is not easy for children to process these complex tasks online, while building the technique.
Exceptions are possible, depending on individual cases. Please contact us directly.
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For most of the people we recommend an hour per week. However other algorithms are negotiable – depending on your goals and availability. If you are professionally oriented, you might need additional time on a weekly basis. The most important for you is to dedicate the time to diligently practice on your own what we do during the lessons.
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Yes. Access to a piano (either at home or anywhere else) is required for regular practice between the lessons.
A digital piano is fine, depending on your needs. Although if you are at an advanced or professional level (or rapidly heading here), we recommend acquiring an acoustic instrument).
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English, German, Ukrainian, Italian, French, and Russian.
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No, you do not! The good news is that our zoom version does not have time limits, therefore we will not be logged out!
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Lesson payments for continuing students are done upfront for each month, in the beginning of the month before the first lesson via Wise (a digital banking platform – it allows you to open accounts and/or send transfers in multiple currencies). You do not have to have Wise to pay us if you are located in Europe (as you can send the payment via the IBAN).
Wise is free and the cheapest way to transfer money globally.
If you are a new student, you must pay upfront for your first lesson and subsequently discuss scheduling options at the end of the lesson.
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You can cancel your lesson 24+ hours in advance for free.
If you have to cancel less than 24 hours in advance, your instructor is happy to accommodate and offer you another time slot within a week (generally even sooner) for no extra cost.
If you are not able to attend the lesson during the alternatively scheduled time slot, you must pay in full.
We understand that life happens. You can use the 24+ hours cancelation policy up to three times in a row. If this happens, we offer to take a break and resume lessons again, when you can attend them on a regular basis.
If you cancel without rescheduling less than 24+ hours in advance and do not pay for your missed lesson in full, you will be put into our personal blacklist.
We hope for mutual understanding: if you constantly keep canceling, we are technically still holding the time slot for you – so your instructor is not able to offer it to another student. In case of the fourth cancellation in a row, we can no longer offer the opportunity to continue lessons.
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Please use the contact form and reach out to us directly!