Kamila - Brentford - Chamber Music

Methodology

I was a music student in many countries, studying with many amazing musicians, from whom I learned how to appreciate and love the wonderful universe of music and how to share that love on stage, but also teach it to my students.

- Which subject(s) do you teach?

I teach Piano and Chamber Music.

- Tell me about your qualifications.

I have Bachelor and Master Degrees in Piano from the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where I studied with the wonderful musicians as Marcel Baudet, Jan Wijn, Naum Grubert, Mila Baslawskaja and Ton Hartsuiker. From the same institution I received my diploma of a Master Degree in Chamber Music, working with a well known Russian-Dutch cellist Dmitry Ferschtmann.
Doing one year of exchange program with Professor Felix Gottlieb in Freiburg and attending to Klavier Akademie with Prof.Rouvier and Prof. Pochekin brought many different ideas about certain Chopin, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and Beethoven works. Also working with young composers of the New Music in Vienna and performing premieres of their pieces taught me about the prospectives of the new repertoire for the generations to come.
Having formed a Kafka trio in 2003 I was privileged to perform in such big halls as Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Vredenburg in Utrecht, Phillips Hall In Eindhoven. Also we participated in masterclasses in Germany with Hatto Bayerle (from Alban Berg trio), Altenberg trio and being able to perform in music halls of Freiburg, Salzburg and other small cities of Germany and Austria.
In Vienna I worked with young musicians for 2 years, performing in festivals and concerts such as St.Gallen, Alte Rathaus Wien, Burg Feistritz. I have been lucky to work with Prof.Gerhard Schultz (from "Alban Berg" quartet), Prof.Lilja Bayrova and Prof.Leopold in Viennese University of Music.
Last November I have been recording "The French Album" CD, invited by the "Naxos" label with a very talented young cellist Harriet Krijgh. We performed Franck and Debussy sonatas among other pieces. It was recorded in Liszt Hall, Raiding, Austria. Cd is out in March 2012 and can be purchased or listened to on internet.

- How much do you charge?

I charge £35 per full hour at my home studio and £40 if I have to travel to you.

- Where do you teach?

I teach at my home studio in Ealing/Chiswick (nearest tube is Acton Town), but I am also prepared to go to the student's homes.

- When are you available?

I am happy to teach at a mutual convenient time. Basically all days of the week are possible. Afternoons and evenings are options.

- Which ages and levels do you teach?

All ages, on any level, from a beginner to an advanced musician.

Experience

- What kind of experience do you have?

I have the teaching experience of 11 years, which I have been able to combine successfully throughout the years with the performing career as a soloist and also in various chamber music ensembles.
I've been working in 2 music schools in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) : MEC and Gooische Muziekschool for over 6 years. In the Gooische Muziekschool I have been involved with the organization of the festivals and the competitions for 4 years and I am happy to say that every year my students won the first prizes in classical piano competition, but also in the improvisations contests. The organizing of the concerts at least every half a year for my students in inspiring venues as churches and small concert halls is also been very important matter to me. I think to play for other students of the class, but also for the family members and friends is an important process of learning to play the instrument and to see how amazing it is to share what you do with the loved ones. It's always been a festive day for both the parents and the students.
Privately I have been teaching now for almost 12 years in 4 different languages: English, Dutch, Russian, German. I have been working with different age groups and levels on magnificent works of the Baroque, Classical, but also New Music repertoire.
Some of my students have been successfully passing the entrance exams into the music establishments, as Viennese conservatory. It was a great joy of my life to work with them seriously on the classical repertoire, to pass them my knowledge and the passion I have for composers as Beethoven, Mozart, Rachmaninov and many others. Being brought up in the Russian method of piano school, but from the age of 14 in the style of the European school I have been happy to receive both the good technical aspects of piano playing, but also the European interpretations on the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods.
Also couching chamber music ensembles in masterclasses has been a big inspiration to me, as to work on the pieces I played myself and to be able to guide the young musicians with my ideas, some formed by great musicians I've been privileged to have lessons with as Menahem Pressler, Dmitry Ferschtmann, Felix Gottlieb and many others.

- Do you have an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service, formerly CRB) Certificate?

yes