Piano is one of the most familiar musical instruments. It is played using a keyboard and it’s considered percussion instrument because the strings are struck rather than plucked. Piano widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music, accompaniment, and for composing and rehearsal. Learning Piano is often recommended for children under five, as as the student develops skills that will transfer to other instruments as they get older.
INQUIRE ABOUT PIANO LESSONS IN SANTA MONICA, OR REQUEST A TRIAL LESSON HERE
Piano Instructor
David Bertok, piano and composition teacher, grew up and studied piano in Germany before relocating to Los Angeles in 2012 for the prestigious film scoring program at USC. He has an extensive background in classical and jazz piano, and has composed, produced and toured as a keyboardist in progressive rock bands. He also composes for film and TV and writes concert music. His teaching method incorporates creativity to a high degree such as improvisation and composition.
Meriette Saglie, piano teacher, graduated with distinction from the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) program in piano performance at USC Thornton School of Music. She is an American-Chilean pianist who started piano at age 4 and is now an active solo and collaborative performer as well as a dedicated teacher at the Santa Monica Conservatory.
Anna Sarkisova, piano teacher, started piano at age 3, first played with the orchestra at age 8 performing concertos G minor by Mendelssohn and D major by Haydn, and at 14 was a prizewinner in the International Piano Competition “Citta di Senigallia” in Italy. She has now completed her Doctorate degree at USC, travels and performs, and teaches many intermediate and advanced students at the Santa Monica Conservatory.
Eva Schaumkell, piano teacher, graduated with a Doctorate degree in Piano Performance from USC, has also been a graduate teaching assistant and Head TA. She had previously earned degrees from Hochschule in Dresden, and Guildhall in London. Her Vieness Piano Duo is Performing Artist with Jean Schreiber Management. Eva also loves teaching piano to students of all ages at the Santa Monica Conservatory.
Kana Shumanuki, voice and piano teacher, earned her degrees in Ethnomusicology and Jazz Studies from UCLA is specialized in Brazilian Jazz and has recorded albums and tours Europe every year. She started playing piano when she was 4, and years later decided to pursue voice as her main instrument. Kana teaches voice and beginning to intermediate piano and is happy to be continuing her teaching career at Santa Monica Conservatory of Music.
Jasmine Daboul, voice and piano teacher, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Cal State Northridge. She has recently performed as Gherardina in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and in Mozart’s Requiem at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Jasmine teaches many young students voice and piano lessons at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music.
Emily Gilbertson, voice and piano teacher, earned a master’s degree in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. She began piano when she was 5 years, and studied with Bernadene Blaha from USC. She participated in the Colburn Concert Choir, the Colburn Chamber Singers, and sang with the Honors Choir Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, New York. She also studied and performed opera in Urbino, Italy and performed there as Tisbe in Cenerentola. Emily teaches voice and piano at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music