Where are the piano lessons held?
Lessons are held at Ms. Yana’s home studio in Dublin, California. The exact address and directions are provided when you get in touch by email, text or phone.
Which days are lessons held?
Lessons are typically scheduled on weekends, with occasional exceptions.
How long is each lesson?
Lessons are typically one hour.
How much do lessons cost?
Please get in touch with Ms. Yana for current rates and availability.
Do I need a piano at home?
Yes. Regular practice at home is essential, and Ms. Yana will discuss the type of piano you will need before lessons begin.
How much practice is expected?
Ms. Yana encourages students to practice for a minimum of 20 minutes every day. Steady daily practice matters far more than occasional long sessions.
How often are recitals held?
Recitals are held twice a year, giving students a regular goal to work toward and a chance to perform what they have prepared.
What ages does Ms. Yana teach?
All of them. Ms. Yana welcomes students of every age — young children taking their first lesson, teenagers, adults, and retirees returning to the piano after many years away. No one is too young to start or too old to begin.
How much experience does Ms. Yana have?
Ms. Yana has over two decades of experience teaching piano, working with students of every age and skill level.
Do you teach complete beginners?
Yes. Beginners are welcome at any age, and no prior musical experience is needed. Lessons start with the fundamentals — posture, hand position, reading music, and rhythm — at a comfortable pace.
Are lessons private or in a group?
Every student is taught privately, one-on-one, with a lesson plan built around their own goals, pace, and learning level.
Can adults start learning piano from scratch?
Absolutely. Many of Ms. Yana’s students begin as adults, including some in their 60s and 70s. Adult beginners are taught without rush or judgment and typically start playing real music sooner than they expect.
What teaching method does Ms. Yana follow?
Ms. Yana teaches in the Eastern European tradition of the Russian piano school. It is known for building a thorough technical foundation — relaxed hand position, careful tone production, and disciplined practice — while keeping technique tied to the music it serves. In practice that means the fundamentals are taught properly from the first lesson, and theory is learned alongside playing rather than as a separate subject.
What books and materials are used?
There’s no single method book. Depending on the student’s level, Ms. Yana introduces a variety of composers, books and theory work at the right time — drawing on everything from the Royal Conservatory of Music’s graded series to the Russian classical piano tradition. Theory is taught alongside playing rather than as a separate subject, so students come to understand the music in front of them and not just the notes. The result is a balanced mix of exercises that build technique and musical complexity together.
Does Ms. Yana prepare students for exams?
Yes, for students who want that path. Ms. Yana prepares interested students for graded piano examinations, including the Royal Conservatory of Music’s. Exams are entirely optional, though — many students never sit one and simply play for the joy of it, and lessons are just as rewarding either way.
What will my child learn?
Young students learn proper technique, how to read music fluently, rhythm and counting, basic theory, and expressive playing — building toward recital pieces they can perform with confidence.
How do I get started?
Email Ms. Yana at pianoteacher.yana@gmail.com to ask a question or to enquire about lessons and availability. She’ll be glad to talk through what would suit the student.
