Learn piano with an internationally renowned soloist, dedicated pedagogue and experienced adjudicator. I hold postgraduate degrees (Bachelor’s with Honour’s and Master’s in performance) from elite European and Australian conservatories. I maintain an artistic practice as an internationally renowned concert pianist and performance practice specialist, performing some of the world’s most beautiful difficult repertoire. For my full bio and CV please visit www.mariawelna.com For regular updates and music videos please subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MariaWelnaVirtuosoRecitalist or like/follow: https://www.facebook.com/mariawelnarecitalist
Described as a “consummate professional”, I believe in teaching for excellence with a repertoire rich approach. Students are taught to learn with understanding but in a creative manner. Term 4 enrolments are now open. Lessons are live online via zoom and face-to-face. My studio is located in Lugarno (particularly accessible if you’re in the St George/Sutherland Shire areas) with a brand new concert grand piano, second upright piano, visiting kookaburras, parks nearby and plenty of parking. I welcome committed students for ongoing study. Levels taught are from early intermediate through to advanced, diplomas (adults, teenagers and children over age 7+ ) and professional development (for teachers and musicians). For students located in all other Sydney suburbs, I also teach at the Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy during term time.
My curriculum (whether for exams or improvement of musical skills) is based on excellent performance practice standards. For committed students, it develops quality skills, creativity, effective practice strategies and a growing sense of independent learning and learning with understanding (where relevant). This ensures superior student achievements not only for all forms of external assessment but as a skill that will be retained for life in a healthy manner. I also teach students to value the importance of healthy technique, (which in addition to proficiency, also encompasses tone production, phrasing, stylistic refinement and musicianship), repertoire, musical understanding and performance temperament.
Term 4 enrolments are now open. Please email management@mariawelna.com to book your lesson time slot, providing your name, location and overview of your previous piano background. Minimum lesson duration taught is 60 minutes. Longer durations may become available for advanced students admitted to an intensive program (Lugarno studio only as well as online). A special intensive program for committed beginners may also run in studio and as part of my Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy teaching – please check with us for availability.
BIO/TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My musical pedigree can be traced to world-renowned music conservatories, and a long list of distinguished concert artists/professors from Europe and the U.S.A Furthermore, as a performance practice specialist, I myself specialise in the golden age of pianism and its concert-virtuoso tradition.
I hold Bachelor and Master’s degrees in performance from the K. Szymanowski Music Academy in Katowice (the alma mater of Krystian Zimerman) and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. I also have teaching qualifications (for teaching instrumental music in primary and secondary music schools), wide education experience and pedagogical knowledge. I’ve taught advanced piano in selective music schools for gifted children in Europe, maintained a piano studio in Australia, taught voice and acted as a music director/répétiteur for many years, completed a postgraduate ‘Principles of Studio Pedagogy’ unit at the Sydney Conservatorium and have experience as a piano adjudicator/examiner within NSW and ACT (at all levels i.e. from P Plate piano to 8th grade AMEB as well as Certificate of Performance). I teach piano at the Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy, am a member of the Accompanists’ Guild of NSW and have maintained membership of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW for some years.
I have years worth of instrumental pedagogy experience (all as a tertiary degree qualified performer and teacher), years of professional industry experience and a performance background as a concert pianist and chamber musician at elite levels. I’m experienced with exam syllabuses such as AMEB, ABRSM, Trinity College London. I have given guest lectures at the tertiary level and lecture/recitals within my fields of expertise at international and national institutions. I am familiar with the classroom music curriculum (particularly HSC Music 2/Extension and its performance component). During my own high school years in Australia, I was a music scholarship student at a selective music school (for piano, voice, violin, pipe organ, composition) contributing to school life through many selective ensemble, solo performance and accompaniment commitments.