Polina's Piano Lessons

"I am flattered to have my students counted among the winners of the Southern California Junior Bach Festivals, however, I feel even greater pride from the fact that most of my students apply, get excepted to and graduate from the best schools in the United States,. My students are successful in their careers and carry their love for music and art with them throughout their lives. We become friends when they are little and continue our friendships into their adulthood. I treat my students as my colleagues and learn with them and from them as much as they from me. Without exception, they make me better teacher and a better musician."

Welcome

I teach piano to children and adults, to serious musicians and music lovers. I also give Music Appreciation lectures to dancers and seniors. Art forms have no boundaries; they all touch different senses. I enjoy blending dance, fine art, culinary and gardening analogies into my lessons to make every minute of learning festive. I adjust my methods to each individual's needs, talents, and personality. My goal is to discover potential and to develop balanced repertoire, progressive technique, and musical appetite in every student.

I know this is very succinct, but it expresses Jeff's and my feelings:

Excellent teacher, highly talented, loves music, loves the children.

Sheryle

About Polina

Polina Sisman moved to San Diego in 1989 from the former Soviet Union. A native of Lviv, Ukraine, she earned a master's degree in Music Pedagogy and Conducting from Kolessa Music Pedagogy College, graduating summa cum laude. Polina expanded her musical and pedagogical education by taking advanced classes at San Diego State University from renowned Professor of Music Education, Nan McDonald.

Since 1993, Polina has been an active member of the Music Teachers Association of California, and she has taught a wide range of students, from ages 5 to 75, at her private studio in Clairemont. Polina's approach to teaching music is personalized: she integrates cultural depth as well as sensible performance strategies into her lessons, thereby promoting the students' own inner ability to build their individual character and reach a well-rounded education. In addition to teaching a range of musical genres, Polina also offers preparation for the California Certificate of Merit. Many of her students have won awards at various piano contests and festivals, including the Junior Bach Festival, where one of her students was the gold medalist in the Southern California Region.

In addition to teaching in her private studio, Polina is regularly invited to be the musical accompanist for various ballet companies in the San Diego area, where she also teaches musical appreciation to dancers to help them better hone their art. Polina has both taught and played for the Dance Department at Grossmont College, the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet in Balboa Park, the California Ballet Company, the San Diego School of Ballet, CampoBello Dance Company in Baja California, Mexico, and the Ballet des Arts International in Montreal, Canada. Polina was chosen to be the pianist for the master classes of the legendary dancers Maya Plisetskaya and Alonso King, at the Nederland Dans Theater, the Malandain Ballet Biartz, and the Youth America Grand Prix.

In her local community, Polina gives music appreciation lectures to the residents and members of the Front Porch Community, Casa de Manana, and La Jolla Community Center. She also invites her students to give concerts at rehabilitation centers and senior homes to share the beauty of music with those who need support and healing. Finally, Polina's students frequently join her for concerts at the symphony and other performing arts, including those associated with her husband, ballet dancer and choreographer Anatoly Sisman.

My lessons through time

Every lesson will be the essence of your day for many years

My idea is that there is music in the air: the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.

Sir Edward Elgar

With Jonathan (lessons at my Home Studio)

Polina is a wonderful piano teacher who inspired me to take my musical faculty seriously and develop it into something rewarding for myself and for others. Polina brought energy and enthusiasm to every lesson, even when I had not practiced, and this alone pushed me to keep trying and to never give up. Thanks to her, I now have the technical skill and stylistic intuition that is essential for playing beautiful music and this capacity will benefit me for the rest of my life.

Jonathan

Piano lessons shall never stop!!!

In order to keep on top of my scheduling and to guarantee your children's place, payment for lessons are due at the end for each month to cover ALL the lessons for the following month in FULL.

I collect "holding charge" for vacation to save your student lesson time on my schedule; it will cost $15 per week that you are gone for vacation.

If you cancelling lesson I must receive notice of the cancellation by 9am of the day before the lesson. If you give notice by then, I will schedule a make up lesson. If make up lesson is cancelled for any reason, another make up lesson is not made.

Recitals

We do Piano Recitals twice a year at the JCC

Ms. Polina's students range from cute to impressive! The recital was so enjoyable, we did not want to leave!

Natasha

Testimonials

Miss Polina is a wonderful piano teacher. She has an amazing skill of reading each student individually. She takes special care in getting to know their exact personalities and skills. My son can not wait to play for her and with her! Thanks to Ms. Polina, he has already established a huge appreciation for music.

Amy French, mother of Camden, age 7

My 8 year old daughter has been taking Piano lessons with Polina for 3 years and our family is amazed with not only my daughter's technique but her practical knowledge of the music world.

Pam A.

Polina is best piano teacher I could have possibly asked for. Truly, she has changed my life. When I began lessons, I was nervous and hesitant whether I could ever consider myself a piano player. Quickly my fears disintegrated. Polina's encouragement and support taught me not just how to play the piano but how to appreciate it. She showed me how to play, listen, and to live musically. Her nurturing lessons have continued to inspire me even outside the realm of the piano.

Amanda

This is Raelene, one of the students in your Music Appreciation class. A new thing that I learned from your class was that the A key on the piano vibrates 440 times per second. That amazed me. I also like a few things you said that makes music or art special. For example, when you said "to play an instrument, you have to speak to it with your fingers", and also how "art, music in particular, can help someone stop and enjoy the moment". After you explained yourself I was able to understand music more. I didn't think of music as some tune people listen to everyday. The bananas got out of my ears and I heard the emotions musicians played on their instruments that becomes music. It sounds beautiful, thank you.

Raelene

Hi Sallie,
I wanted to get back to you with Amanda's teacher's info...
Polina Sisman has been the PERFECT teacher of piano for Amanda. She is kind, sensitive, caring, and wonderfully musical. She has given Amanda a gift that Amanda will carry with her for the rest of her life, which was one of the most important things for me as a Mom when I was looking into teachers. I can't say enough good things about Polina.
When I was looking for a piano teacher for Amanda (was it in 2003?) I went to the 'LP Network' and found Polina. She's tought children of Gini Meyer and Lisa Barkett as well....

Tips

Here are my general tips for daily practice:

Always have goals of what exactly and how much you need to accomplish during each practice session. Play with a full sound, read notes, sing what you play.

Most children don't practice without encouragement from parents. Please do not make your attitude regarding practice too regimented, or else your children will begin to see it as a punishment, and lose interest quickly. Also, they need a set time and quiet place to practice.

Try to practice every day at the same time. Sit and breathe properly.

Perform mini concert for your family or houseguests as soon as the piece is ready.

Music Lectures

active listening...

listening and dancing...

For dancers careful listening and understanding of music is everything, because dance is music. The lectures cover the following topics:

Active listening and analysis of music.
Learning basic musical grammar and composition techniques.
Identifying musical styles, genres, and historical periods.
Cultivating rhythm, meter and phrasing skills to aid speech, singing and dancing.
Basic introductions into choreography, composition and conducting.

elder people adore the lectures...

People say...

- Polina was very creative by using different types music. It really helped in a beginning that she encouraged us to "become ears" She set the mood of the lecture...

- My favorite part was conducting. It was more difficult that I thought...

- Thank you playing the piano. You are truly gifted...

- Wonderful lecture!! The students were so riveted!

- I learned today that music is a way of speaking...

- Now I know that music dances to your soul if you keep your ears open...

- Music has phrases: beginning and end. Also it has emotions...

- The lecture was inspiring, relaxing and fun for all. Thank you.

Polina's Favourite Links

Contact Us

Let's talk about music. Whether you want to talk about your relation with music, your child musical education or you are simply curious what music can do for you, call Polina at (858)274-0239
We would like to hear from you