Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy centers on patience, selflessness, and the search for inspiration. I believe every student has unique potential, and my role is to support their growth through understanding, setting achievable goals, and creating a nurturing environment. I aim to instill a love for music while challenging students to push beyond their boundaries and attain their personal best.

I integrate various aspects of music education into my lessons, including history, theory, technique, and artistry. For younger students, I use innovative methods and games to stimulate creativity and exploration. For the intermediate and more advanced learners, I provide targeted literature and exercises to fuel technical and artistic development.

My teaching experience spans over 20 years working with students ranging from beginners to college music majors. Many of my students are recipients of prizes, including winners of such competitions as the Piano Teachers Congress of New York’s Young Pianists Competition and the New Jersey Music Teachers Association’s Young Artists Competition for Piano.

For me, music has been a lifelong journey of learning, challenges and rewards. Having grown up in Russia, I feel fortunate to have received a comprehensive musical education, rooted in fundamentals such as solfège and ear training that I include in my lessons with my students. Moreover, I learned from a young age that regular practice and hard work are essential. My seven years of Piano Pedagogy training in Russia endowed me with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of teaching, allowing me to help my students effectively identify, isolate and resolve their technical issues. In each lesson I share my knowledge with my students who, through the process of learning technical and interpretive skills, develop their own ability to search for musical meaning. I ensure that this knowledge is applied to the benefit of all my students, regardless of their specific skills or background. 

Much of my teaching philosophy grew from my personal experiences performing and preparing for concerts and competitions. Performing for others is an essential part of the learning process. I guide students in preparing and memorizing their repertoire for recitals and studio classes, helping them to experience the joy of sharing their music while reaching their highest level of personal expression. Through a supportive and goal-oriented approach, I strive to help each student discover their own path, so that their musical journey is successful and rewarding.

  • Andrew, student

    “Anna is without a doubt one of the most influential mentors I have had the privilege of working with. From the instant I started taking lessons with her, it was clear that she was a dedicated master of her craft and fully devoted to developing me as a quality pianist. I particularly admire Anna for how she challenged me as a musician and led me to transform my initially lacking technique with a strong foundation in theory, detail work, and musicality. More than anything else, Anna stresses the emotion and depth behind her student’s playing. She truly taught me what it meant to perform a piece of music as opposed to simply playing what I saw on the sheet in front of me. While I did not end up pursuing a musical career, I can wholeheartedly say that Anna has had a lasting impact on my work ethic and has fostered within me an intense desire to work toward building quality in all of my endeavors.”

  • Larissa, parent

    "My child has been studying piano with Dr. Keiserman for the past two years, and the impact has been nothing short of exceptional. As a parent committed to supporting my child’s serious musical ambitions, I am deeply impressed with Dr. Keiserman’s expertise, professionalism, and dedication to preparing students for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams.

    From the outset, Anna demonstrated a profound understanding of the RCM curriculum and exam requirements. The lessons are meticulously structured, focusing on both technical proficiency and expressive performance. Anna has a remarkable ability to identify and address areas of improvement while also nurturing my child’s individual musical voice.

  • Jenya, parent

    "Anna’s professionalism is truly outstanding, and she brings a meticulous approach to every lesson. What sets her apart is her versatility - she's able to adapt her teaching style to suit different skill levels. Despite her expertise, she remains down-to-earth and approachable, creating a comfortable although demanding learning environment."