Kamilla Sonkin Piano - Thursday60 Minute

Ms. Sonkin received her Bachelor of Music with Honors from Tallat-Kelpshi Academy of Music in Vilnius, Lithuania and did graduate studies at Vilnius Conservatory in Lithuania and Mannes College of Music in New York, NY. She received her Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Chamber Ensemble from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and received training at the Suzuki Institute at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.

Ms. Sonkin has performed in Europe and the United States, including solo appearances on Lithuanian television and as a ballet accompanist with Chicago ballet companies, her own arrangement of Beethoven’s finest selections for the phonograph recording "Beethoven for Ballet”, Langerberg Label, 1984. Her private instruction includes teaching piano, Suzuki piano, music theory and the history of music at the Music Arts School in Highland Park, IL, Westchester Conservatory of Music, Center Music School Director in  Stamford, the Wilton Conservatory of Music,  Adjunct Professor, Fine and Performing Arts Fairfield University as well as Lecturer Darien and Wilton Continuing Education.

Her pedagogical pedigree stems from the finest European pianistic tradition. The latter half of the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th was dominated by the pupils of Franz Liszt and Theodore Leschetizky. Sonkin’s teacher was a student of a teacher who studied under Theodore Leschetizky. Leschetizky was a student of Czerny - a student of Beethoven.

Ms. Sonkin is excited to share her love of music, and enrich students lives through piano lessons. She believes that to hear and react to music is the singular most universal sensation we possess! The primary years are the ideal time to capitalize on the open and curious nature of children and begin learning to play the piano. Students come from a variety of backgrounds that include a breadth of interest and ability, including those who play for personal pleasure and those who go on to pursue a career in public concert performance. Ms. Sonkin's teaching skills and style have proved to be a great facilitator for her students entry into the most prestigious conservatories such as Juilliard and Mannes among others. Some of her students succeeded as performers, composers, singers and accompanists on Broadway and at regional theaters. 

Lessons are custom tailored to each student, and include learning and mastering notation, sight-reading, quality of sound, rhythm, introduction to theory, technique and preparation for performance. All of these pieces come together as the student masters the ability to play.

 

• Access to a piano, or for beginners full size keyboard with the intent to move to a piano
• Coming to lessons prepared with required music books and all pertaining materials
• Regular practice; a key factor to progress and success
• Parents may be asked to read homework to a young students, as necessary
• Access to a quiet space for practicing without distractions
• Written homework (on occasion) is to be done by the student and checked by the teacher (with minimal parental involvement)