Elena Stenkina, accordion teacher online

[breezybellows]

a video made to "look cool" often won't be one a technical accordionist will appreciate.

But does it actually look cool? I think removing the gimmicks will make it look cooler.

 

[saundersbp]

Sure, she may not be a virtuoso musician, but usually they don't know how to be pass their knowledge and are terrible teachers.

At college (university) we were lectured Maths 101 by the professor, head of the Maths Department .
He spent the entire term with his face stuck to the blackboard, his back to the class, scribbling formulae in minute , indecipherable script on the blackboard, while muttering something inaudiably in sotto voce: it didn't do my maths any good whatsoever.
We may as well not even have been there!

She can definitely teach students for longer than a year. I'm not sure which videos you watched. Most of her videos in her channel are right hand only performances with a backing track.

Nothing too special and very stylized with backing tracks and zero left hand. Even the linked video above is mimed and recorded in a studio.

They may be amazing as a teacher but limited as to how far they will be able to take you. You cannot teach what you cannot play.

The poor lady - I hope she isn't a member of the forum..........

Based on my experience at university, I'd agree with Dingo, the top experts are not necessarily always the best teachers! Being a teacher is all about putting the learning of the pupil over and above your own interests, and that decentring of your own ego is something both experts and incompetents alike can occasionally fall short on.

Having said that, I've had lessons (just one or two) from some of the top people in their genres (classical, folk etc.) on the accordion, household names, at least in our peculiar myopia. They have been unfailing kind, encouraging and interested (and impossible to pay, even when insisting!).

For those in the UK with an interest in teaching and the next generation, I heartily recommend this event coming up shortly:

 

[TimeSwan]

I worked with Elena and listened to her play on a daily basis. She is a fantastic player. The music she chooses for her performances might not necessarily always reflect that.

I've played guitar for 20 years and I like to think I'm pretty good technically but as far as performing is concerned most of my guitar playing has been in punk bands where I'm just playing power chords and making annoying feedback noise.

People contain multitudes.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

Here is a video of her teaching arpeggios on bayan.

Something interesting there is that she makes some comments about how practicing arpeggios in the traditional style is a torture and, often, infective when you are using a three row layout.

Details like these are really important, in my opinion. If you are not comfortable with your daily practice, or you are unable to properly use the potential of your fingers, then you will lose motivation to learn.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

There’s a lot of conjecture going on here. The real test would be for a piano accordionist who’s never tried cba (or vice versa) to take a lesson or two from her on the new-to-them instrument and report back to the forum. At this point, since I don’t have a cba to learn on, I can’t volunteer. Maybe someone else can?

 

[OuijaBoard]

There’s a lot of conjecture going on here. The real test would be for a piano accordionist who’s never tried cba (or vice versa) to take a lesson or two from her on the new-to-them instrument and report back to the forum. At this point, since I don’t have a cba to learn on, I can’t volunteer. Maybe someone else can?

Any music teacher is subject to a "real test" of that kind, and it would still be subjective because not all students match well with all teachers.

I find it quite telling which professional players are subjected to public calumny on this site, and by whom.

Telling, and offensive. Some of the nonsense posted on this thread by people who on their best day have not had the ability, versatility, or technical chops this virtuoso has in her little finger is unbelievable. And this thread is not the only instance. To those who feel they need to sneer online at people like Karen Tweed or Elena Stenkina: Um, give yourself a listen sometime. Go home and practice your own skills before you diminish and sneer at your betters on the internet. No one is obligated to take lessons from anybody. But think carefully and more honestly about your own limitations before you belittle professional musicians and artists in an online internet forum.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

I agree with most of what you said. However, as someone who has taught homebound high school students for many years, I’ve found that in a one-on-one situation, the teacher-student mismatch problem doesn’t show on the first few lessons, and, also in the case of a one-on-one situation, a good teacher would be flexible enough to quickly identify the student’s learning style and adapt to it.If we’re talking about a personality conflict, again that wouldn’t show in the first few lessons nor would I expect that an adult student would immediately say, “I don’t like the teacher,” as many of my short-term high school students complained to me about one of the teachers in their schools.

 

[Ffingers]

I agree with most of what you said. However, as someone who has taught homebound high school students for many years, I’ve found that in a one-on-one situation, the teacher-student mismatch problem doesn’t show on the first few lessons, and, also in the case of a one-on-one situation, a good teacher would be flexible enough to quickly identify the student’s learning style and adapt to it.If we’re talking about a personality conflict, again that wouldn’t show in the first few lessons nor would I expect that an adult student would immediately say, “I don’t like the teacher,” as many of my short-term high school students complained to me about one of the teachers in their schools.

Ubfortunately, Alan, the personal becomes critical in many fields of instruction and it is something little acknowledged by those designing and managing mass education and even less so by those with political and religious agendas who wish to control the general public for their own nefarious purposes.
In something as deeply personal as music, its appreciation and its performance, any deviance from the very best of pedagogy and student-teacher rapport may well destroy the very talent which it desired to foster: I have seen that happen all too frequently.
There is much to be said for the adage that to be successful, a teacher must first understand the particular needs and characteristics of the student.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

So, apparently, Elena finally has an answer to those who say she can't play left hand.

 

[Jaime_Dergut]

Update:

Elena finally has a website where you can book an online lesson or buy one of her music arrangements and compositions.

Elena Stenkina

accordionist, teacher, sheet music, hire piano accordionist, accordion lessons

elenastenkina.com

Here is also a video of her, playing classical songs on freebass, C and B system.



Support a young accordion teacher!

Thanks for your attention,

Regards,

Jaime, the unbiased.

 

[Kheller]

Update:

Elena finally has a website where you can book an online lesson or buy one of her music arrangements and compositions.

Elena Stenkina

accordionist, teacher, sheet music, hire piano accordionist, accordion lessons

elenastenkina.com

Here is also a video of her, playing classical songs on freebass, C and B system.



Support a young accordion teacher!

Thanks for your attention,

Regards,

Jaime, the unbiased.

Funny to see this post here because I just saw her advertising openings on Instagram the other day. I'm going to give it a go, big benefit that she's familiar with a variety of accordion types and styles. I'll report back!

 

[Kheller]

Just wanted to follow up. Had three sessions with Elena here the past couple of weeks and as far as moving forward with my button accordion she's been great. When we started our first lesson she thought I was on B System and then was able to quickly adapt to write out the fingerings for C system so I'd say that's some skill right there. Especially considering she primarily plays piano accordion.

I can't speak for all levels of course and I think this forum is a place where beginners are probably few and far between, but if you are like me and just getting started I'd say she's a great teacher.