Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is shaped by a rich and varied background: over a decade as a professional singer on the international stage, with training from institutions like the Manhattan School of Music and the Mozarteum University, extensive experience as a CUNY senior teaching fellow and a graduate teaching fellow at Hunter College, and my work as a private voice instructor and, since 2026, as Voice Faculty at the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School (FMDG). These diverse experiences have coalesced into four core principles that guide my approach to education.

• Musical literacy and intellectual exploration: giving students a solid grasp of musical elements and principles, often by bridging familiar, contemporary examples with the classical repertoire.
• Interdisciplinary exploration: helping students examine music’s intersections with the wider facets of society and culture.
• Inclusivity through Universal Design for Learning (UDL): ensuring every student can participate fully, regardless of learning profile — for instance, offering podcast assignments as an alternative format for students with dyslexia, or inviting a student to compose an original piece adapted to the needs of a disabled performer.
• Artistic development and technical mastery: fostering vocal and artistic growth through individually tailored technical work.

The Private Studio

In my private instruction, I employ a precise, science-based approach. I prioritize physiological realities, favoring anatomical clarity over vague imagery to ensure sustainable vocal health:

• Vocal Conditioning: Lessons begin with targeted physical stretches and breathing exercises followed by customized vocalizations.
• Technical Integration: Targeted exercises are used to resolve specific technical challenges within the repertoire.
• Linguistic & Stylistic Depth: Leveraging my expertise as a diction coach, I guide students through a meticulous examination of lyrics, translation, and stylistic nuances across genres like Lied, Opera, and Oratorio.
• Holistic Mentorship: Empowering students through curated literature and recordings to achieve their full creative potential.

I am a member of NATS (the National Association of Teachers of Singing).

Diction Coach

I view diction as the foundation of vocal excellence, adhering to the Italian paradigm, "Chi pronuncia bene, canta bene" (He who pronounces well, sings well). A native speaker of Russian and Circassian, I am also fluent in English, German, and Italian.

My expertise is backed by studies with celebrated authorities in lyric diction: I trained in English diction with Kathryn LaBouff (Metropolitan Opera/Juilliard) and in German diction with Nils Neubert and the faculty of the Mozarteum University. I offer specialized coaching for the international stage:

• English Diction: Mastery of British, American, and Mid-Atlantic dialects.
• German Diction: Classical Stage German (Bühnendeutsch) for Opera and Lied.
• Russian Diction: Specialist coaching for international singers and nuanced refinement for native speakers within the Russian theatrical tradition.

Musicology & Lecturing

I hold a PhD in Musicology from CUNY and teach music history and musicology-related disciplines, grounded in rigorous academic training and university-level experience, including at Hunter College.

• The Western Classical Canon: Comprehensive surveys of music history from Antiquity to the present day.
• Interdisciplinary Studies: The intersection of music and society, notably Music and Disability Studies.
• Voice Pedagogy: Focused presentations on the mechanics of the voice, including the neuroscience of vocal performance and training.

Teaching Experience

Voice Teaching

• Voice Faculty, Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School (FMDG), New York, NY (2026–present) — teach classical voice to blind and visually impaired students across a range of ages and levels, adapting instruction to a variety of non-visual learning methods, including but not limited to Braille music notation.
• Private Voice Instructor, 2011–present — individualized vocal coaching; and, as voice instructor, masterclasses in classical singing at the Specialized School for Visually Impaired Children (Armavir, Russia) and at the Art Kovcheg Festival (Kazan, Russia).

University Teaching

• CUNY Senior Teaching Fellow, CUNY Graduate Center (2023–2024) — mentored first-time graduate teaching fellows on syllabus design, class observation, and pedagogy.
• Graduate Teaching Fellow, Hunter College, CUNY (2021–2023) — teacher of record for "Music and Disability" (graduate seminar) and "Music 101: Music Appreciation" (undergraduate).
• Teaching Assistant, City College of New York, CUNY (2020–2021) — instructional materials and accessibility review for Music Appreciation courses.