Welcome to Marblehead Piano Studio

IMG_0048My name is Elena Shagalov Drabkin. I teach piano to children and adults of all levels, from beginners to intermediate and advanced students. I have been teaching piano for over 30 years with the last 28 years covering Boston’s North Shore. Currently my studio is located inĀ Clifton area of Marblehead, Massachusetts.

I love to teach and to share my experience and knowledge with my students. Carrying on the traditions of music education that I received to the next generations has always inspired me. I strongly believe that classical music is providing a person with a unique experience of spiritual enrichment.

I maintain individual approach to each of my students by taking into careful consideration his or her abilities, disposition, and previous musical experience. Thus I make sure that each of my students is studying at a comfortable, yet not too slow, pace. I always respect the musical taste and preferences of my students and allow intermediate and advanced students to choose pieces to play if they wish to do so. For beginners and those students who prefer to rely on my choice of music I do my best to select the pieces that suit their personality and provide valuable learning experience. The repertoire of my students includes works by classical composers from Bach to Prokofiev, as well as jazz pieces, popular songs and music from movies.

I strive to help my students develop their musical intelligence and genuine love for music. As a result, music theory, ear training, and understanding of the elements of style as well as historical context of the particular works are all important parts of the lessons. My goal is not just to teach my students “to strike the right keys at the right time”, but to guide them into the world of the endless beauty that music brings us, to teach them to concentrate on listening and appreciate every sound they play.

While I allow the participation in the recitals to be completely optional, I strongly encourage my students to perform in public. Studio recitals for families and friends are held twice a year. Each time they turn out to be truly exiting and joyous occasions for the performers and the audience, as well as rewarding experience for me.IMG_0120

In addition to the studio recitals many of my students have performed at the recitals of New England Piano Teachers Association (NEPTA), as well as at such festivals as American Fine Arts Festival in New York City (venues included Merkin Hall and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall), Russian Music Festival (Weill Recital Hall and Ramon Rivera Hall at the Rivers Conservatory in Weston), and Massachusetts Music Teacher Association’s Judged Festival at Indian Hill Music School.

Several of my students became the prize-winners at Massachusetts Music Teachers’ Association (MMTA) Baystate Competition, International Chopin Competition in Hartford CT, and Steinway Society of Massachusetts Competition.

Many students have used the recordings made in my studio and during recitals to enhance their college and high school applications. They were accepted to such prestigious undergraduate schools as Harvard, MIT, Brown, Cornell, George Washington, Tufts, Boston College, Brandeis, BU, Northeastern, NYU, Williams College, Mount Holyoke College. Some of my students continued their musical education at highly regarded private schools: Philips Exeter Academy, Boston University Academy, Brooks School and St. John’s Prep.