Anna Grudskaya was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to a family of musicians and artists and began piano studies at the age of four. Winner of the Concerto/Aria Competition at Santa Clara University and Van Waynen Piano Competition, and the 2017 Hartt Chamber Music Competition, Grudskaya has performed in concert halls in the United States and abroad. She has performed in festivals including the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria; International Keyboard Institute and Festival; Aspen Music Festival and School; Beijing International Music Festival and Academy; New Orleans Piano Institute; NYU Summer Piano Intensive; and Adamant Music School. She has earned degrees from Santa Clara University, Mannes College of Music, New York University, and is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in piano performance at The Hartt School. Her major teachers have included Hans Boepple, Pavlina Dokovska, Eteri Andjaparidze, and David Westfall.
I have found that the most important qualities of a successful piano instructor are patience, selflessness, and the ability to inspire. As a teacher, I strive to embody all of these traits in order to help my students succeed and reach their full musical potential. I am understanding of different learning styles and have realistic expectations, yet challenge my students to discover, learn, and improve beyond their boundaries. I am dedicated to my students' needs and provide support and mentorship that goes beyond the learning of notes. I am enthusiastic about teaching and eager to share the joy of music. Through dedication and a rigorous work ethic, I believe that all students can succeed and have the potential for personal growth. My goal as a teacher is to enrich my students’ educations and lives, increase their appreciation for music and culture, and realize their individual potentials and abilities.
In my teaching, I aim to integrate music history, theory, technique, musicianship, and artistry to provide a well-rounded education. I feel strongly that knowledge of history and art forms outside of music can serve as valuable teaching tools to help students reach a deeper level of understanding and connection to the music they perform. I often rely on outside sources, such as stories, visual art and imagery, theater, literature, and dance, in order to draw connections to music. These references offer a useful link to fuel students’ imaginations, inform their conceptions, and communicate the spirit and expressions of a composition. I incorporate this type of interdisciplinary approach in my teaching with the goal of developing well-rounded musicians and artists for future generations.
Public performance is a skill that requires physical, mental, and emotional preparation. In order to develop my students’ confidence on stage, I offer approaches for learning and memorizing repertoire in an intentional, thoughtful, and methodical manner. Relying on my studies of psychology as well as recent research on learning and performance psychology, I incorporate methods and techniques for dealing with the psychological elements of performance. Relevant topics include effective preparation strategies, managing emotions and nerves, maintaining a positive headspace, and finding a heightened state of focus during performance. The ultimate goal is for students to reach their highest level of artistry and experience the satisfaction of sharing their music with others.