Which musician has influenced you the most?
N.Shakhovskaya, my teacher for the incredible attention to the details, professional honesty and always doing 400%
What can you teach me on your instrument better than any other teacher?
Everyone can teach you how to play, I can teach you how to listen
How did you learn to play your instrument? I come from a musicians family, my father is a cellist, so before I realized anything I was going to a music school.
How do you go about writing a song or composing a piece yourself?
Could be done but not like Im doing it often. Doing adaptations for cello- much more often
What equipment do you play on today?
18th century cello, cos it was in our family
What personal trait helped you most when practicing?
Curiosity. Helps to discover new ways.
What does your instrument have that others don’t?
Human like voice
What do you pay particular attention to when teaching?
Not to forget that path could be long and good things take time.
How do you structure your music lessons?
Some exercises followed by "musical" part.
But from time to time I do performing lessons. Sometimes no scales, sometimes scales day. I try to make it not always the same
How do you deal with children?
First of all to understand what do they like to do in life, what are our common interests. Get them talk, express themselves. Ask their opinion. But first of all be sure that they want to play at all.
What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
Performing with a deaf percussion player. She felt the vibrations of the stage with her feet and she was much into music....
What was the biggest stage you played on?
Carnegie Hall, Auditorium Lingotto, Big Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Salle Pleyel, Tonhalle, Concertgebouw, Musikverein and many more
Which musician would you like to play with?
With any musician who cares about what he's doing.
Which record would you take with you to a desert island?
Bach Preludes and Fugues. It is the universe.
Which stage would you most like to play on or do you most like to play on?
No matter if there's at least 1 person listening
What else is important in your life besides music?
My children