Piano Lessons With Valery Goldes

Val has been teaching my son piano for the past several years, and I am convinced that the is one of the best piano teachers in LA. He has high expectations for his students and treats them with respect, and this really works. My son has made more progress than I ever imagined he could by this age. Val also incorporates theory and ear-training into his lessons, which is incredibly valuable for giving children a foundation for music as a lifelong pursuit. I can't recommend him highly enough.

Valery has been my piano instructor for the past several months. I was a raw beginner when I began lessons with him and have been astonished with how quickly I have been able to grasp some of the more difficult concepts like reading music. I really struggled with commitment to piano and his passion for music has inspired me to practice much more. I have been impressed with his professionalism and commitment to his craft. He is one of a kind as an instructor and ideal for any level of piano experience.

As a musician and music educator myself, I was very particular when it came to finding a piano teacher for my 9-year-old daughter. Valery has exceeded my expectations. Not only is Valery a highly skilled musician himself, but he is an excellent teacher. He is the perfect combination of being kind and patient as well as being strict and setting high expectations. Valery is also keen to see my daughter's individual strengths and help inspire her to develop them. He is giving my daughter the well-rounded piano and musicianship skills I was hoping for that will serve her no matter where her path takes her. Valery could help you no matter how big your goals are.

Val is the best piano teacher I've ever had and I recommend anyone who is interested in taking piano/music theory/composition lesson to study with him. He truly understand how to motivate a student and he's a very kind and patient as well. It's always fun to watch him demonstrate a piece during class and he's so talented. He also inspired me to become a better musician myself and I'm really lucky and grateful that I've found him as my teacher.

I've been taking lessons with Val for awhile now and as an adult it is hard to learn an instrument as it is- and Val made it super easy, fun, engaging and motivating for me to learn. I played a little as a child but mostly forgotten everything. I would recommend Val to anyone who truly wants to learn the piano even as an adult complete beginner!

Val is my favorite piano teacher. I must say that his piano skills and knowledge are so incredible. He is not only a concert pianist but also a great educator and composer. I learned so much knowledge about music and piano from our lessons. I am truly grateful to find a teacher like Val and look forward to have more lessons with Val in the future!!!

Val is a Juilliard-trained pianist and a wonderful teacher. After 6 years of piano lessons with 3 different teachers, we finally found the piano teacher that we should have had all along. In the first lesson, he assessed my kids, both of whom are completely different. He understands where each kid need to be challenged and how to address each of their weaknesses. He seems to know how to encourage them and motivate them. For the first time, my kids are inspired to play music and they actually seem to enjoy it. The lessons are virtual, and it is still high quality. Highly recommend Val!!!

My son has been taking lessons with Val for almost 2 years now. He has made great progress and looks forward to his lessons each week. Val is a fantastic teacher and is just as committed and effective in teaching via video conference during the pandemic as he is in-home. He is highly talented himself and is skilled in teaching technique with encouraging, constructive feedback for the students. I would highly recommend Val to you and your family.

Valery is great. After only a few lessons I was able to play a piece I'd given up on after years of attempting to self teach. He's encouraging and challenging. I'm excited to continue to take lessons.

I’ve been seeing Val for a couple months now. I’m an adult student new to the piano, but not new to music. After years of music teachers throughout my life, I knew the kind of teacher I was looking for and met with 4 other instructors before finding him. Val is incredibly patient, kind, yet pushes you to believe in yourself and there is no way I would be where I am without his support and expertise. I highly recommend Val to anyone looking for a dedicated and quality teacher!

I'm a primarily self-taught pianist, and I was seeking a teacher to help round out some of my fundamentals and take my skill to the next level. Val has been an amazing mentor and has been monumental in leveling up my skills! I highly recommend Val for anyone that wants to seriously improve with piano!

Had my son take lessons with Val- he is incredible. Kind, patient and knows his way around kids. Especially now with online lessons- my son is still engaged and has made great progress through zoom lessons. I would recommend Val to anyone who wants to really know music and master the piano. Thank you Val for everything :)

Val is an amazing instructor. I've been playing piano on and off my entire life and decided to get back into it. I'm glad to have found Val. Not only does he understand theory and practice, he simplifies it in ways that I wish I could have had as a kid.

If you're looking to take lessons, Val is the man. Whether you're looking for jazz or classical, he has you covered.

First of all, I just want to say I am incredibly lucky I found Val on my extended trip to LA. I've had sort of an on-and-off relationship with the piano and I had been mostly dabbling at it on my own without a proper instructor for the past decade. However, I decided to take it up a notch this year and ever since my first lesson with Val in July 2020, my understanding of piano technique has completely changed. Val is very prescriptive and insightful in his instructions and knows exactly what's going on and how to fix it. If you do exactly as he says, you will improve vastly but you really have to put in a lot of effort and time to get there (by a lot I mean being able to play a passage in reverse with eyes closed a lot). Within just 3 months under Val's instruction, I'm already playing Beethoven sonata, Chopin Etude, Bach WTC, etc - all new pieces since my first lesson with him. I'm very much looking forward to my musical journey with Val. Right now, I am taking weekly lessons via Zoom given I'm not based in LA, but the lessons are very much worth it and I am grateful that I have gained a friend that I can talk about musical ideas freely and openly whenever I want.

My son has been delighted with his lessons with Valery. He not only enjoys the lessons, but leaves them inspired and determined to improve his skills. He is gaining increased competency in both piano and composition, and Valery really gets my son and focuses the lessons in a way that has him moving steadily and quickly forward.

I LUV LUV LUVVV VAL! He is the BEST teacher and mentor ever! He has high expectations so that his students do well and explore their full potential. I've been with him for two and a half years and within that little time, he led me to go to Carnegie Hall and many other wonderful places to play piano! I have won so many competitions under his wing and I'm sure you will love him! I am very lucky to have Val as a teacher! He is so generous with his time and always goes above and beyond with his teaching. There is no better teacher out there for music! Love you Val!

Being a pianist, and being a teacher — are two entirely separate skills. Valery excels at both of them. He understands how to break a concept into digestible parts, and I can imagine him being patient with students of any level, or age.

Valery's teaching style is not overwrought with drills and exercises. It reflects a nice balance between discipline, and enjoyment of playing. He is flexible depending on your goals, and places a refreshing emphasis on creativity.

I recommend Valery for all players; beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

Val is the best piano teacher from my experience dealing with many piano teachers in the past.
My kid is taking piano lessons with Val and his skills, knowledge and professionalism is far exceeding our expectations. We were very lucky To find a teacher like Val. Thank you Val

Valery is our fourth piano teacher. The first moved away, the second quit to start a recording career, and the third was $200/hour! Like Valery, that third teacher was a Juilliard alumnus but the lessons felt rushed and unfocused. Valery is an incredible teacher because he is kind, patient, funny, encouraging, and he tailors piano lessons to your child's interests and ability. My 11-year-old daughter has been studying with Valery for 1.5 years (and 2 years prior). She has undergone such rapid progress under Valery's guidance. I don't believe that any other teacher would have allowed her to tackle such difficult pieces. Her first and second teacher insisted on working a strict program progressing slowly through books (i.e., John Thompson) and she hated it. We are so lucky to have a teacher that customizes her learning experience to fit her wishes. You won't find a better piano teacher than Valery!

I came to Val because I needed more guidance than YouTube videos lol. He's a great teacher, keeps it interesting & fun but also challenges you; so you can grow and improve. Very professional & encouraging as well! I highly recommend his services for anyone interested in, or already playing piano.