Piano lessons West LA

As I write this review, all I can think about is when my next lesson is lol! Ilia and Velly are traveling the world and are currently in China touring for thousands of people! They are world class talent and I wouldn’t want to take my piano lessons from anybody else. I felt honored when Ilia said he would train me, and it takes only a second of hearing him to realize his hands and playing are in pure harmony. I cannot say enough good things about this duo… beautiful home, beautiful people, beautiful music… what else can you ask for?

Excellent instruction with results. Flexible scheduling and reasonable rates. Personable teachers who are effective. I highly recommend! You will not be disappointed.

My daughter has been taking lessons with Velly for 4 years now and I’ve been very pleased with the results. Candidly, I chose this studio not on the merits of the teachers (which are extensive… check out Velly and Ilia’s resume and watch their performance on their website) but because they could see my daughter on the weekends, which is the only time I could commit to taking her to lessons. But now I see the value in getting world class training. If you’re going to do it at all, why not study with the best! That said, don’t expect your kids to do it all on their own. It takes a little effort on the parent’s part too. You have to encourage your young kids to practice and there’s a delicate balance between nurturing an enjoyment of music and showing them that anything that’s worth doing requires dedication. Velly has also done a little voice training with my daughter and she sang and played a song (Us by Regina Spektor) at the last recital. They offer a good mix of classical training and fun pop songs and my daughter really enjoys her lessons.
The payoff for me is at the recitals. It’s so fun to watch your child perform in between the 5-​year-​olds banging out Twinkle Twinkle and the virtuosos who have been studying with Velly and Ilia in preparation for a performing career.
Don’t sell yourself (or your child) short. Study with the best!

Having a great time with llia! He is a talented man with a lot to give. I am a professional cellist and enjoying learning at all turns. I decided to revisit my piano but needed a teacher and mentor that would lead me back in with grace and focus.
llia patiently guided me through the basics of piano. He answered every question calmly and thoughtfully, from the basic «where does my hand go again?» to «who invented the piano?» He tailored the lesson for me as we went and was a pleasure to be with. Not intimidating, but you still have a lot of respect for him and his craft. It’s cathartic playing piano, since it’s another way to connect your mind and body.
I highly recommend taking lessons with him! I bet he’d work really well with kids too.

I’m a songwriter and producer and have been performing professionally for the last 7 years and have taken classes of all forms since i was 12, so I feel like i have a good sense of what makes a good teacher. I can confidently say that both Ilia and Velly are some of the best piano teachers you will ever find in the LA area — from beginner to advanced level. They’re incredible players themselves (just watch their youtube vids), but they’re also very patient and experienced instructors. My own needs as a piano player are fairly unique and specified, but from the very beginning, Ilia made sure to tailor every lesson to my needs as a pop performer and producer. I’ve been working with him for close to a year and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.

My 14 year old daughter started piano lessons at the above location about six months ago and she couldn’t be happier. Both teachers are very professional and talented, and have a great amount of patience with the kids. My daughter was reluctant to participate, due to performance anxiety, and she has received a great deal of encouragement from Ilia. I have really enjoyed watching her confidence build as she has developed a new skill from such high level teachers.

The easiest way to judge the quality of a piano teacher is listening to their students play. The Toshefs have some very talented students in their roster — that’s saying something! They keep it fresh by making music fun for their students, and encourage their students to push the boundaries of their own music making. The result: they produce artists, not just poeple who can read notes off a page.