Get to know Mobile Music Lessons piano faculty member, Petya Haralanova! Learn more about her on our faculty page. Read more faculty spotlights on our blog.
Q: How did you get started playing the piano?
A: When I was growing up, I knew I loved arts, math and overall, everything beautiful. My ambitious parents started me with choir, acting and ballet, but after they saw me talking to the pianist for my ballet class they quickly realized music was the best fit for me. It includes everything I liked- patterns, beautiful sounds, joy, sadness… it made me feel like me. If you were to ask anyone from my life they would tell you the same. All the people in my life describe me as the (short) girl who loved music and school.
Q: Who is your favorite composer and why?
A: I love any composer from the Romantic period like Chopin. To get more specific, it would probably be Victor Kosenko at the moment - he sounds very very interesting to me and provokes emotion. My favorite composers change but I try to learn about more underground ones, because someone has to find the hidden gems!
Q: Why is music important to you?
A: Music is life. I believe without music, there would be no humanity. Rules of music are applicable in science, human knowledges and systems of all sorts. Without music, how do you celebrate or mourn? Without music… how do humans express themselves? After learning many languages I can tell you, language is useless sometimes. Only music is able to touch people in such a way. It’s the superior of all arts and it can heal, and break, manipulate, empower. It can do so much… it can be propaganda or even a simple joy. Music is what brings us closer to nature. As we try to mimic the songs and sounds of all beasts around us, we are often left in a pattern that has been discovered before we were even born. Music is… so much. Having dedicated some small part of my life I stand before that idea with so much admiration and my eyes wandering, trying to grab more music, play more, sing more, dance more, teach more… anything to dip my toes in the ocean of this beautiful art.
Q: What is your teaching philosophy?
A: My teaching philosophy changes, but things that remain constant are: I teach music, and more. Discipline, appreciation of art and beauty, attention to detail… all these and more are things students get out of my classes. Another thing is I deliver to my students all my heart and attention. A lesson for a student might be 30 mins or an hour per week, but for me it’s so much more. It’s preparation, listening to examples, researching, trying to find new material and most importantly, reminiscing on past conversations with students so I can be better for them. This experience is not just mine, but also the student and sometimes even the parent’s. This is a time we get to share and do our best and I cherish it. I’ve had many different students and I can say that I enjoy pushing my students more than they have experienced some times because I love seeing them succeed. For some this is an experience that is deeper, because they are a bit older. Teaching the basics like major scales, chords, music theory and ear training, are also included in a comprehensive way and my students all have learned to appreciate these skills because learning music gets easier with these tools. Overall, I try my best, because everyone deserves a fair chance at the most superior art there is - music!
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