My Piano Teacher, Lana Tchernaia

Music teachers are some of the most underappreciated people there are. My piano teacher Lana is the best example there is. For one thing, she is exceptionally patient. She listens to me make many mistakes each week. Lana explains to me where I made a mistake, and why I made it. She goes through it many times in order for me to burn it into my memory, and she knows just how to make things simple. She knows how to point out mistakes so that I’m inspired to work harder. Lana knows how to keep me motivated, because there’s nothing worse than feeling like you can’t do something. “Keep moving forward,” is one of the many life lessons that she’s taught me while I’ve been with her. When I’m feeling down, or tired, or even sick, she lifts my mood and says: “You can do it.” She inspires me and pushes me forward, even if sometimes she’s the one that’s feeling really sick! Also, she’s never been any other mood than “cheerful”, in all the years I’ve known her, and her jokes keep me laughing all the while. She sees the bright side of everything, musical or not. Tina Vulevic