This bundle offers an in-depth study of all four Chopin Ballades, designed for advanced piano learners who want to bring their playing closer to professional performance standards.
A key advantage of this bundle is the opportunity to learn from two highly experienced piano performers and teachers and compare their different approaches to technique, interpretation, and problem-solving. This gives you a broader perspective and helps you discover which ideas and solutions work best for your own playing.
The First, Second, and Third Ballades are taught by Denis Zhdanov, with detailed attention to both technical challenges and stylistic refinement. The lessons explore legato, dynamic nuance, technical efficiency, fingering, phrasing, sound control, and practical strategies for effective practice. Particular attention is given to finding solutions that make difficult passages more reliable, natural, and musically convincing.
The Fourth Ballade is taught by Elina Akselrud, who focuses on refining the interpretation and stylistic understanding of the romantic era. Elina dives deeply into optimizing the fingering, distributing the material between the hands, coordination of movements, and an efficient, tension-free technique. The course also covers articulation, phrasing, pedaling, balance between voices, and the polyphonic texture that makes this Ballade especially complex and rewarding.
Together, these courses provide a detailed and practical approach to four of Chopin’s signature masterpieces, combining technical problem-solving with a deeper understanding of style, structure, and musical expression.
Your Instructors
DENIS ZHDANOV
Denis Zhdanov is a Ukrainian pianist based in Austria who has built a strong reputation in the world of classical music. Over the years, he has achieved success in a number of international competitions and established himself as a distinguished concert performer.
Alongside his performing career, he is deeply committed to piano teaching. His work goes beyond questions of style and musicality alone, with a strong focus on helping students develop a more efficient and natural piano technique. He has worked with pianists from around the world, helping them rebuild technical habits, reduce tension, recover from piano-related injuries, and develop more effective ways of practising and learning.
Through this comprehensive approach, Denis Zhdanov aims to be a valuable guide for pianists who want to improve their playing, overcome technical obstacles, and realize their full potential.
ELINA AKSELRUD
Elina Akselrud is a Ukrainian-American classical pianist and educator currently based in Austria. In 2025, she earned her Doctoral Degree in Artistic Research with Excellence from the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, where her research focused on the artistic interpretation of late Scriabin.
Over the past decade, Elina has created six multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary productions with her Intertwining Arts team. Drawing on her experience as a solo pianist, artistic researcher, and cross-disciplinary artist, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge of musical interpretation, piano technique, and artistic expression through individual lessons and video tutorials.
Elina performs and teaches a broad range of classical repertoire, from Baroque to contemporary music. She places particular importance on understanding the unique language, character, and stylistic principles of each musical period rather than favoring one style over another.
As a teacher, Elina combines a professional and thoughtful approach with openness and flexibility. She works closely with each student’s individual needs, ideas, technical challenges, and artistic goals, helping them develop both a deeper understanding of the music and greater confidence in their own interpretation.
Bundle Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I’m unhappy with my purchase?
Yes. If you are unsatisfied with your bundle, you can request a refund within 14 days of the purchase date.
Can I ask questions about the course or my learning process?
Yes. You can use the comments section to ask questions, and Denis Zhdanov aims to find time to respond and offer helpful suggestions.
Are subtitles or translations available?
Upon request, automatic subtitles and translations into other languages can be generated for the videos. However, they may not always be fully accurate, as automatic speech recognition sometimes does not recognize musical terms correctly.