FEATURED COURSES
Meet Your Teachers
Denis Zhdanov
A concert pianist who once faced serious playing injuries caused by muscular overuse, Denis rebuilt his entire technique, studied the physiology of piano playing in depth, and developed new ways of practising. That experience became the core of his teaching: finding the root of technical problems and solving them in a healthy, efficient way.
Efficiency, though, is only half of the story. His playing and teaching are rooted in the great Eastern European piano tradition: rich musical imagination, rigorous articulation, deep and personal interpretation, and wide stylistic diversity.
Technique is never the goal, but a means of speaking freely in the language of music, so every piece becomes a story, a journey, and a living artistic experience.
- Trained in Ukraine, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland
- Taught at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Austria
- Taught at Hochschule Luzern – Musik, Switzerland
- Thousands of students in his online school, 6 million views on YouTube
Learn more about Denis
Elina Akselrud
Elina’s teaching rests on three pillars: technique built through balanced muscle activation and relaxation, natural hand position, and optimised movement; the stylistic nuances of each era and composer; and work with imagery, characters, and the many possible interpretations of every piece.
She studied with professors in Kyiv, New York, Boston, Florence, and Lucerne, themselves students of the leading pedagogues of the Kyiv, St. Petersburg, Tbilisi, and Moscow conservatories. From this tradition her performing and teaching style has grown.
Teaching since 2008, Elina describes herself as a patient yet demanding teacher: her goal is to inspire students to understand the process, to keep going when the work gets difficult, and always to strive for real results.
- Dr. Artium with excellence, University of Music and Performing Arts Graz
- Trained in Ukraine, the United States, Italy, and Switzerland
- Studied with K. Lifschitz, E. Virsaladze, A. Korsantia, and I. Morozova
- Pianist, fine art photographer, and artist researcher
Learn more about Elina
What Our Students Say
Testimonials
Eric
The piano rebuilding course has made a world of difference to me. I can now study the pieces I like without any pain in my hands and forearms. I was ready to give up piano altogether when I bought the course — and now I play more than ever.
Terry
Your course is the single most valuable collection of piano instruction I have ever seen, and it has substantially improved my playing over the last year. The relaxation and efficiency techniques are demonstrated again and again, until the proper way to practise them is thoroughly ingrained. You are a phenomenal teacher.
Pasquale
Denis's course is truly excellent: clear, in-depth explanations of all the fundamental techniques, along with practical work on real pieces. For those getting back into piano without a teacher, it isn't just an alternative — it's a complete and structured path. Within a few months I built a 30-minute repertoire of pieces I can play from start to finish.
Henrik
Believe me, this course is worth its weight in gold. After only a few days I could already feel that I play differently, with more freedom in my fingers and arms. And it would cost far more to get this from a professional piano teacher anyway.
Jonna
This is the course that has improved my playing the most in the shortest time — and I haven't even finished it yet. Bach really works magic on one's technique, and it transfers to other composers and styles as well. A great teacher.
Vicki
I've learned so much. The patient, bar-by-bar teaching style has helped me become much more confident in the piece. Analyzing the chords behind the melodies and working out hand positions goes miles towards better memorization. So glad I found this site.
Susanne
I'm retired and teaching myself to play the piano. The step-by-step breakdown of these wonderful exercises, combined with the tips on body, hand and finger movement and the analysis of the harmonies, is so welcome and so helpful.
Juan
I'm over 70 and pretty much a total beginner. In just two months I've made great progress: the course has helped me relax more, loosen up my arms and — most importantly — stay motivated to keep going.
Jesse
This is hands down the best lesson I have seen for learning this difficult piece. Every tip addresses a specific challenge — maintaining relaxed, comfortable sensations and releasing tension after each chord, even when the music feels like taming a wild horse. Bravo!
Maddie
A wonderful and educational course! I totally recommend it to anyone who needs an in-depth masterclass on this piece. Thank you, Maestro Denis.