Today we’d like to introduce you to Raisa Isaacs.
Raisa, pianist, and harpsichordist earned her Master Degree in Piano Performance, Pedagogy at the Ufa State Institute of Arts (Conservatory) and Diploma in DMA in Chamber Music and the Kazan State Conservatory, RU. She continued her studies in post-doctoral courses at the Moscow Conservatory, Gnesinuch Russian Academy in Moscow, and Gorky Conservatory in Nizhni Novgorod, Russia. She served as Associate Professor and Head of the Chamber Music and Accompaniment Department at the Ufa State Institute of Arts (Russia) teaching chamber music, piano, harpsichord and Keyboard Performance Practice course. Ms. Isaacs performed extensively throughout republics of the former USSR and played regularly at music festivals and conferences. She was Artistic Director and harpsichordist of the “Early Music Ensemble” of the Ufa State Institute of Arts.
She moved to the US in 1993 and taught at the Music Department of the Eastern Michigan University and performed in the Detroit, New York, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas. She moved to Atlanta in 2003 and was recognized by US Commerce Association as The Best of Atlanta 2011 in Music Instruction in Adult Piano Studio, was honored by Strathmore’s Who’s Who membership as “an individual who has demonstrated leadership and achievement in the occupation”, was rewarded by AllProMedia Group (New-York): Diamond Professional Award in Music Instruction, Distinguished Member, 2013 for achievements in piano education and as a professional in music who stays at the roots of cutting edge technology – Online Lessons, a badge from Best of Lessons.com in 2017, and was selected by Expertize company as The Best Piano Teacher in West Palm Beach in 2017. She was working at the NMS of the Georgia State University, Georgia Perimeter College, and Reinhardt University. She was a member of Atlanta Camerata, performed as a pianist, chamber music performer, and harpsichordist throughout Metro Atlanta area. Her performances include recitals at the Canon Chapel of the Emory University, Kopleff Hall at the GSU, Oglethorpe University Museum of Arts, Steinway Piano Gallery, Reinhardt University, Ufa State Institute of Arts, RU and Monmouth Conservatory, NJ, and Regensburg City Hall in GE. Raisa Isaacs was a member of the final round of the Pianovision Competitions (WPPC). She is on the faculty of the International Summer Academy in Germany and Italy. Raisa Isaacs moved to Boca Raton, FL in summer 2014 and currently teaches a course of Baroque Performance Practice at FAU and Broward College.
Her teaching achievements include the 1st prize winners of the Alpharetta Outstanding Performer competition, Piano Sonata Competition, Chopin Competition of the Chopin Society of Atlanta. She has 12 prize winners of the International competitions in France and USA (International American Protégé Talent and Romantic category and Talent categories) who performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York, NY; her students are winners of the categories The Best Rachmaninoff and The Best Chopin at the Great Composers Competition (UK), and Enkor International Competition. Besides, her student has won in The National Junior Beta Club, the Olympics Competition at GCSU; students are finalists of the 1st -3nd Pianovision Competitions, and in The International Piano Amateur Competition (Colorado). Her students are The Summer Camp Scholarship Winners at NFMC and winners of the Georgia Governor’s Honor Program (Georgia Department of Education).
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s not easy to switch from the European training that included Theory, Music Literature and other subjects besides Performance. However, fortunately, The Carnegie Hall has recently (2012) established The Royal Conservatory Program as the National Standard for Pre-College, including Adults (levels from the beginners to the level of Diploma) that requires to pursue the piano training in the set of all other necessary courses (theory, music history, ear training, and technical requirements). I am among of the founding teachers of this program in the USA and happy to offer it to all students (juniors and adults) who are oriented to receive the best musical training in the US.
Please tell us about YourPianoTeacher.
High professionalism in the preparation of the pianists is my goal. We never know if a student decides to become a professional performer, so it is very important for me to give the best piano performance fundamentals right at the beginning of their piano studies in order to avoid, most likely, almost non-fixable hand-body position, technical and other aspects of the piano performance for their best future.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Vacation with my parents in Crimea on the Black Sea. I am an avid swimmer and like the big salty water.
Pricing:
- 30 min- $30
- Online Skype lessons discount – $25 for 30 min.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yourpianoteacher.com; www.facebook.com/Dr.IsaacsPiano/
- Phone: 770-650-9139
- Email: risaacsmusic@yourpianoteacher.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Dr.IsaacsPiano/
- Other: https://www.thezoen.com/teachers/raisa-isaacs-keyboard-music-theory-and-piano; https://www.thumbtack.com/ga/atlanta/piano-lessons/piano-lessons-your-piano-teacher;
Image Credit:
Dr. Raisa Isaacs, Ryan Rao, Nina Yang, Debora Brown
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
