ABOUT USLearn more about our fabulous faculty.

Hi! My name is Eli, and I look forward to guiding you on your musical journey! Mine began at three, when my parents bought me a twelve-key toy piano. Seeing my love for the keys, my grandma—an amateur pianist—gifted me her upright.

At six, I began lessons. For my first two years, I unwittingly learned entirely by ear, making it appear to my teacher that I was effortlessly reading music. I only discovered this gap when searching for a new teacher after we moved to Ukraine. Most teachers I met either wanted to restart me from scratch or not teach me at all. Just as I was ready to give up, I met internationally renowned concert pianist Martin Berkofsky knows as the “Benefit Concert Pianist.”

Martin’s unique career shaped how he taught me. He never restarted me as a beginner, but wove proper pianism and music theory into the pieces I loved, making it digestible without diluting its depth. My time with him taught me that teaching must adapt to the student—meeting them where they are while still guiding them forward. This “no size fits all” approach shapes my own teaching, ensuring every student develops a solid technical foundation while fostering a personal connection to the music.

When I’m not teaching, you can find me composing, giving concerts in nursing homes, reading about my favorite composer — J.S. Bach, learning a new skill, or just relaxing with my best friend and cat, Boots. I’m always happiest around a piano and love sharing that joy with others, whether it’s helping a student play their very first piece or diving into a favorite work together.