TEACHING · BERLIN AND BEYOND
Music as
self-discovery
Working privately with professional pianists, chamber musicians, and instrumentalists – and with dedicated amateurs of advanced level. In Berlin and online. Lessons shaped around the individual rather than a fixed method.
THE APPROACH
Building people,
not just pianists
Music, for me, is more than a profession. Beyond career and stage, it is a way to come into a deeper awareness of oneself – physically, emotionally, and mentally. This holds true for everyone who sits at the piano, regardless of their aims: the professional preparing for a concert, the student facing an exam, the chamber musician searching for ensemble balance, the dedicated amateur playing for the love of it. Each meets the music – and me – as an equal.
Before the musical development comes the human development. My role is to accompany each person on that path – to help find their own strengths, to identify what is still missing, and to offer clear, practical ways forward.
“My role is not only to build pianists. It is also to help individuals discover themselves through music – to bring them into a relationship with the composer that meets on equal ground. The pianist is not a vessel for the work. The pianist is a co-creator, an interpreter with their own voice.”
— ZHORA SARGSYAN
WHO’S IT FOR
Exploring together
A single lesson can become a long mentorship; a student becomes a colleague.
01
Students and emerging professionals
Students and young pianists at the start of their professional path – preparing for exams, concerts, recordings, or competitions, and seeking an experienced ear, a second opinion, or extended guidance over time.
02
Chamber musicians and instrumentalists
Pianists in ensembles, string and wind players seeking interpretive insight from a pianist’s perspective – on phrasing, structure, ensemble balance, and the inner architecture of the work.
03
Dedicated amateurs
Advanced enthusiasts who are deeply drawn to music and wish to discover, through playing, a fascinating new dimension of their lives – often finding, in that engagement, a deeper sense of themselves.
TESTIMONIALS
What the
former students say
“As a teacher, he convinces through his exceptional ability to convey. With great imagination he opens new perspectives on music and motivates one to engage intensively with sound, structure, and expression. He demands attentive listening, independent thinking, and creative work.”
— HAMLET AMBARTSUMIAN
Concert Pianist · Berlin University of the Arts
“I am incredibly grateful for the inspiring hours with Zhora. Not only has my understanding of sound and harmony been enormously expanded, but my entire musical way of thinking has been lastingly enriched. His manifold perspectives in particular — such as the orchestral approach to piano playing — have opened completely new ways into interpretation for me and have shaped me deeply as an artist.”
— MANDY LEIST
Long-time piano student
“Zhora is a passionate pianist, and also an inspiring and humorous teacher. His calm way creates a stress-free and open atmosphere. There is one goal: to make good progress with an eye on both — the detail and the overall picture.“
— QIANCHU GUO
Concert Pianist · Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
WHAT’S OFFERED
Forms of work
Every working relationship begins with a single lesson – to understand each other, to see if there is mutual ground. Most who arrive once tend to stay.
01
Single lessons
for fresh perspective on a specific piece or problem
02
Online lessons
for students who cannot travel to Berlin
03
Weekend intensives
for concentrated work
04
Exam & Competition Preparation
including stage psychology and programme building
05
Chamber music coaching
for duos, trios, quartets, and quintets
06
Ongoing private
lessons
for those building a long-term mentoring relationships
*Fees are discussed individually upon inquiry, depending on format and frequency.
EACH SUMMER · KASSEL · GERMANY
Harleshäuser Musikfest – Kasseler Meisterkurse
For those seeking a more concentrated experience within an international class, Zhora teaches piano each summer at the Kasseler Meisterkurse – the renowned masterclass series of the Harleshäuser Musikfest in Kassel, the documenta city.
Held alongside string, wind, and voice classes led by faculty from German conservatories and major orchestras, the masterclass offers five 45-minute individual sessions, observer access to all classes, and daily practice rooms. Participants bring their own repertoire of choice – and for those interested, there is the rare opportunity to perform a solo work with a small chamber orchestra in the closing concerts (Baroque and Classical repertoire).
2026 Dates
Application deadline
15 JUNE 2026
23 JULY – 1 AUGUST
Fees
· €420 REGULAR
· €380 STUDENTS
· €20/day PASSIVE PARTICIPATION
Application notes:
HANDLED DIRECTLY BY THE FESTIVAL
INQUIRIES