Testimonials | Arabesque Conservatory of Music

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Talented and a wonderful teacher, Val is a breathe of fresh air. He know how to work with students at all different levels and ages, and shows an exceptional balance of bringing both fun and seriousness into learning the piano. He has so much knowledge and is very professional. We are delighted to be working with him!

Jina P.

Valery is the absolute best! For the first time in my life I actually feel like I'm getting closer to reaching my goals and learning how to play. After each lesson, I always feel more confident. He caters his lessons to each student based on what they hope to achieve by learning the piano which I think makes each lesson so exciting because it very much motivates you to practice.

Mariah M.

V is a very passinate musician who is very true to his art and work. He loves music and has a dedication to share it with other people. He is a very nice and patient guy to work with and always trying new ways to help his students with a better approach if they can not figure out the right technique at first.

Angel N.

Val is awesome! He's a very good teacher and patient. I'm a music producer yet have never had formal piano instruction. He's great because he challenges me and backs off when I'm just not getting it and goes a little slower with me. Very professional and kind gent!

Angela L.

My wife started taking lessons with Val and it was so inspiring, vibrant and accessible that my daughter and I started lessons after the first day. We have had other teachers but Val is unique - he can speak and teach to any skill level and age and keep it about the music and techniques that keep you interested and inspired. We can't recommend him highly enough - it's our most exciting day of the week.

Johnny J.

Val is very good with kids and is very patient and kind. After only one month my 8 year old is excelling and my 7 year old is continually getting better. Below is what they have to say about him. "Val is a very good teach because he helps us rise to the top" - 7 year old. "He helps us with the notes and different fingering so we can learn how to play piano better." - 8 year old.

Nicole H.

I came to Val in search of a piano teacher and mentor and he has so far exceeded those expectations! From day 1 he helped me figure out what areas I needed strengthening and has given me exercises that I can work on as well as clear outcomes for each week. Just after a few weeks of lessons with him, I've noticed big improvements in my playing as well as felt more confident!

Amelia F.

In this day and age with the infinite number of resources on the internet to learn music, private lessons better be well worth your time and money, and let me tell you, Val's lessons are indeed well worth it. From the get go, Val was able to pick up on what musical knowledge I had already and where my strengths and weaknesses lie. Every lesson is truly tailored to me.

Brittany T.

We are so thankful we found Valery! My son took a sudden interest in playing our piano and because he is only 5 years old, I knew I had to do some quick and thorough research for an instructor who could successfully teach a student so young. After reading countless positive reviews, we didn't hesitate to take a chance on him and we are more than thrilled that we did!

Anna T.

As a musician and music educator myself, I was very particular when it came to finding a piano teacher for my 9-year-old daughter. Valery has exceeded my expectations. He is the perfect combination of being kind and patient as well as being strict and setting high expectations. Valery is also keen to see my daughter's individual strengths and help inspire her to develop them.

Annie L.

I went to Val in hopes of learning the piano in my 20s. I've never played an instrument before but I wanted to give it a try. Val asked what my goals were which truly helped him design lessons for me. He broke everything down in ways I could understand and has turned my hesitation into confidence that with practice I can take this skill wherever I want it to go! 100% recommend taking lessons with him at ANY age!

Angel P.

Thank you for always inspiring my daughter to stay motivated and work hard on her piano regiment. She often walks out of lessons feeling good bc she gets the adequate amount of reinforcement from you. I am not always patient with her so you add a good balance.

- Shanon T.

Before learning from Valery, I had already taken some piano lessons. In my experience he is one of the best instructors who I've had. He is not only talented but very courteous and listens to what you want to get out of his class. Not to mention his awesome education and credibility. He's not just a great teacher but an inspirational artist!

- Kristine C.

If you want the best piano teacher I would recommend Valery Goldes to everyone that wants to learn playing the piano, beginner or advance. After my 12 year old took Piano lessons with different teachers and was discouraged by their ways of teaching she wanted to quit playing the piano. After my wife and I decided to give it another chance and find her another teacher in NY. We asked Valery if he can give my kid a few lessons. It was a different experience. My kid became more enthusiastic about playing the piano. I think Valery gave her the motivation and the foundation for playing the piano. We are wishing Valery the best in LA.

- Ehud N.

I have been working with Val for weeks now and I am very happy with his teaching methods. I learned piano at a young age and didn't play for 10 years. So he is very patient in 'teaching an old dog new tricks' as well as teaching his professional methods from his extensive education and time in the music industry.

He is also very honest and straight forward in his method, which helps the stubborn adult brain progress.

- Rachael D.

Val is the best piano teacher I’ve ever had. He’s very talented in both piano and composition, and he has the gift to keep his student always inspired and motivated. I’m always amazed and impressed when he’s demonstrating a piece in class every time, and the music speaks for itself. He definitely have high expectations for his students and I’ve been making progress ever since I started taking class with him. I’m really lucky to have him as my piano mentor. I love his passion for music and I enjoy learning from him so much

- Shuman Z.

Our girls have been taking lessons from Val for the last two years. Val has been effective at encouraging the girls to practice and improve steadily. We think part of the reason he is so effective is that he sets challenging yet achievable goals. We highly recommend him Wholeheartedly and are very appreciative of his efforts

- Yerusalem L.

Loving my lessons so far!

Valery is an awesome patient teacher. He explains everything very thoroughly and gives great tools and tips to practice at home. 10/10!

- Amy E.

I'm a business owner and I have no time to practice or have any hobbies. When I came to Val I asked if he could accommodate my busy schedule and have a curriculum for me that works with my busy work schedule. I enjoy playing and Val customizes his lessons to a point where even if I don't practice a lot I still make good progress.

- Pink M.

Val is an amazing and passionate musician and his enthusiasm for playing is contagious and very inspiring. I got referred to him by my friend. He has been teaching her 7 year old daughter. He is really great with kids extremely patient and his methods are very educational and really fun at the same time. He has very unique approach and makes it fun at the same time. My friends daughter absolutely loves these piano lessons. I decided to try myself and it has been going great so far.

- Katarzyna K.

Our son David is 6 year old. He is doing a number of different activities and it isn't at all easy to get him to focus during an hour. Valery is so gentle and conveys so much peace that he manages to have David's undivided attention and focus during a full hour. Our son actually asks for more and looks forward to the next class. He is making tremendous progress and Valery helps David develop his gift for music. Valery's life is music and he is fully dedicated to sharing his passion. He is totally driven and hard working to achieve his goals and applies the same determination to see his students succeed. While he was a prodigy child playing with a Philharmonic at age 13, Valery is very humble and discreet, We have been so thrilled with the classes that both my wife and I decided to start learning with Valery too. The pace is pretty fast and Valery challenges me at every class to push my limits and progress significantly every time. We are blessed Valery touched our lives. We can only healthfully recommend him as a great music teacher and human being.

- Marco B.