Today we’d like to introduce you to Yelena Gridneva.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Yelena. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I came to the USA in 1993 on the refugee visa. I spoke two words in English – Hi and Bye. Since 1996 I have lived in Boston Area. Back in my native Russia I graduated from Conservatory and a Musicologist. Here in MA I worked in several churches as a music director. I also worked in St. Mary’s school as a music teacher for 14 years.
When I started teaching here, I realized that I need to learn American methods, so I studied Kodaly methodology (I am a certified Kodaly teacher), as well as in Dalcroze and Orf methods. I also started to compose musical plays, choral octavos and piano music for children.
My piano studio started many years ago at my living room. I taught back then just 5-6 little kids. Now it’s a pretty large studio in Brookline Village. I started the Sing for Joy Vocal Ensemble about 3 years ago. Right now it is a small (about 30 members) group, However we have lots of fun and do big things, like performing for the elderly or participating in a choral festival. Right now we are working on two musical plays I have written, one in English, and the other in my native Russian.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the challenges is that as a teacher and music director, I have to constantly upgrade my way of teaching. I constantly take classes, compose music and look for anything new and exciting. Since Brookline offers a lot of opportunities for children to sing, as well as to participate in all kinds of activities, it is not easy to find clients.
Please tell us about Sing for Joy Vocal Ensemble and Yelena’s Piano Studio.
My business offers a comprehensive approach to learning music. We tackle it from different angles. We learn music by singing, dancing, playing xylophones, drums, and piano. Since most of the Sing for Joy students take piano lessons from me, they apply what they learn in the singing class to playing the piano.
I believe that my students play extra musically because they have experienced it by their ear, mind, spirit and body. At Sing for Joy, there are English speaking and Russian speaking groups. I think that right now Sing for Joy is the only business in Brookline that provides children with the opportunity to sing in Russian. I take time to explain the words and expressions that bilingual kids may not understand.
I try to find a personalized approach to all the students. I work in the close contact with the families.
Contact Info:
- Address: 33A Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445
- Website: www.brooklinesings.com
- Phone: 6175388935
- Email: ygridneva@hotmail.com
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