About Mrs. Gorin

Rufina Gorin, MA, NCTM, Pianist/Music Educator

Teaching Experience

Founder/Musical Director, Piano teacher at "The Gorin School of Music" (GSM) 1991-Present The GSM is accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Community School of Music and Arts, Mountain View, California (1987-1991)
Piano teacher at Agora Hill Music Conservatory, Agora Hill, California (1983-1987)
Music instructor at Junior Music Academy, Thousand Oaks, California (1981-1984)
Piano Teacher at private piano studio, Thousand Oaks, California (1981-1987)
Faculty member, Music-Pedagogical College, Kiev, Ukraine 1973-1978
Piano Faculty Chair and Piano Teacher, Special Children Music School, Kiev, Ukraine 1968-1978
School was specializing in training professional musicians. The piano faculty Chair responsibilities were to organize pedagogical training of the faculty, planning the various events throughout the years including evaluations, recitals, and competitions. Accompanist for Ballet Classes in collaboration with ballet dancers from Kiev Ballet Theatre, Ukraine (1968-1977)
44 years experience of teaching classical piano levels beginners through advanced
Numerous students won state, regional and international competitions
Students participated in the California and National Music Certificate Program with honors
Prepared students for competitions and recitals
Incorporated ear-training and theory in lessons
Taught group lessons for both music and non-music majors

Education

B.A. from Kiev Music College in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy (1965-1968);
M.A. from Gogol's Conservatory, Nezin, Ukraine in Piano Performance and Choral Conducting (1971-1976), qualified to teach at grade school, high school and junior colleges.
Continuation in self education: many seminars and training sessions from leading specialists in the field of music education, such as Frances Clark, Richard Chronister, David Krohenbule, Laurette Goldberg, Dorothy Taubman, Robert Page, Seymour Bernstein, Angela Hewitt, John O'Conor, and others. She maintains close ties to the music life of Moscow State Conservatory by attending its master classes, concerts and Tchaikovsky competitions (1978-present).

Teachers

Dr. Samuel Gindin, Dr. Alexandra Ostrovskay, Dr. Lydia Sure, Kiev, Ukraine who has being students and followers of the leading pedagogy methods of T. Leschetizky, A. Schnabel, and G. Neigauz.

Selected Student Accomplishments

Prize winners for number of years, US Open Music International Competition, Oakland, California;
Prize winners, Junior Bach Festivals, Berkley, California;
Prizes winners (more than a dozen, age 5-18), "Sound of Music Festivals", Palo Alto, California, and many other local competitions;
Numerous students passed the California Certificate of Merit Program levels Prime to Advanced, and were chosen to perform at the annual Music Teacher's Association Conventions and participate in the Master Class programs at the Conventions; participated in the National Guild Piano Auditions with a high score of achievements throughout years of study.

Professional Activities

Faculty member of American College of Musicians, Austin, Texas (1987-Present)
Evaluator for Certificate of Merit Exams, MTAC (1990-Present)
Adjudicator for National Guild of Piano Auditions (1990-Present)
Adjudicator for United States Open Music Competition, Oakland, California (1995-1997)
Member of Music Teachers' Association California, MTAC (1979-Present)
Member, Music Teacher's National Association, MTNA (1987-Present)
Serving on the Board and becoming President of Palo Alto Branch of MTAC (1987-1995)
Serving on the Board of MTAC and becoming MTAC Vice President (1995-2002)
MTAC Program Convention Chair (1999)
Young Artist Solo/Ensembles Competition Chair, MTNA (CAPMT)