Private Piano Lessons
— even if it's above your level.
That's the best motivation there is. I'm Zeynep — a conservatory-trained pianist teaching from my studio in Kadikoy, Istanbul, and online via Zoom. You bring the song, I'll bring the rest.
How I Teach
rules later.
Yes, finger exercises and scales matter — but they're tools, not the destination. I won't open Hanon on day one and say "play this." I want to understand what you hear, what moves you. Technique exists to serve that.
Everyone's ear is different. Some students read notes visually, others learn by listening. Some pick up rhythm instantly, others need to feel it in their body first. None of that is a problem — it's what shapes your lessons.
We might work on Chopin one week and Sezen Aksu the next. One student started with the Amelie soundtrack, another with Debussy, another wanted to learn Turkish makam scales. What matters is that the music means something to you.
"In our first lesson, I won't hand you a scale book. Play me something — anything, even if it's wrong, even if it's half-finished. Let me hear your music, and we'll figure out the path together."
— Zeynep
What We Cover
Who Comes to These Lessons?
You're 35, you've wanted to play since you were a kid, and you think it's too late. It's not. My oldest beginner student started at 52 — she's now playing Yann Tiersen. By the end of your first lesson, you'll play a melody. I promise.
You don't need to read music. We'll learn that together.
You took lessons as a child, or taught yourself a few songs, and then life happened. Now your fingers remember something but you keep tripping over the same passage — that frustrating spot that never gets better. That's exactly what we'll untangle. Usually takes a few lessons to break through.
You're preparing for a conservatory entrance exam, working through competition repertoire, or a Liszt etude has you hitting a wall. At this stage, we work with surgical precision — fingering transitions, pedaling, dynamics. Sometimes an entire lesson on a single passage, and it's worth every minute.
First Step
No commitment, no audition, no stress. We meet, we talk, we figure it out together.
20 minutes, free. You don't have to play anything — but if you want to, go ahead, even if it's chopsticks. I'll listen, get a sense of where you are, and we'll talk about what you want.
Free · 20 min · Zoom
After we talk, I'll put together a lesson plan. What piece we'll start with, what we're aiming for in the short term, where we're headed long-term — all at your speed. The plan is flexible; we adjust as we go.
Based on your interests and level
Every week, 45-60 minutes, just you and me. In-person if you're in Kadikoy, over Zoom if you're not. Each lesson builds on the last. If something didn't click, we go over it again — no rush.
45–60 min / week · In-person or Zoom
Don't wait until you feel "ready" — getting ready is what we do together. It starts with a 20-minute conversation. That's it.