Welcome to my online piano studio! My name is Ana, I'm a musicologist, pianist, educator and composer.
Today, playing the piano brings me a lot of joy, and what I cherish the most is that in every moment of my life, I can express what I feel through music.
To be able to create music effortlessly on the spot is a fascinating human skill that should be developed and encouraged by all musicians. The road to achieving this kind of musical freedom is long but very rewarding.
My beginnings
Some of the most beautiful moments in my life were connected with music. From the first beginnings, when improvising on the piano was “my little secret” and every attempt brought a new, for me revolutionary discovery, to special moments on stage that I could share with other musicians. For me, the most precious moments are those in which I realise with amazement that I don’t know where the music comes from, but at the same time I know that I am the one who follows the melodies and leads the way forward.
I always knew that I wanted to dedicate myself fully to music, there was no doubt about that, but it was not easy to choose which road I should take. I loved singing (I sang in a choir for 10 years, with which I performed in many parts of the world), I enjoyed playing organ and piano immensely. I like to be curious and one of my biggest passions is thinking about music, analysing it and exploring different musical languages. I ask myself: “Why does this music captivate me?” and “What was composer’s intention, what was his thinking?”
The most rewarding aspect of my studies is the satisfaction of expressing my own musical thoughts and a deeper understanding of different musical cultures. I am attracted to different musical genres and languages, I enjoy listening to and playing not only classical music or jazz, but also the rich diversity of world music and pop songs.
My studies
This passion has led me to a ten-year study of musicology, which has opened up the world of music in various ways. It allowed me to try to understand and appreciate the greatest works of classical music. During my undergraduate studies in musicology, I also studied in parallel jazz piano at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet in Ljubljana. An in-depth study of music theory and history during my piano studies brought me a lot of freedom in my musical ventures.
My interest in music improvisation
Improvisation began to interest me very early in my life. At home we had the record from Keith Jarret: The Köln Concert. At that time I did not understand that it was improvised music, but it obviously seemed different to me. I was shocked by the power of the music, its emotional charge, and somehow I knew and felt that Jarrett had to play something that came out of himself.
His yells, his rumbling, his mumbling – all of this strengthened my suspicion that the pianist changed with the music. Infused with strong experience, I was determined to achieve what he was doing on my own. It seemed to me that improvisation should not be something that is unattainable, something that is difficult to achieve. Every day, in solitude, I explored the piano and tried out new combinations of sounds.
I can remember the joy of getting to play something of my own on the piano, but I also remember the impatience and frustration. At that time there were no teachers who would guide me in my search for self-expression, and so it was only after a systematic study of jazz improvisation at the conservatory that the world of improvisation slowly opened up to me.
However, I was not interested in jazz improvisation because jazz music would feel close to my own expression, but mainly because it offered a tangible opportunity to learn improvisation. My aim was simply to find a way to enjoy my piano playing without being tied to music written by others. I highlight my musical path because it has strongly influenced my motivation to explore other ways in which improvisational skills can be developed.
Today the situation has changed. Many researchers and music educators recognize the role of improvisation as an art form and as an incentive for self-expression and the development of creative thinking. It also stands out as a learning tool that develops general musical skills and deepens the understanding of musical concepts.
My research and educational work is focused on the use of music improvisation as a means to express oneself as well as a creative teaching tool.