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UK Music Teachers

Igor Yakovenko

Igor Yakovenko

Pricing
45

London E3 2NF, UK
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Instruments and Services

Piano Lessons | Theory Lessons, Jazz Improvisation Lessons, Online Lessons

Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Music Education, Maimonides Academy; Historical and Modern Instrumental Performance, Moscow Conservatory

Styles
Classical, Jazz, Contemporary, Improvisation

Suitability
Children aged 7+, teenagers and adults — from complete beginners to advanced players.

Bio

Igor Yakovenko (Iakovenko)
Igor Yakovenko is a professional pianist, composer and experienced piano teacher with a background spanning classical music, jazz, improvisation and contemporary music.

He studied Historical and Modern Instrumental Performance at the Moscow Conservatory and later completed his Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Music Education at Maimonides Academy, where he studied improvisation under renowned jazz pianist and educator Igor Bril.

Combining a strong classical foundation with extensive experience in jazz and improvisation, Igor helps students not only develop technique and learn repertoire, but also understand how music works, developing musicality, harmonic thinking, aural skills and confidence at the instrument.

Alongside teaching, Igor maintains an active career as a pianist and composer. He has released numerous albums, written the opera “Guilty” for the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre, and performed at major concert halls and contemporary art venues. He was also selected for the Snape Maltings residency in the UK.

This professional experience shapes his approach to teaching: lessons are grounded in strong technique while encouraging curiosity, creativity and an individual relationship with music.

Teaching Info

What to expect from my lessons:
Every student comes to the piano with different interests, experience and goals, so I tailor each lesson individually. My approach combines a strong classical foundation with the freedom of jazz, improvisation and contemporary music.

Alongside technique and repertoire, we can work on sight-reading, ear training, harmony, rhythm, improvisation and music theory, helping you understand music rather than simply learn which notes to play.

For Beginners and Children:
I focus on building strong fundamentals from the beginning: posture and technique, rhythm, listening, reading music and developing a natural feel for the instrument. Repertoire is chosen around each student’s age, interests and progress, keeping lessons engaging while establishing a solid musical foundation.

For Adult Students:
Whether you are starting from scratch, returning to the piano after a long break or already play confidently, lessons can be shaped around what you want to achieve. We can explore classical repertoire, jazz, contemporary music, improvisation, harmony or simply work towards playing the music you love with greater freedom and confidence.

For Advanced Students:
For experienced pianists and musicians, lessons can focus on interpretation, advanced technique, jazz harmony, improvisation, composition and developing an individual musical voice.


Location & Equipment:
Lessons are available at my home studio in Bow / Mile End (E3), equipped with a Nord Stage 2 88 with fully weighted hammer-action keys.

I can also travel to students in nearby areas of East London, including Bow, Mile End, Stratford and Canary Wharf. Online lessons are also available.

Igor helped me understand how music actually works. I discovered that composition isn’t a world of random choices, but a system with its own logic and structure. The lessons were clear, focused and thoughtfully organised — exactly what I had been looking for. I especially loved discovering how every note in a chord can be understood as an individual voice.
- Alya Minkova, 23
It was incredibly inspiring to get an insight into Igor’s creative process as a composer and experience his approach to making music. Sharing my own sketch with him and hearing him play it was especially meaningful and gave me so much confidence as someone just beginning to create my own music. The lessons were very clear and well structured, and I know I’ll keep coming back to the materials whenever I need new ideas and inspiration. Thank you, Igor!
- Darya Retinskaya, 30
I had always dreamed of learning how to compose music and truly understand how it works. Studying with Igor opened up the world of composition for me and completely changed the way I approach music. Through my lessons with Igor, I had written my first piece and was preparing my own concert. I’m incredibly grateful to Igor for helping me take my musical development to the next level.
- Semyon Klyuzhin, 35
After ten years away from the piano, Igor helped me find my way back into the world of classical music. We worked on Rachmaninoff and Brahms, and through our lessons I discovered new layers of meaning and expression in music I thought I already knew.
- Asya Yakunina, 31
I’ve been studying with Igor for almost ten years. Over that time, we’ve explored the improvisational approaches of musicians such as Bill Evans and Charlie Parker, worked on arranging well-known songs, and developed my understanding of jazz harmony and improvisation. We are currently working on Killing Me Softly. Igor has a remarkable ability to explain complex musical ideas clearly and to adapt each lesson to my interests and level. Even after all these years, I continue to discover something new in our lessons.
- Andrew Solovyov, 65
Igor Yakovenko

Contact Igor Yakovenko

London E3 2NF, UK
07344938863

https://www.igoryakovenko.org/

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