Three years ago I came to take lessons with Irina Kulikova. I came to her after having already received a graduate degree in guitar, and Irina really helped me with insights into achieving an even deeper understanding and command. Her work with me was always nothing short of inspiring. When discussing teaching philosophies with her, I came to appreciate the depth of her insight into guitar instruction at any level, from beginner to professional. I would recommend Irina Kulikova and the Russian School of Music Irvine enthusiastically and without reservation.
Over the last several years, I have been studying the classical guitar with world-renowned, concert artist, Irina Kulikova. What an opportunity! Irina is an amazingly talented musician and inspiring teacher.. Whether you are an absolute novice or a musical prodigy, young or old, you will find this a great place to study your chosen musical instrument. It is a pleasure to highly recommend the Russian School of Music.
The great Argentinian novelist Ernésto Sábato, as well as the equally great English philosopher Bertrand Russell, indicated that a great teacher is one that inspires the students to work and, above all, convince them that they do not know; that there is a long road to travel. Irina Kulikova is that type of a teacher. Her musicality is conveyed to you and a road to achieve it. As her student, I have much work to do "and miles to go before I sleep" (Robert Frost).
Music does not says anything concrete, music only suggests, and Irina's playing suggest a cascade of emotions and images that leave you trembling. Lucky are her students as well as I.
Our students love us
Chris Blades
Dr. Arturo Jasso
We don't select students, choosing only the most talented. We accept everyone believing that every student is a gifted guitarist that just needs our support.
Practicing is an essential part of learning guitar and we work with our students helping to optimize their home practice routine, checking their progress daily, giving them assignments, watching their videos and texting practicing tips.
Our Values
Support
Why San Clemente students learn guitar with us?
Everyday we work hard to help our students make their dreams come true
We succesfully prepare our guitar students for Certificate of Merit, ABRSM; all sorts of auditions: school, scholarships; and to any level of competitions: State, National, International. We help Bachelor and Gradute students to master and prepare for entry and final exams.
We select a unique study plan for all our guitar students based on their strengths, talents and aspirations spending lots of extra time out side of the lessons helping our students to push their limits
Our Experience
Individual Approach
Learn ClASSICAL GUITAR in San Clemente with the best teachers
Guitar Lessons near me
We offer in person guitar lessons and online guitar lessons all over the world via Zoom or FaceTime. Russian School of Music Irvine provides a unique opportunity of studying with outstanding musicians, guitar teachers and concert artists. We conveniently located near John Wayne airport and offer private guitar lessons to highly motivated students of San Clemente, California. We teach and work with all ages and levels, from beginners to graduate degree musicians.
Guitar Lessons for kids
Adult Guitar Lessons
Guitar Lessons Online
Our private guitar classes designed for your children to encourage kids' interest in music from an early age and develop excellent technique which will affect their pace of learning and success in the future
Our adult cello classes are not very different from those for children because they are about you, the student, and our highly experienced faculty will work with you to achieve your goals whether you're doing it for self-enrichment, preparing for college or major International competitions
In response to COVID-19 we switched most of our music classes to online lessons and now teach guitar worldwide
Feliks Volozhanin is a Director of String Program at Russian School of Music Irvine, cellist and cello teacher. He loves and truly enjoys teaching having over twenty years of experience both in Russia and in the US. His teaching philosophy is to share what he learned from a great Russian cello school: superb technique and expressive musical interpretation.
Feliks' students have the highest succsess rate of auditioning to Irvine Honor Orchestra: 1/3rd of 2017 Irvine Elementary Honor Orchestra cello section are his students. His teaching philosophy is to nurture and forster students' creativity, passion, and love for music sharing what he learned from a great Russian cello school: superb technique and expressive musical interpretation. Feliks' students successfully compete at various competitions and are members of different orchestras including Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, All Southern California Elementary Honor and Irvine Honor Orchestras, and Orange County Youth Symphony.
Feliks began studying cello at the age of seven. At the age of twelve he became a laureate of Chelyabinsk State Youth Cello Competition and continued his studies at State Institute of Music in Moscow, Russia where he studied with esteemed cellists Kirill Rodin (Tchaikovsky Competition Gold Medalist and professor of Moscow State Conservatory). Since moving to the United States, Mr. Volozhanin has won first prizes in many contests including the Elizabeth Harper Vaughn, the Rapides Symphony and the SLU Concerto Competitions, studying at Southeastern Louisiana University with Karen Jung. Feliks was a teaching assistant of professor Bongshin Ko at Cal State Fullerton and also served as a principal cellist of Cal State Fullerton Symphony and Cal State Fullerton Cello Choir.
Mr. Volozhanin performs in a guitar/cello duo "Irina & Feliks" with Irina Kulikova. His recent engagements include concerts in Dallas, Austin, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and others. In 2020, Feliks recorded a world premiere of Three Night Ballads for guitar and cello and the piece will be featured on a new CD of Irina Kulikova, It's About a Touch. Volozhanin's performances have been broadcast on television in the United States as well as in Russia.
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A graduate of Yale University School of Music, Anton Smirnov began his piano studies at the age of seven in Novosibirsk, Russia. He has made more than 1,000 public performances world-wide at venues that include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fischer Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Upon his graduation from Novosibirsk Conservatory, he moved to the US and graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with an Artist Diploma in 2010.
Anton is a dedicated and gifted teacher: last year 3 of his students won auditions to the Carnegie Hall. Besides teaching piano, Mr. Smirnov enjoys teaching chamber groups and conducting string orchestras.
As a soloist, Anton is a prizewinner of several international piano competitions including the Moscow International Competition for Young Musicians, International Russian Music Piano Competition in San-Jose, CA, Oberlin Concerto Competition, Corpus Christi International Concerto Competition, Louisiana International Piano Competition, the NTD International Piano Competition in New York, and others. He has performed as a soloist with various orchestras including the Tomsk Philharmonic Orchestra, San Jose Symphony and the Oberlin Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Anton collaborated with the members of Quatuor Ebene; double bass players Edgar Meyer Eugene Levinson, violinists Simone Perter, Mark Kaplan and Grigory Sokolovsky, violist Barbara Westphal, and many others.
Anton has participated in many international music festivals including "International Program New Names", Cassalmaggiore International Music Festival, Banff International Master Classes, and Sarasota International Music Festival. Anton is a member of the collaborative faculty at The Heifetz International Music Institute. He participates in the "Heifetz on Tour" music series, performing chamber music with finest young string players. He has also performed in the master classes of John Perry, Marc Durand, Robert Levin, Hung Kuan Chen, M. Boguslavsky, M. Delli Ponti, Boris Berman, Menahem Pressler and many others.
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Irina Kulikova, Classical Guitar
Unanimously acclaimed for the rare beauty of her tone and her enchanting presence on stage, Irina Kulikova has established herself as one of today's world leading guitarists. She received over 30 awards for her artistry, including 1st prizes at the most prestigious international competitions, including Michele Pittaluga in Italy, Guitarra Alhambra in Spain, Forum Gitarre Wien in Austria and Iserlohn in Germany. Irina Kulikova graduated with distinction at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg (Austria), the Conservatoire of Maastricht (The Netherlands) and the Gnessin's Academy in Moscow (Russia).
She recorded four solo CD's, three of which are distributed worldwide by the Naxos label. She tours far afield, with appearances at leading festivals in Europe, North America and Asia and in concert halls such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, the Palau de la Musica in Valencia, the Musashino Hall in Tokyo and the Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai.
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Our Students
San Clemente Guitar Lessons FAQ
WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU TEACH?
We offer 30, 45, and 60 minute lessons in piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, clarinet, bassoon and theory.
WHAT IS A SCHEDULE?
We offer only private lessons and, therefore, the schedule is based on teacher's and students' availablity. We do our best to accomodate schedule requests. We offer classes on the week days, as well as on weekends.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE CLASSES?
When you learn music, you learn a combination of cognitive skills that will help to advance in math, writing and communication. These fundamental skills will allow students to excel in any path that they'll choose in their lives.
Learning music rewires the brain and teaches us to find discreet connections, make quick decisions and solve complex problems.
Our primary goal is to nurture and foster students' creativity empowering them to love, enjoy, and appreciate playing music once they grow into adults.
HOW EARLY CAN WE START TAKING LESSONS?
Almost every child is ready to take music lessons at 5 years of age. Some children show an interest in music even at a younger age. For these kids we recommend scheduling a consultation to decide whether it is a right time to start.
HOW OFTEN DO CHILDREN PERFORM?
We offer two student recitals per year. Besides playing at the recitals, we encourage and prepare our student to participate in various competitions, auditions, talent shows and home concerts.