Irina Gorin

Piano Studio Director

Mrs. Irina Gorin has a far-reaching impact on music in the State of Indiana! Every year, her piano students win prizes in local, state, national, and international competitions, including fifteen prizes at the 2004-2006 World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Graduating from music college in 1983, and the Conservatory of Kharkov in 1989, she worked extensively as a teacher in children’s music school in the Ukraine, developing her own teaching method, before immigrating to the United States in 1993, and establishing herself as a private piano teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mrs. Gorin currently has 30 students of her own and 40 that are taught by her faculty of advanced students, graduates, and professional piano teachers. She also offers group theory classes for all ages, teaching lessons, and master classes for advanced students. Former students are currently pursuing majors in Performance and Pedagogy at Butler University, Ohio University, Hillsdale, and Pensacola University.

She currently teaches from her Carmel, Indiana home, where she utilizes a classroom that is well equipped for private lessons, group lessons, and sound recording. Just off of this room, she maintains a waiting room for her students’ parents and siblings, where they can relax, read books and magazines, or watch television.

With her sister, Ada Shebanova, and colleague, Nadya Dubikovsky , she has written a theory book for use in teaching all levels, and has started to work on a piano method book of her own.

Mrs. Gorin holds Masters Degrees in Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, Music Theory, Music History, and Accompaniment.

Natalia Sokolova

Piano Teacher

Natalia Sokolova is an award-winning teacher with 30 years of experience. She started her teaching career after graduation with an associate degree in fortepiano from the Kharkov Music & Theatre College in 1974. While working, she went on to receive her Masters Degree from the National Conservatory in Kharkov and continued teaching in the Professional School of Music for 20 years before coming to the United States.

Her extensive knowledge and experience allow her to connect with students on many levels and lead them to develop to the best of their abilities. Natalia’s students have taken awards from local and international competitions and many have chosen a career in piano teaching.

Anjali R.
2004 graduate. Butler University, Piano Performance

I started taking piano lessons when I was about five years old. Although I enjoyed playing, I didn't take music very seriously until I got to high school. When I was about 14, I started taking lessons with Mrs.Gorin. Mrs. Gorin inspired me through her love of music and her excellent teaching. Over the next four years she helped me grow in my own playing abilities and also coached me as I learned to teach beginning students. By my senior year I was considering pursuing further education in music.

Right now I am a freshman at Butler University with a major in piano performance. On the side, I enjoy teaching four beginning piano students. I am thankful for all that Mrs. Gorin has done to prepare me for where I am today.

Annie W.

I am fourteen years old and I have been playing for six years. This is my first year with Mrs. Gorin. The piano was my first instrument, but I have also been playing the saxophone since I was twelve. I enjoy all types of music, but my favorite is Romantic.

Aside from playing piano, I also teach. I love music because it’s so expressive and one of my favorite forms of art. Mrs. Gorin has taught me about the depth of music; I got a much better grasp of it after I took and gave lessons.

The first contest I’ve won this year is CYO. Although I recently moved here from Ohio, I feel as though I’ve improved a lot through Mrs. Gorin’s teaching and guidance. Besides piano, I also like drawing, movies, tennis, literature, and computer design. Piano has broadened my understanding of music and is something I truly enjoy.

  Grieg. Poetic Tone Picture

Antigone F.

2006 graduate. Purdue University, Science

I am a seventeen year old home schooled junior from Carmel. I have studied piano for about 10 years with Mrs. Gorin. My favorite music to play is from the Romantic period. I also enjoy contemporary music. I have participated in various piano competitions such as the Matinee Musicale, National Guild auditions, CYO, and Hoosier Auditions. A few of the competitions I have won include the Matinee Musicale, and as a winner of Hoosier Auditions I went to the state level at Ball State University.

In addition to playing, I also participate in a theory class taught by Mrs. Gorin. It has been very useful in my piano study. I also take Mrs. Gorin’s Piano Pedagogy class (a class where we learn how to teach piano ourselves). I now have five students who are young beginners. It has been fun to help young children catch my love of music. It has also been helpful for me in my personal playing, because it helps me catch and know how to fix my own errors quicker and easier than I used to be able to do.

Although I do not plan to major in piano or to go a music college, I have really enjoyed the experience of piano playing and teaching, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

  Chopin. Nocturne C# minor

Carly M.

Our daughter, Carly, has been blessed to be a student of Mrs.Gorin for five years. We have been impressed with Irina's professionalism, concern and calm demeanor. She expects the best from her pupils and encourages them with gentle discipline. Carly is now quite an accomplished pianist-- performing at competitions, accompanying other musicians and even teaching her own beginning student. We are glad Irina has nutured the gift of music in our child.

Jason J.

Jason J. is a 14 year old freshman at Carmel High School. He has been taking piano lessons for six years now. Jason likes music very much and it inspires him greatly. He has won many different competitions, including CYO, ISSMA, Midwest, the Hoosier Auditions, and the NCMTA competitions. Last year, he also won third place at the World Piano Competition. He is hoping to further his music study with Mrs. Gorin, and aspires to continue learning throughout his life.
This school year Jason started teaching young beginners. He has 5 students. He learns a lot through teaching and enjoys it very much.

  Khachaturyan. Toccata

Sylvia Y.

My name is Sylvia Y. and I am a sophomore at Carmel High School. I have taken piano lessons for 11 years. I have been taking lessons from Mrs. Irina Gorin for the past five years, and she has taught me so much about piano and music in general. I have competed in various piano competitions such as Carmel Arts Council, Indiana State Fair, CYO and the Midwest Conservatory Piano Competition. I have also participated in ISSMA for piano and received First at the State level.

  Brahms. Ballade, op.118.# 3

Studio graduates

Jami S.

2006 graduate. Hillsdale University. Piano Performance, English

Antigone F.

2006 graduate. Purdue University, Science

I have studied piano for about 10 years with Mrs. Gorin. My favorite music to play is from the Romantic period. I also enjoy contemporary music. I have participated in various piano competitions such as the Matinee Musicale, National Guild auditions, CYO, and Hoosier Auditions. A few of the competitions I have won include the Matinee Musicale, and as a winner of Hoosier Auditions I went to the state level at Ball State University.

In addition to playing, I had also participated in a theory class taught by Mrs. Gorin. It had been very useful in my piano study. I also took Mrs. Gorin’s Piano Pedagogy class (a class where we learn how to teach piano ourselves). I now have nine students who are young beginners. It has been fun to help young children catch my love of music. It has also been helpful for me in my personal playing, because it helps me catch and know how to fix my own errors quicker and easier than I used to be able to do.

Although I do not major in piano , I have really enjoyed the experience of piano playing and teaching, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

  Chopin. Nocturne C# minor

Nirmala R.
2005 graduate. Butler University, Piano Pedagogy

For the past 4 years I have had the privilege of taking piano lessons from Irina Gorin, and have gone from thinking of piano as a mere hobby to seeing it as my future career. Through her private piano lessons, she has truly opened up the world of music to me. Although I had already studied piano with various teachers for 10 years, when I started with Mrs. Gorin I began to see music as much more than notes and rhythms. She worked with me to develop technique skills, artistic expression, and an understanding of music theory. I also discovered the joy of teaching through her apprenticeship training program for advanced students. Through this program, I learned far more by watching an expert at work than I could have learned in years of teaching on my own. As Mrs. Gorin saw my growing interest and talent in teaching, she began to encourage me toward my present goal of studying piano pedagogy at Butler University. As one who came from a nonmusical family, I can testify that this never would have come about without the influence of Irina Gorin, who was not only my piano teacher, but also a very special mentor in my life.

  Chopin. Nocturne E Minor

Eriko S.
2005 graduate. Butler University, Piano Performance

My name is Eriko Sese. I am majoring in Pharmacy and Piano at Butler University since the fall of 2005. Mrs. Gorin has taught me so much over the past years and has helped me to develop a sense of what music is to me. She has influenced and encouraged me to continue learning throughout my life. Music will always be a part of my life, and I plan on excelling further in piano. I have been participating in various competitions over the past few years including: CYO, the Carmel Arts Council, Matinee Musicale, IMTA, the Hoosier Competition, World Piano Competition, MTNA, and ISSMA. I have won CYO, Carmel Arts Council, Matinne Musicale, IMTA, and World Piano Competition.

  Khachaturyan. Toccata

Christen S.
2005 graduate. Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Nursing

Christen’s musical focus has been her gift and love for piano. From an early age there was an obvious talent, which Christen has developed through disciplined practice as well as outstanding training. Lessons became a part of her life at age 7 and she has been associated for the past ten years with one of the finest of teachers, Irina Gorin. Through this association, Christen has begun her own piano instruction and currently teaches eight students on a weekly basis as well as three beginning theory classes, training over thirty students on a monthly basis. Her favorite composers are Grieg, Debussy, and Chopin and she enjoys playing music from the Romantic and Contemporary periods.

Christen has won several competitions highlighted by an award of a full scholarship to a week long Butler Piano Camp and second place in level 10 in the Young Artist World Piano Competition giving her the privilege of playing in Carnegie Hall this October. Christen also studies music theory and pedagogy as a part of pursuing her passion for music.

  Grieg. Wedding Day

Tanya A.
2005 graduate. Pensacola Christian College, Piano Pegagogy

Born in Russia on August 21 st, 1985. I came to America in 1998 and have been here for 7 years. I started taking piano lessons when I was 14 years old. I have been taking piano lessons for four and a half years and I like themvery much. I am amazed at the talent that God gave me of playing the piano and that Mrs. Gorin was able to show me that I have it and develop it in me. In my spare time I like to hang out with my friends, read books, cross-stitch and do scrap-booking.

  Bach. Prelude in D

Anjali R.
2004 graduate. Butler University, Piano Performance

I started taking piano lessons when I was about five years old. Although I enjoyed playing, I didn't take music very seriously until I got to high school. When I was about 14, I started taking lessons with Mrs.Gorin. Mrs. Gorin inspired me through her love of music and her excellent teaching. Over the next four years she helped my playing abilities to grow and also coached me as I learned to teach beginning students. By my senior year I was considering pursuing further education in music.

Right now I am currently a freshman at Butler University with a major in piano performance. On the side, I enjoy teaching four beginning piano students. I am thankful for everything that Mrs. Gorin has done to prepare me for where I am today.