Thomas Zhang – Princeton University
"We all know the stereotype: every Asian immigrant kid plays piano at some point in their childhood. And yes, I very much played into this formula. But passions can’t be formulated. I actually like playing piano. A lot. Even though I’ve always just been like - pretty okay at it. Mrs. Korkina, I’m so sorry for all those times when I came and played worse than I did the week before. But I wish I could keep doing that - coming back to your house. Your house was a safe haven. I’ll miss Sasha’s stinky feet crawling over mine. I’ll miss taking power naps in your waiting room. I’ll miss being your on-demand tech support. I’ll miss playing on your grand piano. Music is the greatest gift I could ever receive. It’s an escape from life’s problems. I think the most I had ever practiced was last winter break, when I was writing 5 college essays a day. It kept me sane. But music is
also a guidebook to life’s problems. For example, we have to take things slow now in order to succeed later. And we have to break our big problems into smaller, more manageable ones to practice. And you can’t just practice the fun parts of a piece: you should target your weakest points. Ms. Korkina, you’ve been a stronger guiding force than you know. I’ll truly miss having someone that can say “put your hand on my hand” and make everything sound a hundred times better."
Cici Yi – Harvard University
I started playing the piano at 3 years old, and like most kids, this wasn’t my choice. I attended a music kindergarten in Shanghai where every student was required to play an instrument, and my parents picked piano because “it’s the foundation of all instruments.” Slowly, as single notes turned into chords, and eventually a complete, harmonic melody, I fell in love with the calmness and joy that music brought me. Throughout elementary school, I practiced piano more rigorously. Each year, I took the Shanghai Conservatory of Music’s exam and competed in national and international piano competitions. Some of my highlight memories include winning the Gold Medal Australia-China Talent Competition Finals in 2016, performing with Richard Clayderman, and accompanying for a famous violinist. In seventh grade, I moved to NJ and met Ms.Korkina, where I found a more personal connection with piano and music. With more schoolwork and extremely rigorous commitment in ballet, I had less time for piano. But this didn’t diminish my passion for music. I’m so grateful to have Ms.Korkina as a mentor, and I admire her attention to the details, dynamics, and emotions of each piece. She’s taught me to imagine a story when playing a piece, and to especially focus on the dynamics. Over the past six years, I’ve become much more musical, and playing the piano is a way of relaxing rather than a “task” or “extracurricular activity.” Outside from playing the piano, Ms.Korkina is one of the most patient, kind, and understanding teacher I’ve ever met. She never fails to make my Friday evenings a calming night of music, and she always brings the most wonderful selection of pieces.
Andrew Ni - NYU
Your dedication and support have shaped me in ways far beyond limits of piano. In five years, you created me to love the stage - perform songs, not to play them; to embrace the crowds, not to fear them; and feel content, emboldened and powerful under the lights, not crippled. You have made me a better musician, but more importantly, you have planted in me a deep confidence that helped me cherish the most fulfilling activities. It’s that same performers spirit that carries me through orchestra, drives my love for public speaking, and pushes me father for athletic matches. You’ve taught me that what I perform matters and ought to be seen and heard. Few feelings are more gratifying. Thank you Ms.Korkina
Matthew Wang - Yale
Since studying with you for the past eleven years, I have grown so much as a person. You have always challenged me as a student and patiently believed in me, even despite the busy schedules that I had. The passion that Mrs.Korkina hold for the piano has had an infectious effect on my growth as a musician, to not just merely learn the notes for an upcoming exam or recital, but to understand the beauty behind each piece. I will definitely continue playing after I graduate from high school, and a huge part of that reason is because of how much I enjoyed our time together and working through years of repertoire. I cannot express how grateful I am for having you as a piano teacher for all this time... thank you for a wonderful journey!
Robert Zhang
I can never give or say enough thanks to Mrs. Korkina for the wonderful experiences we've had together over the past seven years. I remember as clear as if it happened yesterday the first time I walked up to Mrs. Korkina's front doorstep. It was the summer before I started sixth grade. I had just moved to Princeton from a town hours away, and I had yet to call this place home. I knew no one, and I was scared thinking about the prospect of being unwelcome in this strange new world of new people.
Before I even rang the doorbell, I could already hear the unmistakable sound of the piano pouring out of the house into my ears. I was stunned. Astounded. Bewitched. How could anyone play those 12 keys with such grace and seemingly effortless bravado? I could barely imagine myself playing my scales with any kind of fluency, much less playing anywhere near at that level. I felt totally inadequate to be learning under a teacher who taught such distinguished students.
But when Mrs. Korkina opened the door, her warm presence immediately made me feel welcome. With her standing close by my side, as I sat down on the piano bench to play, I felt completely free to explore my ideas and expand my boundaries. My fingers were clumsy, but my spirit towards music felt reinvented. Over the next seven years, my fingers were slowly unshackled from their physical chains, and my love for music only grew exponentially as I discovered new genres and new ways to express myself. From Mrs. Korkina, I've always found loving support towards my development as an artist, a never-ending patience to tailor my technique and aptitude, and a boundless, seemingly infinite passion for her craft.
From Bach to Beethoven to Brahms to the Lincoln Center to Gold Key to Trinity to the NJMTA, Mrs. Korkina has ushered in for me countless opportunities and once in a lifetime experiences, and I found myself guided to levels I could have never imagined was possible only years before. As I graduate to head off to college, I can only wish her all the best in continuing to nurture young students to become thriving, striving, passionate musicians.
Rosa Almira Aquino
Carl's mother
I have known Larissa Korkina for 20+ years. She started teaching our son Carl piano lessons from the age of 9 until he graduated high school. I loved the way she taught, she’s engaging, passionate. Larissa is a marvelous pianist, a topnotch teacher, mentor, coach and a friend. She thought deeply about Carl’s strengths and weaknesses, recognized his style of playing and unlocked the extent of his classical repertoire. Carl happily and proudly played great selections of Mendelssohn, Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff to mention few. With the many years of teaching experience, Larissa helped Carl develop his musicality, confidence and overall playing ability. Our son garnered scholarships and performed concertos with an orchestra. Carl during his undergraduate years broadened his musical interests and explored further studies in Film Scoring.
Larissa is motivating and encouraging and brought Carl to places otherwise he would have not gone. Carl is so privileged to study under the guiding tutelage of a well-respected musician, an acclaimed kind mentor who genuinely cares and has lots of love and interest for her students. We are profoundly indebted and grateful.
Shuwen Zhao
Raphael Zhao's mother
I met Larissa 7 years ago when my sons first began piano lessons with her. Her music struck me as incredibly beautiful and inspiring for children. She taught my sons many wonderful pieces that deepened their passion for music.
My oldest son, Raphael, started playing the tuba in his school band in 5th grade. By the summer before 7th grade, he aimed to audition for the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s Young Artist Debut Orchestra. Given the rarity of tuba teachers, I turned to Larissa to prepare him. Larissa promptly connected us with her colleague, Roger Prieto, a trumpet teacher. With their expert guidance, Raphael successfully auditioned for the Young Artist Debut Orchestra. This achievement boosted his confidence both academically and musically.
The following year, Larissa continued to mentor Raphael. She coached him on the Gregson Tuba Concerto, leading to several performances at Carnegie Hall. By the end of 7th grade, Raphael had been accepted into the Juilliard Music Advancement Program. His growing confidence was evident in both his musical pursuits and school life.
Raphael’s next goal was to audition for the Juilliard Precollege. With another year of training under Larissa's tutelage, he succeeded by the end of 8th grade. This accomplishment opened many doors for him, including attending summer camp at Boston University Tanglewood and starting high school at Choate Rosemary Hall. In his 9th-grade year, he even auditioned at Curtis as the youngest tuba player ever to do so.
Winnie Huang
Robert and Tomas Zhang's mother
I am forever grateful to Larissa for nurturing my sons' love for music and for guiding Raphael on his journey to Juilliard. Her influence has been truly transformative for our family. When we moved to Princeton in 2011, we were fortunate to be introduced to Ms. Korkina.
Before that, our older son, then 11 years old, had been studying with a very strict piano teacher for five years. He had grown weary and was struggling with whether to continue. However, Ms.Korkina reignited his interest in piano. Our younger son, then 5 years old, began taking lessons with her as well. Since then, both boys studied with her until they graduated from high school, achieving advanced certificates in piano performance from Trinity. The love of music that she instilled in them will undoubtedly stay with them throughout their lives.
Ms. Korkina is passionate about music and has never stopped performing in concerts over the years. She is patient, attentive to every detail, and always encouraging. Most importantly, she inspires a love of music in her students, which benefits them in the long run. As my son once said: "Ms. Korkina, you’ve been a stronger guiding force than you know. I’ll truly miss having someone who can say ‘put your hand on my hand’ and make everything sound a hundred times".