Ara Aghaz member of MTAC (Music Teachers Association of California) started playing piano when he was 5 years old. He is holding a bachelor’s degree in classical piano. 

 

Ara has given several recitals as a solo pianist, and has also taken part in many chamber music concerts. He has an opportunity to perform Prokofiev’s first piano concerto with orchestra after winning a piano competition when he was a university student. Ara has performed classical pieces -from renaissance to contemporary- at many places such as Rudaki Hall, Vahdat Hall, University of Art Hall and Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. He had performances In the bay area at Campbell Recital Hall, Faye Spanos Concert Hall, Christ Community Church, Our Savior's Lutheran Church. One of his notable performances was Goldberg Variations and duet for Piano & Cello sonata in G minor by J. S. Bach with the bay area cellist, Joanne de Mars at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette.  He has attended many master classes with world- renowned pianists, including Sergei Babayan, Emanuel Ax, Ann Schein, Leon Fleisher, etc.

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With more than 10 years of teaching experience, Ara truly enjoys working with students of different ages and levels. He has enough experience and credentials to teach all levels of Certificate of Merit (CM).

Ara believes that the key for making a student into a good musician is teaching them to love music. One important aspect of this is teaching the students to be a good listener. Ara strives to make his classes challenging, but at the same time he makes the students feel encouraged and have fun.

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When teaching piano, Ara aims to combine an understanding of music theory with performing beautiful music. When parents ask how to best prepare young students for band or chorus, Ara always recommends starting with piano lessons. Playing the piano opens the door to many other musical experiences and is a talent that can be enjoyed for the rest of one's life.