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About
I am a concert pianist and piano teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience, trained in Barcelona and Saint Petersburg. During my seven years teaching in San Diego, I worked with more than 200 students of different ages and levels, building a thriving private piano studio. I now offer private piano lessons for children, teens, and adults at my home studio in San Marcos.
My teaching combines strong technical foundations, music reading, musicianship, and repertoire with an approach tailored to each student. I work with complete beginners as well as advanced students, and I prepare students for ABRSM examinations when desired.
I am a Steinway Certified Teacher and hold advanced degrees in Piano, Chamber Music, Music Theory, and Music Education. Throughout my career, I have taught more than 200 students, from young beginners discovering the piano for the first time to advanced musicians pursuing serious musical study.
Students have the opportunity to perform in studio recitals in professional venues, while those who prefer to learn simply for their own enjoyment are equally welcome.
Lessons take place on a Yamaha C7 7’6” grand piano in my private San Marcos studio.
I believe that excellent teaching should be both rigorous and inspiring. My goal is to give every student the tools to become an independent musician while developing a genuine and lasting love for music.
Overview
Hired 33 times
Serves San Marcos, CA
Background checked
1 employee
14 years in business
Business hours
SunClosedMonClosed
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, Check, Venmo, and Zelle.
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2019
Services offered
Musical style
Classical
Work location
My customers travel to me
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and value.
Exceptional 5.0
15 reviews
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Read reviews that mention:
Aruna R.
Dec 17, 2017
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Hired on Thumbtack
Our 8-year old daughter, Sonia, had the privilege and pleasure of studying piano with Maria for the past six months. This was Sonia's first experience with learning a musical instrument. Maria inspired her to love playing the piano and Sonia looked forward to learning from her each week. Maria is an absolute professional. She has an excellent pedigree in terms of her own training and she is a professional concert pianist in addition to being an outstanding teacher. She inspires her students and is wonderful with children. My daughter was so excited to learn from Maria and Maria's enthusiasm for music and her students' progress clearly rubs off in a positive way on her students. Maria works hard to teach her students the fundamentals of piano but also encourages them to feel and enjoy the music on an emotional level. Maria is warm, patient, supportive, positive and very easily establishes a strong and lasting rapport with her students. Her excitement for the piano is infectious! Maria was present and on time for every single lesson and was very good about communicating with us throughout our time with her. We will miss her dearly when she moves to California in a few weeks, and both my daughter and I offer our highest recommendation of Maria. Her future students would be very lucky to learn from her.
Piano Lessons (for children or teenagers)
Noah M.
Jan 3, 2018
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Hired on Thumbtack
She understood my weaknesses as a musician and was able to teach in such a way so the focus was on strengthening those weaknesses. She also kept the repertoire fun and fresh and was understanding and flexible when it came to scheduling. I really enjoyed her as a teacher!
Piano Lessons (for children or teenagers)
Gabriela L.
Feb 1, 2017
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Hired on Thumbtack
Received my very first pianolesson answer she was awesome! Definitely will continue learning from her.
Piano Lessons
Clara R.
Sep 5, 2016
She was my piano teacher for 5 years in Spain and I improve a lot with her russian piano technic. She is very kind and also very pushy which helps me a lot to keep going with piano.
Bojana I.
Mar 1, 2017
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Hired on Thumbtack
She is excellent!!! Our three year old daughter enjoys pianolessons with Maria, she makes it fun!
Piano Lessons (for children or teenagers)
Credentials
Background Check
Maria Sierra Martinez
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Tuition is billed monthly and reserves a consistent weekly lesson time. Monthly tuition is $180 for 30-minute lessons, $235 for 45-minute lessons, and $310 for 60-minute lessons. Tuition remains the same each month and includes 4–5 lessons depending on the calendar.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I begin with a complimentary trial lesson to meet the student, assess their current level, and learn about their goals and previous musical experience. I then recommend an appropriate lesson length and create an individualized learning plan. Students who continue reserve a consistent weekly lesson time and pay monthly tuition.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have advanced conservatory degrees in Piano Performance, Chamber Music, and Music Theory, as well as a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Barcelona. My piano training includes the Russian piano tradition, and I have studied with internationally recognized pianists and professors. I am also a Steinway Certified Piano Teacher and have more than 20 years of teaching and performing experience in Europe and the United States.
