About Mrs. Gorin

Rufina Gorin, MA, NCTM, Pianist/Music Educator

Rufina Goring got her B.A. from Kiev Music College in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy in 1968 and M.A. from Conservatory Pedagogical division, Kiev/Nezin, Ukraine in Piano Performance and Choral Conducting in 1976, qualified to teach at grade school, high school and colleges. She has studied under Dr. Samuel Gindin, Dr. Alexandra Ostrovskay, Dr. Lydia Sure, Kiev, Ukraine who has being students and followers of the leading pedagogy methods of T. Leschetizky, A. Schnabel, and G. Neigauz.

Gorin's interest and passion was to open beautiful world of music to her students, to give them skills and ability to create a beautiful sound (colorful tones), flawless technique, and ability to interpret composer's intent; in other words to give them tools and interpretive understanding. In continuing herself education, she has attended many seminars and training sessions from leading specialists in the field of music education, such as Frances Clark, Richard Chronister, David Krohenbule, Laurette Goldberg, Dorothy Taubman, Robert Page, Seymour Bernstein, Angela Hewitt, John O'Conor, and others. She maintains close ties to the music life of Moscow State Conservatory by attending its master classes, concerts and Tchaikovsky competitions from 1978-present.

Mrs. Gorin has being teaching at The Gorin School of Music (GSM), which she has established in November 1991. This school is accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Her other places of teaching were Community School of Music and Arts, Mountain View, California (1987-1991), Piano teacher at Agora Hill Music Conservatory, Agora Hill, California (1983-1987), Music instructor at Junior Music Academy, Thousand Oaks, California (1981-1984), Piano Teacher at private piano studio,
Thousand Oaks, California (1981-1987), Faculty member, Music-Pedagogical College, Kiev, Ukraine 1973-1978; Mrs. Gorin also served as accompanist for Ballet Classes in collaboration with ballet dancers from Kiev Ballet Theatre, Ukraine (1968-1977).

Selected Student Accomplishments: Prize winners for number of years, US Open Music International Competition, Oakland, California; Prize winners, Junior Bach Festivals, Berkley, California; Prizes winners (more than a dozen, age 5-18), "Sound of Music Festivals", Palo Alto, California, and many other local competitions; Numerous students passed the California Certificate of Merit Program levels Prime to Advanced, and were chosen to perform at the annual Music Teacher's Association Conventions and participate in the Master Class programs at the Conventions; participated in the National Guild Piano Auditions with a high score of achievements throughout years of study.

Mrs. Gorin, NCTM (Nationally Certified Teacher Music), her Professional Affiliations are: Member of Music Teachers' Association California, MTAC (1979-Present), Member, Music Teacher's National Association, MTNA (1987-Present), Serving on the Board and becoming President of Palo Alto Branch of MTAC (1987-1995), Serving on the Board of MTAC and becoming MTAC Vice President (1995-2002), MTAC Program Convention Chair (1999), Young Artist Solo/Ensembles Competition Chair, MTNA (CAPMT); Faculty member of American College of Musicians, Austin, Texas (1987-Present), Evaluator for Certificate of Merit Exams, MTAC (1990-Present), Adjudicator for National Guild of Piano Auditions (1990-Present), Adjudicator for United States Open Music Competition, Oakland, California (1995-1997), Adjudicator for Reno, NV Music Festival (2010).