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References
Our now 14 year old daughter has been taught by Jana for the last two years, since we left the UK (we are now returning). Jana has helped to motivate an exam-fearful child to develop her musicality and love of the instrument for its own sake, and despite herself our daughter enjoyed and learned a good deal from the preparation and actual performance at the annual summer recital at Schloss Heidegg. Jana’s technical skills as a musician are unquestionable, and as a teacher she has been supportive and flexible throughout and our daughter’s progress since she started with Jana has been wonderful to hear. We are delighted to have found her and would not hesitate to recommend her.
Lisa McLean
Steinhausen, July 2021
It´s really a big pleasure to have an opportunity for my daughter to learn the piano lessons with Dr.Jana Bertova. Dr. Jana Bertova has been our daughter´s piano teacher since November 2020. She is a nice, active and rich experience teacher. My daughter likes her very much!
My daughter is four and half years old and she is a beginner. At the beginning, my daughter has a trial lesson with her and Dr. Jana Bertova told us it´s a right time for our daughter to start the piano lessons. And now our daughter just has eleven lessons with her, and we found that our daughter had a big progress than the beginning. It´s amazing! You can feel that Dr. Jana really has rich experience to teach the kids, she know how to communicate with the kids.She always encourage our daughter with nice words. And you can find Dr. Jana has very good patience and everything is under her control. We highly recommend Dr. Jana Bertova! We believe that you also looking forward to have a such nice musical teacher like us!Baker, Zug
Steinhausen, March 2021
We relocated to Geneva from Spain in November 2021, in the midst of Covid 2nd wave and semiconfinements across the country. Our 14 y.o. daughter wanted to continue her music studies and progress within ABRSM system, and I found this to be very difficult in Geneva, where almost everything was through Conservatoires, and also no teachers available due to Covid restrictions. I eventually found Dr. Jana´s school through Internet search, and was initially amazed about how well everything was planned for online classes, and knowledge of ABRSM system. It was very easy for our daughter to catch up with the program, and in spite of our initial skepticism towards online piano teaching, everything has turned out much better than we expected. Our daughter is delighted with the teacher, who makes classes really engaging and adapted towards both ABRSM program but also her music preferences. Methodology used at class is really helping her progress a lot, and we expect her to take her next Piano exam online this summer, thanks to this year´s preparation. It is really encouraging to see such level of professionalism and ability to adapt to new circumstances, we feel really grateful to have found Swiss International Music school for our daughter.
I. Lomba, Online Lessons
Geneva, March 2021
My son, Neel, has been learning the piano with her for the last 3 years. His first piano exam was ABRSM Grade 2, where he got a distinction. He is now working towards ABRSM Grade 5.
Ms Bertova’s years of experience shows in the way she adapts her teaching style for each student. In every lesson she puts in 100% and naturally she expects the same from her students. Homework in the form of regular practice is a must and she keeps notes on those, so there is no getting away 🙂 She points out the little details where the student can improve and that’s how her students have such a good record in exams. The highlight of the year with her is the annual recital she organises on the top floor of Castle Heidegg – a wonderful location for lovely performances by all students, be they 6 month old learners or much longer. Her commitment has not flagged even during the pandemic, when she tried to find out from ABRSM whether remote exams were possible and kept us parents posted on the status. Due to the school schedule being impacted by the pandemic, she has been very flexible with her time. Together we have found ways of continuing lessons online or meeting in person as and when possible.
Neel’s skill at playing the piano has grown by leaps and bounds under her tutelage and we as a family are very satisfied that he has Ms Bertova as his teacher. We look forward to Neel eventually completing ABRSM Grade 8 under her.
Chandana M Sen, Mother of Neel (12 yrs)
May 2021
Dr. Jana Bertova has been our 10 year old daughter’s piano teacher for the last 18 months. Our daughter started taking piano lessons at the age of 7 in the United States. She had a very good start there but her piano skills have really blossomed during our recent move to Geneva. Dr. Jana certainly has much to do with our daughter’s piano skill development. Dr. Jana is very encouraging and establishes goals for her students by way of enrolling them in periodic school concerts and having the students practice and prepare for the ABRSM certifications. Having these events really helps Dr. Jana and parents keep their children focused on a clear path of achievement. These activities really build the children’s self confidence as well. Dr. Jana shows a genuine interest in our daughter’s development. Dr. Jana is very dedicated to her students. I know she has literally driven throughout Switzerland to keep all of her student’s skills current by offering summer classes in addition to the school year lessons. We are very pleased with our daughter’s development and are proud of her. Thank you Dr. Jana! We highly recommend Dr. Jana for any student interested in learning or improving their piano skills.
Brian McHuli and Mary Lynn McHugh
Geneva
Dr, Jana Bertova has been my daughter’s piano teacher since August 2011. Our daughter has thrived under Dr Bertova’s expert guidance and we are very satisfied with her progress. During the past two years, her students have very successfully and regularly performed at private lessons recitals. Dr. Bertova has not only been an excellent teacher but, has a gift of eliciting the best from her students. it is with no reservation that I recommend Dr. Bertova in any musical endeavour and wish her the very best of luck for the future.
J. Ratwatte, Deputy Director
Asia bureau, U.N.H.C.R.
Jana started teaching me and my two boys aged 10 and 7 the piano in September 2012. I am so impressed with the how much the boys can play in such a short time. They have learnt to read music and have really enjoyed playing. By December they played some beautiful pieces in her concert. I was also thoroughly impressed seeing the level of other students she teaches. She is incredibly patient with children, even when they are grumpy and tired. She makes the lessons fun, giving great confidence to the kids about what they are able to play. I have also thoroughly enjoyed my lessons with her, again I have made more progress than I felt possible in such a short space of time. She is totally passionate about the piano, very open, flexible and a great teacher. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to anyone wanting to learn.
Vikki O’Connor
Trelex
My two children aged 11 and 14 started piano lessons with Jana Bertova in September last year when we moved to Switzerland. They had both been playing for three years and had had several teachers. The progress they have made in nine months has been astounding! Both children have very different personalities yet, Jana Bertova has motivated both of them to practice regularly. She has also encouraged them to perform at music recitals which they had never done before and which they have thoroughly enjoyed. Both children enjoy their lessons immensely. I have no hesitation in recommending Jana Bertova. Her dedication and commitment to her pupils and the encouragement she gives them to continue to progress in piano are wonderful qualities. I think my children are very lucky!
Maya Matthews
Geneva, Switzerland
Dr Jana Bertova has been my daughter Mia’s piano teacher for two years, since the time we moved to Geneva from New York. From the beginning Mia was happy with her new teacher and established a strong bond with her. Dr Bertova had very interesting ideas about how and where Mia should continue with her piano. Mia has liked the repertoire her teacher suggested and she has enjoyed learning how to play it. Dr. Bertova helped her to improve her finger technique and to express the feeling of the music she plays. Dr. Bertova prepared iviia well for her ABSRM music exam which was reflected in Mia’s very good result. One of the judges for the Association for Music in International Schools competition which Mia attended in the Hague, pointed out how much he enjoyed her lively playing with lots of character. I think that Mia has gained a lot by having Dr. Jana Bertova as a teacher. The respect Mia has for her has helped her develop as a young pianist. During the time we have known her, Dr. Bertova has shown a great and sincere joy in teaching. Her devotion to her students is inspirational and I cannot recommend her too highly.
Tatjana Bojic
-Harland
We highly recommend Doctor Jana Bertova. We arrived in Switzerland in July 2012. Our children go to the College du Leman in Versoix. We were very worried about finding a good piano teacher. Hopefully we have just found Doctor Jana Bertova!!! Doctor Jana Bertova is an excellent piano teacher for our children. She is dedicated and serious about sharing her love of classical music with her students. She does a wonderful job teaching our children. She just simply loves the piano… She teaches with calm, serenity, patience and she is always so cheerfull !! Every Friday, our children are so happy to come up to their lesson and want to stay longer…. Our chidren have progressed a lot. She knows exactly how to push them to do their best while they keep their pleasure playing. She is also extremely focused on developing technical skills.
Very quickly, she was able to feel them, to understand their temperament and their individuality and consequently she challenges them to try different pieces that increase their abilities as they discover that they are capable of more than they initially realized. Doctor Jana Bertova”students participated to a recital at the CDL. They were so proud to play and to do their best in front of their teacher and the audience!!! We are very happy to provide further information if required.
Segolene and Jerome Contensou
VERSOIX
Dr Jana Bertova has been working as a piano and keyboard teacher in our school since September 2011 and has proved herself to be an inspirational teacher.
I have been so impressed with her vision for her school and am fortunate to have watched her develop and implement her plan in such a short period of time. As we had never played piano, she helped the parents understand what was needed from equipment, to practice time, to patient nurturing, through her example and guidance.
Jana is very professional in her approach, and has a passionate interest in teaching music. Her enthusiasm for her subject and her ability to motivate and engage her students have proved to be invaluable. She also has the ability to develop a warm and easy relationship with the students.
Jana would be a valuable member of any organization or institution that she wishes to be part of.
Raji Sundaram
British School of Geneva
Our two children began taking piano lessons with Jana shortly after she began teaching in Switzerland in 2011, at the ages of 9 and 7, and continued until 2016 with her school when we departed the country. We are SO fortunate that they could work with her. She has been so hardworking, motivating, and encouraging for our children and especially helped bring our daughter to a love of piano, and a confidence in her ability to progress.
I have been so impressed with her vision for her school and am fortunate to have watched her develop and implement her plan in such a short period of time. As we had never played piano, she helped the parents understand what was needed from equipment, to practice time, to patient nurturing, through her example and guidance.
She encouraged our children to work toward goals through (piano AND music theory) exams with the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and recitals that included her diverse group of students at all levels and ages. That experience helped our children take satisfaction in their efforts and appreciate how far they had come, as well as how far they could still go.
When Jana expanded her school to include a broader geographic region, she began employing other accomplished instructors. We were initially sad to not continue with Jana personally, but have been very impressed with the highly professional, skilled, friendly, patient, and encouraging people she brought in to continue our children’s instruction, much like Jana herself. Our children continued to progress and were always well-prepared for their ABRSM exams (and recitals), passing with Merit and/or Distinction in almost all cases, from Level 1 – Level 4.
We can only hope as we leave this country, that we can find an instructor that possesses even a small measure of all the qualities that Jana and her instructors have shared with our family. We HIGHLY recommend her school, and wish her and her students continued success.
Damon Webster
Chambessy 26.1.2017
Dr Jana Bertova has been on the music staff as a private piano teacher and general music teacher covering for absent colleagues at College du Leman from October 2011, teaching students from ages 6 to 18. She was one of many candidates we interviewed at the time for the post and she impressed me with her engaging personality, professionalism and above all, excellent musicianship.
Dr Bertova has built up the number of students to full capacity, since parents soon realized her potential to teach piano to a very high standard whilst making it enjoyable. She demonstrates excellent teaching skills with all ages, motivating children, varying the approach to suit the individuals and inspiring her students with her own brilliant playing. All of her students are presented to perform at the Private Lessons Recitals where they demonstrate musicianship and excellent technique. Furthermore, she documents all performances with videos which she produces for all the parents. Selected students are also entered for the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music exams, where the results are always very good.
Dr Bertova maintains excellent relationships with students, parents, boarding staff and music teachers in the department. Her warm personality and caring attitude towards the students make her very popular. Part of her duties include organizing the schedule for the students which became ever more challenging with the increased demand for her time, but which she manages very well. Dr Bertova is also willing and extremely competent, to do other duties such as accompanying, covering for general music classes throughout the age range and supervising music examinations. I am more than happy to highly recommend Dr Jana Bertova for a position of piano teacher/accompanist/ manager in any school or music institution.
Nicola Gilbert
Head of Performing Arts
Our now 14 year old daughter has been taught by Jana for the last two years, since we left the UK (we are now returning). Jana has helped to motivate an exam-fearful child to develop her musicality and love of the instrument for its own sake, and despite herself our daughter enjoyed and learned a good deal from the preparation and actual performance at the annual summer recital at Schloss Heidegg. Jana’s technical skills as a musician are unquestionable, and as a teacher she has been supportive and flexible throughout and our daughter’s progress since she started with Jana has been wonderful to hear. We are delighted to have found her and would not hesitate to recommend her.