ADULTS

Maria is a pianist and teacher with a strong classical background and professional jazz training. She has taught over 1,500 lessons.

At UNIKI, Maria teaches Piano, Music Theory, Band, Vocal & Stage, Vocal & Sound, and Piano Groups. In her work, she combines classical and modern methods, drawing on European and Russian standards of music education. She focuses on developing rhythm, ear training, improvisational thinking, and overall musical culture.

No one can tell you about Maria better than she can herself:

«In childhood, I used to go wild to Elvis Presley, and at one point I firmly decided I wanted to become a rock star. If UNIKI had existed back then, maybe I would have become one. But instead, I went to music school, and then to the Arkhangelsky Music College in Penza, where I studied classical piano and earned my first degree in music. Even then, I became a laureate and prize-winner of regional and national competitions.

But my dreams of the rock stage wouldn’t let go, so I decided to continue my education in jazz — because, as it seemed to me, from jazz with its complex chords and improvisation to rock music is just a small step. That’s how I became a jazz pianist, graduating from the Maimonides Academy in Moscow in 2022.

Alongside my studies, I began teaching private music lessons to children and adults — and unexpectedly discovered a gift for mentoring and teaching. Over time, I realized that my true calling wasn’t to be a rock star (though who knows what the future holds), but to light up new musical stars.

Today, I teach classical and jazz piano, improvisation, music theory, and music culture. My teaching is built on empathy, attention to each student, and the belief that learning music can—and should—be interesting and fun. I use modern approaches to developing rhythm, ear training, and musical thinking, and I follow European and Russian teaching standards.»

Vladislav is a pianist, an international competition laureate, and a teacher with a strong academic background.

His path combines the big stage, deep academic training, and working with strong students of different ages. In his teaching, Vladislav relies on structure: he builds a clear system where technique, theory, and musicality come together as one process.

At UNIKI, Vladislav teaches Piano, Music Theory, Vocal & Stage, and Vocal & Sound. In his classes, you don’t “decode notes”—you learn to understand music, control your sound, and manage your progress. He helps you build a solid foundation, gain confidence in your skills, and see real results at every step.

«I love watching something grow and unfold over time. Like a plant that responds to care with patience and quiet perfection. Like body and spirit in sport, where discipline turns effort into confidence and strength. In my work, I stick to the most rational approach possible: I gather knowledge, systematize it, and pass it on in a way that makes the process engaging and inspiring. When there is interest and direction, results never take long to appear. I can also boast a truly inexhaustible reserve of patience and an ability to take things all the way to a result.»

— Vladislav

Thomas Shurkus is a drummer and teacher with 15 years of experience, including five years of professional academic practice. In 2016, he graduated from the jazz department of the University of Edinburgh, receiving a strong foundation in contemporary performance, rhythm, and music theory.

Thomas can tell you the rest himself:

«My name is Thomas. I’ve been behind a drum kit for as long as I can remember. What matters to me is showing my students that you don’t need any inborn talent to learn this instrument—you just need the right approach and practice. That’s exactly what we do in lessons:

– We create an individual program for each student;

– If you already have musical preferences, we start from that style right away and study it in depth;

– FINGERDRUMMING. Yes, we’ll bring drum controllers into the lessons to develop your sense of rhythm in a playful, interactive, and currently very popular way. Today it’s one of the biggest directions out there, using finger motor skills.

– My lessons are designed to be максимально interactive, using backing tracks, multimedia, prepared presentations—and, most importantly, additional software on screen (BFD3, Indaband, Media Evolution, Beatlii, etc.), which can teach literally anyone to play in a game-like format.

The range of skills here is very broad, so what you learn can easily transfer into other areas—from writing your own compositions for the stage and creating accompaniment to confident work in DAWs, which can become a professional starting point for a future DJ career.

The results speak for themselves. My approach removes everything connected to stiffness and fear of improvising—and a drummer charged with positivity is already half the success of any future band.»

Nastasya is a Vocal teacher and the director of a pop choir. She graduated from the pop & jazz department of the Tchaikovsky Music College, studied with residents of the Ever Jazz club, and performed on the same stage with them.

Her teaching is based on EVT (Estill Voice Training) — a scientific, anatomy-based approach that helps you control your voice consciously and freely in any genre.

Here’s how Nastasya describes herself:

«My name is Nastasya Matveeva. I was born into a family of folk vocal teachers, so I’ve been surrounded by music and singing since childhood. I first stepped on stage at the age of two, and I haven’t left it since. The voice is a unique instrument — one I’ve studied inside and out. I tried working in different genres and styles to better understand what the voice is capable of. My students also help me learn a lot. For more than eight years, I’ve been listening to and working with different people’s timbres and vocal habits. Working with children’s voices shows just how far you can go when you understand how vocal structures change over time.

I’m truly inspired when a student becomes a conscious performer. They don’t just copy sounds—they understand which muscles and cartilage help create the sound they want. I also love working on original songs—helping to color and enrich a written song with different techniques and tools. And of course, working with ensembles and choirs is its own kind of joy: when students build incredible chord textures and carry the melody forward. The more people there are, the bigger the feeling of unity through sound. I’m convinced anyone can learn to sing!»

Anton is a director, screenwriter, editor, and teacher with over 14 years of experience in film and media.

A key part of Anton’s professional path is teaching filmmaking to international standards—for example, the International Baccalaureate (IB) system. His students go through the full production cycle—from screenwriting and film-language analysis to shooting, editing, and sound—creating their own films.

«Hello! My name is Anton Retunskikh.

I’m a director and a teacher of film and video production.

Since 2011, I’ve been working in film and video as a director, screenwriter, and camera operator-editor.

It’s important for me to find a balance between an academic foundation and hands-on practice, making complex topics clear and engaging.

For me, it’s not just about teaching people how to shoot or analyze films—it’s about helping them learn how to watch and think. We talk about how a shot is built, how editing, sound, and rhythm work, how images convey emotions and meaning, and why visual culture has such a powerful impact on how we perceive the world.»

Maria is a pianist and sound producer—an active musician working on stage and in the studio. At UNIKI, she teaches audio production and bands so students understand musical logic, develop their ear, and turn ideas into tracks and live numbers—not just “complete a program.”

Maria’s classes are highly hands-on and industry-focused. You’ll learn to hear form and harmony, work in Logic Pro, record and build arrangements, develop your taste in sound, and take an idea all the way to a result you’ll actually want to play and share.

«My name is Maria Pokutnaya. I’m a pianist, composer, and sound producer. For nearly half my life, I studied academic and jazz piano. For more than 15 years, I’ve been working in the professional music world—on stage and in the studio.

In our studio, what matters to me is not simply teaching you to play or sing, but helping you understand music and create it consciously. We develop a professional ear and musical thinking. It’s important to me that every student feels not like a performer following instructions, but like a musician and author who can express themselves through sound.

In my classes, I care about an atmosphere of support and freedom—where it’s not scary to try, make mistakes, and find your own sound. There will be a lot of mistakes, trust me 🙂 But the real goal is for music to become a source of confidence and inner support for you, and for the skills you gain to be truly useful.»

Bekarii is a theatre and film actor, director, and teacher with 13+ years of experience. A graduate of the Saint Petersburg Theatre Academy and the Music Hall children’s studio, he worked with the Maly Drama Theatre — Theatre of Europe (Lev Dodin) and performed on major European and Asian stages.

He has appeared in 30+ film projects, worked in commercials and voiceover (including for Netflix), and covers everything from drama and comedy to immersive productions and musical shows. As a director and screenwriter, he has made 15+ films; one won the 48 Hour Film Project Tbilisi.

At UNIKI, he teaches Acting for TEENS and Adults using his “No Judgement” approach—no grades, no labels.

«I’ve worked across many forms—from classical theatre to immersive and playback projects, where sincerity and attention to your partner are key. I teach acting, stage speech, and the fundamentals of stage movement. My goal is for students to feel inner strength, believe in what they can do, and turn fear into an ally—training a versatile performer who can do it all, and more!»

Danis is a theatre and film actor, theatre director, and linguist. He graduated from the I. Gorbachev School of Russian Drama in Saint Petersburg, has performed in 500+ shows, and appeared in 20+ screen projects—including playing Viktor Tsoi in Alexey Uchitel’s film «Tsoi». He also runs his own programs, performs in music projects, and keeps training with European directors. In Cyprus, he has taught acting to teens and adults for several years, staging performances and working with creative groups.

«Hello, my name is Danis Bukharaev. I’m an acting teacher at UNIKI. I spent about seven years at the Saint Petersburg State Musical Theatre “Zazerkalye” and worked with both state and independent theatres, performing on major stages. My first degree is in philology, and I’m also an English teacher.

In class, I focus on individuality and partnership: finding what makes you unique, and learning how to connect with others on stage—verbally and non-verbally. I aim for an easy, fun atmosphere where it’s safe to try new things and learn without extra tension.»