Piano
Education
Recognized for her exceptional talent and artistic approach to musical interpretation, Dr. Babayan received her early education in music from Tchaikovsky Music School. She holds degrees in piano performance from the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan and a Master of Arts from the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow, where she studied under the tutelage of Professor Maria Gambaryan. She also holds a doctorate from the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
Performance and Teaching Experience
With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Babayan has performed in solo and chamber recitals worldwide: the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, Komitas State Conservatory Concert Hall, and the Ministry of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Diaspora Concert Hall in Yerevan; the Royal Concert Hall of the American University in Dubai and Sharjah, UAE; and the San Lazzaro-Hall of Mirrors in Venice, Italy. She was a guest performer and won first prize at the 2005 Moscow Music Festival, performing a program of works by Rachmaninoff and Scriabin.
Dr. Babayan is widely recognized as a foremost interpreter of Armenian folkloric and classical repertoires. According to Oleg Mitrofanov, the AMADEI Moscow Music Theatre General Manager, “Naira’s exceptional talent and artistic approach to musical interpretation make her a clear stand out among many others, particularly her expressiveness, unique style, and technical virtuosity. She is an Armenian Treasure!”
At Levine
Naria has been on the Levine faculty since 2007 where she teaches private piano instruction.
“My favorite aspect of being in the faculty of Levine is organizational level of the piano faculty. I am surrounded by professional musicians that I work and perform with. The faculty also gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge and own Armenian culture.”
Teaching Philosophy and Approach
“The first question that I considered while formulating my philosophy was, ‘Why? What is the purpose of teaching music?’ Unlike many other professions, the gratification from teaching music comes in a form other than a paycheck. In my opinion, the most important reason to teach music is to pass it along. By sharing music with others, it is possible to make others as passionate about it as you are. Even if a student cannot play very well, it is still important to help him to understand and appreciate music and its importance in his life. Another purpose of teaching music is to give students something they can succeed at through practice, which provides them with a sense of purpose and pride. Additionally, music is very important in the overall educational system. Music programs are essential because they help students to develop skills such as time management, communication, patience and perseverance. Also, for many students, music helps them to express themselves in ways that sitting in a classroom all day never could. Music classes can be considered a healthy break from academics in a school day. In general, the purpose of music education is to teach a universal language to students that they will be able to use no matter where they are, for the rest of their lives.
Next it is important to consider to whom music should be taught and the role of the student in a musical classroom. I believe that music should be taught to anyone and everyone without exception. Music truly is a universal language and I believe that with enough creativity it can be taught to anyone who is willing to learn it. A student with a disability or even a student who does not speak English can be taught the fundamentals of music and be able to appreciate its significance. Since music is a form of expression, it is very important for students to have an open mind when approaching it. Since not all students come into a music classroom with this kind of mindset, it is my job to connect with them and make them interested in learning music. Although it is the responsibility of the student to practice in order to improve, it is mostly the responsibility for me as a teacher to motivate his or her students and make them want to practice and improve their skills.”
Personal
When not teaching or performing, Naria enjoys her time as an active member of the Armenian Assembly of America.