What I Offer

I design my lessons to be meaningful, structured, and mindful, creating a supportive and interactive space where students feel encouraged to grow, connect, and express themselves. I believe that learning music can nurture life skills and values, helping students find confidence, discipline, and joy in self-expression. I focus on rhythm, pitch, and techniques that guide each session, tailoring my approach to match each student’s abilities as they progress. Whether you're interested in classical, folk, pop, Latin, or mariachi, I offer lessons in both English and Spanish for children, youth, and adults.

About Maria Pino

Maria Pino is passionate about using her love for music to help children develop the values they need to succeed. She believes that music can teach young people important moral and social lessons that benefit them both personally and professionally.

Growing up in Venezuela, Maria trained in the renowned "El Sistema" program, known worldwide for its excellence in music education. She began her musical journey at the age of 9 when she joined a violin orchestra. María studied at the Simón Bolívar Music Conservatory in Caracas, where she was a viola player and a member of the Chacao Youth Symphony Orchestra. As a violin and viola player, she has developed a deep understanding of string instruments that enriches her teaching.

Maria has accumulated extensive experience as a music educator. She has served as a professor and Musical Director at UEMI Carlos Soublette in Caracas and as the Music Director of the Paraguana Youth Symphony Orchestra in Falcón, Venezuela.

In 2017, María became a Teaching Artist at The Music Center in Los Angeles, California, where she taught music to PreK-12 learners in public schools. She used songs in various languages, bells, and percussion instruments to teach rhythm, pitch, and foundational music principles such as steady beat and melody. As a motivating, positive, and caring educator, Maria is dedicated to maintaining a supportive and encouraging environment, helping her learners stay motivated and develop both the physical and mental skills required to learn an instrument.

Since 2022, Maria has been working with children and youth string ensembles in the Chicago area of Lake County through the Sistema Ravinia program, which is part of Reach, Teach, and Play, the educational branch of the Ravinia Music Festival.