Episode 32: Reflections on Teaching & Learning with Composer-Pianist Daria Tennikova

Guest: Daria Tennikova

We talk with pianist, composer, and L&S Teaching Assistant Daria Tennikova about her expansive teaching experience. From private piano lessons to group music theory and composition courses to a YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers, Daria brings a commitment to helping others enjoy learning. In this episode, she shares her approaches to teaching and provides insights into practice, feedback, and creativity that can be brought into any discipline.

See the transcript for this episode.

The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to you by L&S Teaching & Learning Administration and produced by the Instructional Design Collaborative. This podcast is recorded on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial.

Join the Conversation

How did this episode make you think? What’s on your mind about inclusive teaching? Respond to a poll using the Spotify app on your mobile device, reply with a comment at the bottom of this post, or send us an email. We may ask to feature your contribution in this or a future episode.

Conversation Starters

1. Daria adapts her teaching style to meet the needs of individual and group learners, as well as novices and experienced learners. How does your teaching style change based on your student audience?
2. Practicing skills or new concepts can feel frustrating in any discipline. How might you help students embrace the challenges that come with practicing?
3. Daria learned about accepting feedback through her experience on YouTube. How do you give feedback to your students? How do they respond? What might you and your students learn from Daria’s approach?
4. Do you have a social media or other online presence? How might a public presence integrate with your teaching or research?

Further Reading & Resources

In this episode we mentioned, were inspired by, or wondered about the following resources and topics.

• Check out Daria’s work as a pianist, composer, and teacher!

YouTube: @Dariafortepiano
Instagram: dariafortepiano
SoundCloud: Daria Tennikova

• L&S Teaching Mentors are exceptionally passionate and knowledgeable teachers with proven track records for teaching excellence. They work closely with the L&S TA Training and Support Team to facilitate various trainings and mentor L&S TAs. Nominations are due Feb 12, 2026 for the next cohort of L&S Teaching Mentors.

Production Credits