Mariela’s Musical Journey

Mariela began music lessons at the age of eight under “The Modern Systemic Method for Organ” taught by organist Antonio Vale in the city of Caracas, Venezuela. Later, she continued her education with a succession of teachers, starting with Professor Ricardo Isela on the synthesizers, where she began arranging. At the age of 17, she started piano studies with pianist and music educator Dr. Alicia Gaggioni and, directly after, with organist and Hungarian pianist Elizabeth Toth at the M.G Toth School of Music.

In parallel, Mariela obtained a bachelor's degree in Clinical Laboratory Science from “Universidad Central de Venezuela'' and a Master of Science from the University of Minnesota.

While living in Minnesota, Mariela took private lessons in Latin jazz piano with musician Ramon Valle (Berklee, 1974) and composition courses at the McPhail Center for Music. She began to compose short pieces like “Para Ti '' in the Venezuelan waltz style, "Nostalgia,” a gift to Sohee Yim, and “Coming Home,” dedicated to her daughter.

Mariela’s piano life was challenged by two major events: a brain stroke and a severe wrist fracture.

While experiencing tremendous recovery and healing from playing the piano, Mariela became increasingly interested in the science behind music therapy and took “Music For Wellness” from Berklee College of Music.

“I use music to help my students with focus, relaxation, patience, and anxiety, as well as to build confidence through task completion.”

Since 2015, Mariela has been teaching piano lessons at her independent studio. She has completed the coursework to become certified as an Elementary Piano teacher from the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM, Ontario) and took the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (UK) exams on Piano Performance under the guidance of musicologist Tanja Hanh, and later in South Korea with Sohee Yim at the British Piano Academy.

“All at once, I came to the realization that I couldn’t have accomplished anything in my life without music.”

Since 2015, Mariela has been teaching piano lessons and has completed the coursework to become certified as an Elementary Piano teacher from the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM, Ontario).

Mariela holds a postgraduate level certification from the University of Chichester, UK, in Piano Teaching.

She has taught in the US, the Netherlands, and South Korea. Her students are from various nationalities (Brasil, Venezuela, United States, Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, and Spain).

“I enjoy teaching students from different nationalities. It gives me the opportunity to share our cultures through music.”

The piano is Mariela’s primary instrument, but she also likes synthesizers and organs.

Mariela can play the guitar, ukulele, cuatro, and some percussion.

Additionally, Mariela has been singing as an alto in different community choirs.

"At every choir meeting, I am fascinated by what we can do with our voices, and it has everything to do with singing as an alto.”