Meet Alina
Our First Guitar Teacher’s Message Of Hope, Music and Giving Back
Alina Grunina has been teaching guitar with High Notes Avante for more than 3 years, and in that time, she’s seen how music can gently lift people up.
“I’ve seen a lot of people actually being healed with music,” she says.
“Teaching them, supporting them—it’s such a meaningful thing.”
“When you help others, you help yourself too,” reflects Alina.
“You feel useful, you feel productive, and it’s amazing when people believe in themselves and achieve something.
Every lesson is a challenge, yes but it’s a good challenge.”
YouTube Video of Alina Plays
“When you help others, you help yourself too,” reflects Alina. “You feel useful, you feel productive, and it’s amazing when people believe in themselves and achieve something. Every lesson is a challenge, yes—but it’s a good challenge.”
About Alina
Alina is a professional guitarist whose life has always revolved around music. She holds two diplomas in guitar and two bachelor’s degrees: one from Ukraine and another from the Manhattan School of Music in New York. “I had the best teachers in the world,” she says, “and that helped me a lot. Guitar is not a hobby for me—it’s all that I do, my whole life.”
She teaches classical and acoustic guitar, tailoring each lesson to the student’s individual talent and pace. “There are so many methods, but I always follow what the person’s individual talent is,” she explains. “I try to give them specifically what fits their needs and abilities.
Alina brings more than technical skill to her teaching; she brings deep empathy. “Of course, I’m not a psychologist,” she laughs, “but I did study psychology, and that helps me understand how fragile people can be. You can’t teach everybody in the exact same way. Everybody is an individual, with different hurdles in life.”
When students are anxious, distracted, or having a low day, Alina’s strategy is simple but powerful: “Treat them like nothing happened, but inside, be very strong, professional, kind, and understanding. I just do my work—trying to get their focus, lift their mood, make them feel good about themselves, encourage them, and build their confidence. And it usually works quite well.”
Alina says her HNA students are dedicated. “They’re all very focused, very serious about learning, and such nice, interesting people,” she says. “They come from different backgrounds, different ages, and it’s very special to see how music brings us together.” She especially loves seeing students grow week after week. “They inspire me,” she shares. “When I see them feeling better, making progress, believing in themselves more, I feel hopeful for humanity.”
One student, Nika, stands out in her mind: “She’s such a great girl—creative, so musical, very disciplined and organized. She’s very gifted, plays other instruments too, and she’s already so stage ready. I just adore her, and I’m sure she could be a great musician someday if she wants to.”
Thinking about the future Alina says: “I’ve been thinking—group lessons could be a fun idea! Maybe two or four people together. It could be a nice way to build community.”
Alina also dreams of deepening her own understanding of music and mental health. “My students inspire me so much that I’m thinking of continuing my studies, maybe even doing a master’s in psychology,” she says. “I see such the impact music has on people, and I’d love to learn more about how it supports healing.”
To students and families, Alina’s message is simple and heartfelt: “Music is one of the most beautiful things in life. It’s forgiving, it makes you happy, and it’s an international language—a language of hope. If you have a hobby that makes you happier, like drawing or playing an instrument, that’s so important
She also speaks directly to donors: “Music joins people. If sponsors can help some people become happier through programs like this, why not? It’s good karma. In life, you can’t only receive—you should give, and when you give, it comes back to you in wonderful ways. I’ve seen it many times.