

Petra's email address and phone number have been validated.
Petra
- Rate R1941
- Response 1h

R1941/h
1st lesson free
- Other Languages
Learn Romani (Gypsy) language and/or music+dance from a Roma professor and singer born in the Czech Republic.
- Other Languages
Lesson location
Recommended
Petra is a respected tutor in our community. She is highly recommended for her commitment and the quality of her lessons. A trusted partner on your learning journey.
About Petra
I was born in then-Czechoslovakia and moved to the U.S. at ten years old. I received a PhD in ethnomusicology from Harvard University and subsequently earned a master's in music therapy from Molloy University. I've been happily teaching college classes part-time since 1999. I work with all ages as a developmental/rehabilitative music therapist and a licensed creative arts therapist.
I spend about three months a year in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, doing remote psychotherapy, visiting family, dancing with friends, and volunteering with foster&adoptive families. I also make Romani-language movies with kids in Hlboké, my grandmother's childhood settlement. Not surprisingly, I speak fluent Czech, English, and North Central Romani.
My hobbies are buying craft supplies, pretending to use them, adjuncting, and avoiding cold temperatures unless they involve snow.
About the lesson
- Primary
- Secondary
- Matric/GCSE
- +18
levels :
Primary
Secondary
Matric/GCSE
AS Level
A Level
BTech
Adult education
Masters
Doctorate
MBA
A1
A2
B1
B2
C1
C2
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Professional
Kids
- English
- Spanish
- German
- +3
Languages in which the lesson is available :
English
Spanish
German
Russian
Slovak
Czech
Experience:
I'm your one-stop resource for Romani language (mostly the Central variety), songs, dance steps, and other cultural knowledge. I have a PhD in ethnomusicology, years of teaching experience, and have performed in numerous venues.
Teaching Methodology:
Language lessons include grammar, conversational as well as literary vocabulary, song text analysis, and written sources. If you're interested, we can explore pre-recorded audio and visual materials or compare different Romani languages/dialects. My family speaks Slovak/Central Romani, but I've been exposed to others over the past thirty years, too.
I'm not a professional dancer, but I love to teach people how to move to Roma music, and I can make you look quite flashy with some fast steps. You can check out my singing on YouTube; I have a wide repertoire of songs in various dialects, accompanying myself on accordion, guitar, or piano. If you're a singer, we can work on pronunciation, ornamentation, expressive timbre, and other aspects of Roma musical expression. I'm happy to mix and match language lessons with other skills and topics!
Recommendations
Recommendations are written by the tutor's friends, family, and acquaintances.
Petra has introduced me not only to Romani literature about the Roma people but also to many traditional and modern songs depicting Roma culture across Europe. She has a beautiful, rich voice and teaches songs in variations of Romani languages from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Hungary, the Balkans, Germany, and England. She provides clearly written texts with translations that help you learn what each word means, so you can sing the songs with accurate expression, which is crucial when singing Romani songs. She has helped me practice songs in different keys and offered helpful tips on rhythm, tempo, and intonation. She plays multiple instruments but will accompany on piano to make learning easier. Petra is always a pleasure to work with.
Petra and I have been colleagues for over 15 years, including in the classroom, and she is, without a doubt, an absolutely phenomenal teacher. I've seen her teach tiny kids, very senior adults, and everyone in between, always with an extraordinary level of care, patience, and creativity. I've learned so much from her, both as a student and as a co-teacher. Her enthusiasm is delightfully contagious! I'd trust her with my life, and certainly to teach me any of the languages she knows.
Petra Gelbart is a phenomenon! A brilliant thinker, a world class musician, and a teacher with incredibly wide experience on many levels. Studying Romani with her, or actually at all, will be a wonderful, mind-expanding experience. Like all the best teachers she combines high standards with empathy. One of the finest people I know. Recommended enthusiastically without any reservations.
See more recommendations
Rates
Rate
- R1941
Package rates
- 5h: R8895
- 10h: R17789
free lesson
The free first lesson with Petra allows you to get to know the tutor and discuss your needs and expectations.
- 30min
online
- R1941/h
Details
I'm willing to consider a sliding scale fee structure for children and youth from Romani families, in cases of demonstrated need.
Similar Other Languages tutor profiles
Luthando
Cape Town & online
- R500/h
- 1st lesson free
Suprise
Mankweng & online
- R100/h
- 1st lesson free
Mpho
Bloemfontein & online
- R100/h
- 1st lesson free
Siphesihle
Pretoria & online
- R200/h
- 1st lesson free
Nkosazana
East London & online
- R200/h
- 1st lesson free
Dimpho
Taung & online
- R100/h
- 1st lesson free
Mmanare
Pretoria & online
- R130/h
- 1st lesson free
Tumiso
Lethabong & online
- R200/h
- 1st lesson free
Kgaogelo Abigail
Thembisa & online
- R143/h
- 1st lesson free
Lindeka
Durban & online
- R150/h
- 1st lesson free
Rethabile
Kimberley & online
- R210/h
- 1st lesson free
Maphuti
Johannesburg & online
- R120/h
- 1st lesson free
Siyamthanda
Cape Town & online
- R145/h
- 1st lesson free
Khebani
Pretoria & online
- R130/h
- 1st lesson free
Rose
Sebokeng & online
- R100/h
- 1st lesson free
Thandokuhle
Cape Town & online
- R135/h
- 1st lesson free
Esethu
Gqeberha & online
- R145/h
- 1st lesson free
Anelisa
Cape Town & online
- R150/h
- 1st lesson free
Nosipho
Gqeberha & online
- R200/h
- 1st lesson free
Gaopalelwe
Ga-Luka & online
- R200/h
- 1st lesson free
-
See Other Languages tutors
