Teaching Philosophy

I teach basic music reading skills side by side with piano technique and music theory.
Aside from emphasizing the study of classical music (from the baroque era to the 20th century), I like to include students' personal choices of musical styles from the start (rock, jazz, folk, contemporary, etc.).  

In my teaching, I like to incorporate various clapping ( or tapping) exercises whenever necessary in order to help students improve their fine motor skills and overall hand coordination. After approaching a problem physically, they usually are better able to process and perform challenging rhythms and polyrhythms.

Observing and respecting each student’s own pace, as s/he learns to comprehend often challenging musical concepts, is of great importance to me. I like to provide needed guidance in a supportive manner.

PIANO IMPROVISATION:

I encourage improvisation, as it gives students a chance to express their creativity and explore  their own music. It also gives me the opportunity to discover their natural skills and technical strengths.
With time, I usually find that improvisation greatly contributes to an increased confidence and enjoyment in each student’s overall playing.

 

Individual piano improvisation lessons are available upon request anytime during the year. Weekly piano improvisation workshops are usually offered during school vacations.