My special interest is in providing systematic and well-rounded education for aspiring young pianists who want to become professional musicians.
In order to become a professional pianist, it is imperative that one begins proper piano training at a young age – preferably before adolescence.
This is unlike most other professions where focused training usually begins at college or graduate school. For one to develop skills to become a competent pianist in adulthood, training needs to begin as early as possible. Most top-tier pianists began professional training before 9 years old, with many beginning to play the piano as early as 4 or 5 years old.
There are three important reasons for starting professional piano training at a young age.
1. Motor Skills
Piano playing involves complex and demanding motor skills. It involves a high level of coordination of many body parts as well as hands that are strong yet extremely flexible and agile at the same time. A high level of piano playing can be compared to gymnastics. To become a professional gymnast, one needs to start training young so one would develop in one’s body as one grows. You would hardly see a gymnast in the Olympic game who did not start as a child.
It is important to understand that we are talking about an aspiration to become a professional pianist who will seek a career as such in his/her adulthood, instead of learning music simply for fun. Just like in any profession, in order to have a successful career, we need to be good enough and stand out in the competitive job market. There is no substitute for starting early to become an outstanding pianist.
2. “Speaking” music as a first language
Music is a language. Playing the piano (or any instruments) is similar to speaking a language because we are expressing music with an instrument. To be well-versed in the language of music – to “speak” music like speaking a first language – one needs to start learning the language young. When one starts learning music and playing the piano young, music becomes part of one’s thinking, and it will be easier for one to “speak” music naturally in one’s playing. In most cases, learning a new language – and learning to play the piano – past childhood would mean that it is learned as a second language. When one learns a second language at an older age, it is much more difficult for one to speak the second language with natural fluency comparable to one’s first language. People who started professional piano training past childhood often face the same difficulty, so it is essential to start early if one wants to “speak” music naturally and fluently when playing the piano.
3. Admission to music programs at universities and conservatories
Music programs at ALL universities and conservatories accept students as performance majors only if they are already advanced performing musicians. You have to be already able to play your instrumental very well and, in the case of top conservatories, demonstrate in your playing that you have received years of professional training prior to entering their undergraduate music programs. No university or conservatory accepts novices or even intermediate players into its music program as performance majors.
This is again different from other professions – while medical school or law school does not expect that you are already a doctor or a lawyer BEFORE you are accepted, you need to already play like a professional pianist if you want to become a piano performance major at a university or conservatory. You are expected to come with proper and advanced skills of piano playing when you enter university or conservatory, where your already advanced skills will be honed and polished further during your college years. It takes many years of training during childhood and adolescence in order to attain such advanced skills before college
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If you want to be a competitive gymnast or play a sport professionally, you need a coach. One would never imagine learning gymnastics or a sport professionally by simply watching YouTube videos, observing other people doing it, or reading a book. Instructions from a professional coach are essential. Learning to playing the piano is the same – you need a piano teacher who can guide you in your musical growth and development of pianistic skills.
As a pianist, piano teacher, and college piano faculty member devoting my entire career to performing and providing fine piano education for the next generation, I would love to be your coach. I welcome anyone with a keen interest in and commitment to piano playing and dedicate myself to nurturing your musical and pianistic growth as you develop into a top-tier pianist.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************
What is in this track of piano instruction
You will receive TWO piano lessons every week. Depending on your level of playing, each lesson will be either 45 minutes or one hour. In our lessons, you will:
Since this is pre-college preparation for a possible professional career in the future, commitment to excellent in your learning is essential. To maximize the benefits of such intense piano instructions and to see significant progress continuously, practicing the piano at home on your own for no less than 3 hours every day will be ideal. Taking long breaks during holidays, such as summer vacation, for over a month is strongly discouraged as they will jeopardize your progress.
In order to become a professional pianist, it is imperative that one begins proper piano training at a young age – preferably before adolescence.
This is unlike most other professions where focused training usually begins at college or graduate school. For one to develop skills to become a competent pianist in adulthood, training needs to begin as early as possible. Most top-tier pianists began professional training before 9 years old, with many beginning to play the piano as early as 4 or 5 years old.
There are three important reasons for starting professional piano training at a young age.
1. Motor Skills
Piano playing involves complex and demanding motor skills. It involves a high level of coordination of many body parts as well as hands that are strong yet extremely flexible and agile at the same time. A high level of piano playing can be compared to gymnastics. To become a professional gymnast, one needs to start training young so one would develop in one’s body as one grows. You would hardly see a gymnast in the Olympic game who did not start as a child.
It is important to understand that we are talking about an aspiration to become a professional pianist who will seek a career as such in his/her adulthood, instead of learning music simply for fun. Just like in any profession, in order to have a successful career, we need to be good enough and stand out in the competitive job market. There is no substitute for starting early to become an outstanding pianist.
2. “Speaking” music as a first language
Music is a language. Playing the piano (or any instruments) is similar to speaking a language because we are expressing music with an instrument. To be well-versed in the language of music – to “speak” music like speaking a first language – one needs to start learning the language young. When one starts learning music and playing the piano young, music becomes part of one’s thinking, and it will be easier for one to “speak” music naturally in one’s playing. In most cases, learning a new language – and learning to play the piano – past childhood would mean that it is learned as a second language. When one learns a second language at an older age, it is much more difficult for one to speak the second language with natural fluency comparable to one’s first language. People who started professional piano training past childhood often face the same difficulty, so it is essential to start early if one wants to “speak” music naturally and fluently when playing the piano.
3. Admission to music programs at universities and conservatories
Music programs at ALL universities and conservatories accept students as performance majors only if they are already advanced performing musicians. You have to be already able to play your instrumental very well and, in the case of top conservatories, demonstrate in your playing that you have received years of professional training prior to entering their undergraduate music programs. No university or conservatory accepts novices or even intermediate players into its music program as performance majors.
This is again different from other professions – while medical school or law school does not expect that you are already a doctor or a lawyer BEFORE you are accepted, you need to already play like a professional pianist if you want to become a piano performance major at a university or conservatory. You are expected to come with proper and advanced skills of piano playing when you enter university or conservatory, where your already advanced skills will be honed and polished further during your college years. It takes many years of training during childhood and adolescence in order to attain such advanced skills before college
*************************************************************************************************************************************************
If you want to be a competitive gymnast or play a sport professionally, you need a coach. One would never imagine learning gymnastics or a sport professionally by simply watching YouTube videos, observing other people doing it, or reading a book. Instructions from a professional coach are essential. Learning to playing the piano is the same – you need a piano teacher who can guide you in your musical growth and development of pianistic skills.
As a pianist, piano teacher, and college piano faculty member devoting my entire career to performing and providing fine piano education for the next generation, I would love to be your coach. I welcome anyone with a keen interest in and commitment to piano playing and dedicate myself to nurturing your musical and pianistic growth as you develop into a top-tier pianist.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************
What is in this track of piano instruction
You will receive TWO piano lessons every week. Depending on your level of playing, each lesson will be either 45 minutes or one hour. In our lessons, you will:
- Learn a wide range of repertoire and technical exercises
- Receive detailed instructions on the technical approach to piano playing and stylistic interpretation of music from different eras, following the musical traditions passed down from generations of important musicians and pedagogues
- Participate frequently in performance opportunities (recitals, outreach concerts, etc.) and, where appropriate, piano contests and/or competitions
Since this is pre-college preparation for a possible professional career in the future, commitment to excellent in your learning is essential. To maximize the benefits of such intense piano instructions and to see significant progress continuously, practicing the piano at home on your own for no less than 3 hours every day will be ideal. Taking long breaks during holidays, such as summer vacation, for over a month is strongly discouraged as they will jeopardize your progress.
