Private Instruction
Suzuki Education
PhD, University of Southampton (UK)
MMus in Piano Performance, University of Reading (UK)
BA (with Honors) in Piano Performance, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (UK)
Suzuki Piano Registered Book Trainings (Bks 1-7)
Suzuki Piano Practicum
Suzuki Piano Teaching Strategies
Suzuki Principle in Action
Certificate of Achievement (SAA)
Music Mind Games Units 1 & 2
Teaching Philosophy
I seek to nurture the developmental skills and character of young students by providing them with a structured and well-rounded musical education, to guide them to the sense of accomplishment that can only come after genuine challenge, dedication and effort.
I specialized in Suzuki Piano, which is by far the most effective approach for nurturing and developing the musical ability of a child from a very young age. Based on Suzuki's "mother language" philosophy, very young children learn to play the piano through their senses after listening to recordings and observing how other children learn.
A cooperative relationship between teacher, parent and student is essential for a successful learning process. A parent is expected to be present at the child's lesson and receive training as a practice partner to the child. As a result, Suzuki parents and children are often known to build strong parent-child bonds, which would be treasured for a lifetime.
Beginning lessons focus on the fundamentals of piano playing such as posture, sensitivity to good pianistic tone, phrasing and rhythm, as well as developing a routine of daily home practice. More experienced learners will be guided in developing technical tools musically through a wide range of repertoire. By integrating technique and musicality, they will be encouraged to strive for brilliance and craftsmanship while connecting with the imaginative and emotional content of their music.
Emphases are also placed on the intelligent use of tonal color, and the shaping of musical phrases by relating with personal life experiences; so that creatively and imaginatively, the students may be fully engaged in communicating music that is both exciting and inspiring.
My students and parents are also immersed in a studio culture characterized by praise and encouragement. As a close-knit community of learners, everyone will be encouraged to listen, practice and perform for each other, so that music may be integrated into a significant place in the students' life.
The ultimate goal is for each student to bring the mind, body, and soul to music making, an experience which will be meaningful and rewarding to both the students and to the listeners. The students may also come to know and enjoy the instrument as an effective vehicle for self-expression, as well as a means to connect, to bring joy and beauty to the world around them.
Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA)
Music Teacher National Association (MTNA)
Some of my most memorable moments involved the picturesque English countryside… I had lived in the UK for over a decade as a student. Being with my piano after spending a few hours on the hills in Kent, Canterbury or in Lake District, my mind and spirit often felt awakened and sensitized – to become better in touch with my sound, regardless of the repertoire. To experience that which is bigger than myself at the piano, to be lost in wonder, awe and love in performance, when all striving ceases, those were some of my most amazing and unforgettable musical moments. That is also what makes the study of music worthwhile. I have tasted something so good and so profound; it would be selfish of me not to share. I consider it my calling and life mission to help others come to experience the power of music – which is capable of transforming life, both our own life and of those around us.
This is a short video clip from a Parent Roundtable at a virtual Suzuki Piano Institute with a group of teachers and parents in Singapore in August, 2020, where some of my studio families offered to zoom in to share their experience of Suzuki Piano lessons.
Alex (age 15) and parents have been a family in my studio at MIC for the past 9 years. https://youtu.be/O9-LxON-AVE (unlisted YouTube link) (Video courtesy of Nurture with Love Suzuki Music School, Singapore; and with permission from Alex and parents).