60 Seconds Music Relief Project

In the recent event of the covid-19 pandemic, our society experiences fear, uncertainties, and doubts. However, I also see the strength and dedication of people who are risking their lives to helping others. 

At the time like this, as a musician, we can all contribute to the society by playing music to relieve stress and tension. Hence, I have created this project “60 Seconds Music Relieve” in collaboration with my dedicated students. Because of the current shelter-at-home phase, they have been practicing fiercely and video recording pieces that are ready to perform in our annual Studio Spotlight recital in May, which is canceled due to the pandemic.

Many of the pieces are from the RCM Celebration Series Perspectives, which is the official textbooks for the RCM exam. If you are teaching this program or searching repertoire inspiration, our video playlist would be a good resource! 

We are on three different social media platforms. Hope you enjoy our selections of music :)

Youtube

Studio Facebook page

Instagram

Stay safe, healthy, and enjoy the blooming of Spring! 

Highlights From the First MTAC Santa Clara Branch Piano Pedagogy Seminar!

Happy 2020! Here are the highlights of my delightful experience of teaching the first Pedagogy Smeniar for the Music Teachers' Associations of California, Santa Clara Branch from Sept to Nov. 2019. As mentioned in the previous blog, we had a group of ten dedicated teachers and six weeks of inspiring sessions! The seminar covered essential topics from Beginner to Elementary levels.

1. Fundamental techniques: they are the root of our students' future technical development. In addition to a list of my essential go-to techniques, I also introduced how I use Hanon in various ways! If you are creative, this book can help students to achieve effective results!
2. Musicality: students shall learn how to listen to the melody and understand the phrasing from the very beginning. We have discussed developing musicality through dynamic shading, rhythm, and pedaling. I also introduced some highlights from Peter Mack's inspiring "The Art of The Phrase" workshop.
3. Musicianship: sight-reading, rhythmic counting, ear training, and theory. Shouldn't our students have all these techniques instructed in their lessons? However, with the time restraint of each lesson, teachers will surely need organizing and creative strategies. We had vivid discussions from using the computer lab and apps to making the theory books more appealing by using color arts!
4. Students learning patterns and behavior: This helps teachers to better identify students' learning processes and design a more effective teaching approach! I have talked about the visual/aural/kinesthetic learning styles as well as the Four Temperament by Dr. K. Golay. It is beneficial and educational to see how we can apply these theories to teaching.
5. Method books and repertoires survey: when assigned appropriately, they can significantly inspire and motivate students' learning. We have covered both mainstream teaching methods as well as rote teaching and innovative approaches. Best of all, some teachers performed their favorite recital repertoires!! 

In addition to these topics, we shared conversations on various teaching subjects and concerns including ideas on teaching preschoolers and improvisations. I learned so much from this group of brilliant teachers, who reminded me how much I love teaching music!

I look forward to our next seminar, which will focus on the Intermediate level in Sept 2020. The content of the Intermediate level will be posted in May. I will also offer this same session again to accommodate teachers who didn't get to attend this time.

Thanks to Music Exchange and its Manager Gordy Martin who provided us their spacious recital hall for the seminar.

A lovely "thank you" bouquet from the branch and the teachers!! Thank you so much for your participation and friendship!!

Piano Pedagogy Seminar for MTAC Santa Clara Branch

It is very exciting to collaborate with MTAC Santa Clara branch to offer a series of Pedagogy Practicum Seminars. This seminar is designed specifically for teachers. It focuses on practical pedagogical approach in a systematic sequence that covers various teaching aspects from beginner-advanced levels. 

The first seminar contains six-week sessions and focuses on beginner to elementary stages. It will include the following contents but not limited to those topics. Teachers can also apply these teaching techniques to intermediate and transferring students.

•    Fundamental techniques that help fix awkward hand position and playing issues 

•    Sight-reading and rhythmic counting

•    Build musicality from the very beginning

•    Understand students' learning behaviors for effective teaching

•    Survey method books and assign performance repertoire 

•    Various teaching approaches (e.g., rote)

Each session includes a lecture following by a group discussion to address individual concerns. It is 90 minutes in length and will meet once a week for a consecutive of six weeks.

The first seminar session: registration is at first come first serve basis

Date: September 17 – October 22, 2019. 

Time: Tuesday at 10:30 am – 12 pm 

Location: Greene Music recital hall, San Jose. 

Enrollment: 10

Registration deadline: Please send in your registration form and payment by 9/4 to Michael Eldridge (his address is on the enrollment form)

Contact me if you have questions regarding the class information

My Students' Achievements!

This Sat was our annual studio Spring Spotlight Piano Recital. I was proud to see the students' performances and appreciated how hard they worked all year round!

We had such a rewarding year of students winning US Open Music Competition, RCM Center and State Certificate of Excellence, CAPMT Piano Audition, and American Protege Festival.

When I looked back, I found myself cherishing the most was the preparation process and each lesson that we spent together. It is such a rewarding experience to inspire these young musicians to become the best version of themselves. I look forward to my students' continuing growth in their music study and am glad to be included in this musical chapter of their life!

Check out their wonderful performances on our studio Facebook page!

My Workshop for MTAC Convention 2019!

The MTAC 2019 convention is coming to Santa Clara on 6/28-7/1! This year is my second time to participate in this convention, and this time, not only as an attendee but also a presenter.  Here is my session "Eight Elementary Techniques that Help Students Build A Solid Foundation For the Future." It will take place on 6/28 Friday, 11:10-12 AM in Grand Ballroom D, Hyatt Regency Santa Clara Hotel and Convention Center.

Please join me for this educational event and meet with many prominent artists and pedagogues. Like the previous year, I will post a blog about each session that I attend. Don't forget to check the upcoming posts. Can't wait to get inspired and exchange ideas with so many dedicated teachers!

US open music competition winners

It was an exciting week to see that my students who participated in this year's United State Open Music Competition have all won a place in their competing categories!! 

The awards include 1 Outstanding Gold Medal, 3 Gold Medals, 3 Silver Medals, and multiple bronze medals and 4th places! I am very proud of their achievements and am glad that their hard work and dedication are rewarded accordingly. 

This year, the competition has a new judging system that includes preliminary and final rounds. It was interesting to see how the first set of judges select the finalists, and the second set of judges decided the winners' ranks. The gold medalist received a cash prize and performed in the winner concert. Additional "Outstanding Gold Medal" was awarded to the best performance in a group of winners who performed in the winner concert.

My students who have attended the award ceremony shared some of these memorable photos with me. 

Sanyi Yao received the Outstanding Gold Medal and two Gold Medals. 

Esther Kim received Gold, bronze and 4th place medals. 

Logan Song received two Silver Medals. 

Congratulations to these young talented musicians, and thank you for making my teaching such a remarkable journey! 

2/9 CSUEB Piano Pedagogy Symposium

It is a great pleasure to present a workshop again for the CSUEB 2nd Piano Pedagogy Symposium! This year, the Symposium not only includes prominent pedagogues and performers, but it also extends from a half day to a whole day with four workshops, a panel discussion, and two master classes!

Please join us for this educational event! See detail info in the flyer.