Music is something that everyone deserves to have the opportunity to learn. It is an integral part of any culture, and it provides countless benefits for those who study it, whether that be a life-long hobby or passion, creating a new avenue for someone to express themselves, or increased skills in other areas outside of music.

As a music educator I do everything I can so that my students can be successful. I believe in creating a fun and safe environment in which students can learn. A student’s achievements are celebrated, weaknesses and errors will be handled sensitively and constructively so that growth and improvement can be natural, leading to confidence and self-awareness and critical thinking which is essential to a musician. Most importantly, a piano lesson should be a fun environment for everyone, giving the student something to look forward to every week. It is my job as a teacher to create this environment.

One of the great things about one-on-one learning is that it allows for all lessons to be tailored to each individual student. Material is delivered in a manner where the student can learn best and grasp each concept at their own pace. Despite lessons mostly consisting of this one-on-one nature, I believe heavily in fostering a sense of musical community with all my students. Students are presented with opportunities to perform alongside one another and play theory games together (in person or virtually) with myself, their family, or peers. They have opportunities to practice and perform duets together, attend masterclasses together, and participate in studio challenges.

The fundamentals are a key part of any education. A building cannot be erected on top of a faulty foundation. This is the exact same for piano and music in general. A teacher’s role is to guide students so that they can create this foundation together. This involves stressing concepts such as music theory, history, technique and the ergonomics of playing, ear training, sight reading, amongst others. If one of these areas is lacking, it can have a larger impact on playing and overall enjoyment of the craft. No hole in our knowledge, or a movement is too small for it to not be considered.

One of the great gifts in life is to constantly be learning. There is not an age where you stop learning, nor where you should stop. This is something that rings true for not only my pupils, but for myself. I am constantly re-evaluating my teaching methods and upgrading myself. I belong to numerous piano teacher and music educator communities worldwide. I am constantly adding to my music library, expanding my horizons in music as well as my music collection that I teach from, so that my students are not just learning the classics and masterpieces that have been studied for generations, but new works, arrangements, and new methods that incorporate different pedagogical approaches. I also attend workshops, masterclasses, read articles, and do everything I can to keep myself updated as I believe that the moment we ourselves stop learning, is the moment that we should no longer be teaching.

I believe that it is a privilege to work with each of my students and that I have as much to learn from them as they from me. Music lessons are not just lessons in music but lessons about life. Having a role model and mentor, sharing wisdom and improving one’s outlook on life is beyond value that has a price.  If our time together impacts them by becoming not just musicians, but happier, more curious, well-adjusted, and well-rounded human beings then I will have lived my magnum opus, my best work ever.