MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Music as a Calling

I believe music is not only a source of personal joy and expression but also a divine calling. As musicians, we are entrusted with a sacred responsibility: to give life to the notes God has placed in our hands, to preserve and transmit the beauty of music across generations, and to share its transformative power with the world.

If we truly believe that God has called us to this path, we must approach it with reverence and commitment. For instrumental teachers, this means providing students with a comprehensive, well-rounded musical education. Technique, posture, fingering, phrasing, music theory, critical listening, performance study, and effective practice habits—these are not merely technical elements, but the building blocks of musicianship through which students can flourish as pianists, musicians, and artists.

Gentle Yet Firm: The Teacher’s Role

True influence does not come through force, but through encouragement, empathy, and the cultivation of critical thinking. A teacher must understand where a student has come from, where they are now, and where they aspire to go. This is especially vital in one-on-one instrumental instruction, where trust and connection are foundational.

The path of a musician is demanding, and for Christian musicians, the journey can be even more complex. I remember grappling with competitiveness and self-doubt during my own student years. These experiences have deepened my empathy and strengthened my resolve to support my students through their own challenges—spiritually, emotionally, and artistically.

Music as Service: Loving Others Through Music

As one of the founding members and the concert program coordinator of the Confido Music Society—a non-profit dedicated to organizing benefit concerts for children with disabilities, foster children, refugees, and others in need—I am deeply committed to using music as a form of outreach and love. I encourage my students to perform not only for their personal growth but also as a means to give back to their communities. Music becomes more meaningful when it is shared generously and purposefully.

Building Discipline and Character Through Music

My mission is to nurture maturity, discipline, and purpose through music education. I want each student to use their God-given gifts to glorify Him by praising His creation—music—with excellence, beauty, and heart. While competitions, auditions, and acceptance into prestigious schools are valuable goals, they are not the end in themselves. They are tools—a means to serve a higher calling.

My Teaching Style

Since becoming a Christian as a college student at age 20, faith and music have become inseparably linked in my life. Music is a divine gift through which I’ve discovered my life’s purpose, and I am deeply grateful to God for it.

We sense God’s presence profoundly in music. It is no coincidence that we worship Him through song—music moves both performer and listener into a posture of reverence and reflection through its emotional and intellectual depth.

As a teacher, my goal is to equip students with the tools they need to praise God as beautifully and faithfully as they can. Because each student is uniquely created—with different strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and learning styles—I tailor my instruction accordingly. I take the time to understand their goals, assess their abilities, and guide their musical journey with intentionality and care.

I firmly believe in fostering independent, thoughtful musicians who are capable of asking “why,” choosing “what,” and executing “how.” Through this process, students not only grow as pianists but also develop as thoughtful, mature individuals—ready to use their gifts in service of something greater than themselves.

Piano playing is both physical and mental.

It is essential that we train consistently, the same way that athletes train. Piano practice does not allow for procrastination - it requires steady, bit-by-bit progress.

Music is highly subjective, and it is important for today's generation to be able to articulate their ideas clearly, coherently, and with confidence.

Great performances do not just come from great technique. The study of music is most rewarding and most interesting when students understand not just "what" to do but "why." Understanding the theory behind the work, having knowledge of the context and history of the music, reading great books, and more are all equally important in becoming a well-rounded, mature, and healthy musician and person.

Inefficient practice habits formed as young students often stick with them into adulthood.

Being able to practice mindfully is a skill that needs to be taught, trained, and cultivated. I have very specific views about practice, and a key part of my training is to guide students to be more productive and purposeful in their own practice and ultimately become their own teachers.

It is crucial for the teacher to be aware of her students’ mental state and to encourage and help the student to cultivate a purposeful and intentional work ethic.

I’ve seen many unhappy talented young pianists become depressed or burnt out and not use their full potential. This is why I offer a once-a-month consultation with every student regardless of their level and age, so that we can discuss and set up practical goals and evaluate their work and progress.