Where do I go to buy a piano?
Browse through your phone book for local piano dealerships. Popular stores in the San Francisco Bay Area include Steinway Pianos, Piedmont Piano Company, Kawai, and Yamaha.
How often should my piano be tuned?
You should generally have your piano turned every year, but the optimal frequency is every six months. Your piano technician will advise you how often to tune based on where the piano is placed in the room.
How long and how often should a beginner pianist practice?
Students should practice with specific goals and tasks to complete in the session, but a general rule of thumb is that students should practice every day around the same amount of time as their weekly lessons.
How did you become interested in music?
As a child, I became interested in music through playing minor parts in musical theater. In theater, dancing, singing, and acting were important influences in my choice to become a musician. It helped develop my flexible attitude towards music. I am not merely a solo pianist. Instead, I participate in chamber ensembles, orchestral groups, and perform with other musicians. Before my private piano studio, I took both group violin and group piano classes. I joined orchestra (including the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra), choir, and attended classical concerts with my family.
I hear piano is generally a lonely instrument. Would a student with an outgoing personality be suited for piano?
Although much of the piano repertoire is solo, pianists have options and opportunities to engage with other musicians through accompanying instrumentalists or vocalists, playing two-piano four-hand pieces, two-piano eight-hand pieces, playing in small chamber groups, or joining an orchestra. You can be a sociable pianist. Having the solid foundation of piano also develops natural understanding of theory concepts and music analysis such as chords, chord progressions, and phrasing. A pianist is a one-person orchestra and is a very independent instrument, yet can integrate other musicians as well.
What other relevant subjects can complement piano lessons?
Music theory, music history, composition, chamber music are all good supplementary courses. Theory builds the basic foundation and understanding of how music compositions are constructed and how to analyze music scores. Music history informs students of composers' backgrounds and compositional styles and influences. It offers meaning and explanation to their works.
Aside from course subjects, per se, I encourage my students to immerse themselves in all things musical: symphony concerts, ballet, opera, musicals, chamber music, conducting, other instrumental recitals, etc. The list for music exposure is very long and varied. Much can be learned from these concerts or master classes and applied to your instrument. I learned more from a violin teacher while accompanying a violinist than during one of my own lessons. The key is to be open-minded. You may even find out you have a new favorite path in music.
Send me any questions you have and I'll do my best to provide you an answer them!
Browse through your phone book for local piano dealerships. Popular stores in the San Francisco Bay Area include Steinway Pianos, Piedmont Piano Company, Kawai, and Yamaha.
How often should my piano be tuned?
You should generally have your piano turned every year, but the optimal frequency is every six months. Your piano technician will advise you how often to tune based on where the piano is placed in the room.
How long and how often should a beginner pianist practice?
Students should practice with specific goals and tasks to complete in the session, but a general rule of thumb is that students should practice every day around the same amount of time as their weekly lessons.
How did you become interested in music?
As a child, I became interested in music through playing minor parts in musical theater. In theater, dancing, singing, and acting were important influences in my choice to become a musician. It helped develop my flexible attitude towards music. I am not merely a solo pianist. Instead, I participate in chamber ensembles, orchestral groups, and perform with other musicians. Before my private piano studio, I took both group violin and group piano classes. I joined orchestra (including the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra), choir, and attended classical concerts with my family.
I hear piano is generally a lonely instrument. Would a student with an outgoing personality be suited for piano?
Although much of the piano repertoire is solo, pianists have options and opportunities to engage with other musicians through accompanying instrumentalists or vocalists, playing two-piano four-hand pieces, two-piano eight-hand pieces, playing in small chamber groups, or joining an orchestra. You can be a sociable pianist. Having the solid foundation of piano also develops natural understanding of theory concepts and music analysis such as chords, chord progressions, and phrasing. A pianist is a one-person orchestra and is a very independent instrument, yet can integrate other musicians as well.
What other relevant subjects can complement piano lessons?
Music theory, music history, composition, chamber music are all good supplementary courses. Theory builds the basic foundation and understanding of how music compositions are constructed and how to analyze music scores. Music history informs students of composers' backgrounds and compositional styles and influences. It offers meaning and explanation to their works.
Aside from course subjects, per se, I encourage my students to immerse themselves in all things musical: symphony concerts, ballet, opera, musicals, chamber music, conducting, other instrumental recitals, etc. The list for music exposure is very long and varied. Much can be learned from these concerts or master classes and applied to your instrument. I learned more from a violin teacher while accompanying a violinist than during one of my own lessons. The key is to be open-minded. You may even find out you have a new favorite path in music.
Send me any questions you have and I'll do my best to provide you an answer them!