Dr. Sung Chan Chang
Helen Chao-Casano
Dr. Nikki Routman Ebisu
“One of my primary objectives in teaching is to promote music as a vehicle for non-verbal and artistic expression. Every child is unique, so I adapt my teaching method and lesson plan to fit the personality, learning style and mood of each and every individual student. My teaching curriculum is centered around many of my own personal childhood learning experiences and hurdles that I had to overcome. It is my duty to act not only as their instructor, but also as their mentor, role model and inspiration.”
Katharine Hafner
Playing an instrument is one of the hardest (and most rewarding) things anyone can learn to do - coordination of small and large muscles; thinking and doing; mechanical, emotional and mental processes; individual responsibility and teamwork - there is quite a lot to keep track of in the development of each student. Beginners learn to discern and differentiate and to follow directions. Developing students "learn how to learn". Advanced students learn to use their technical skills to project and share the emotion and meaningfulness of music, to connect with the audience as they explore their own feelings. Everyone can learn. I am energized and inspired by my wonderful students as they grow in ability and character.
Heesung Hyon
Ignace Jang
Gunhwan Jung
Ethel Iwasaki
“True music education should involve the collaboration and understanding of all the fine arts. My role as a teacher should be to relate music to art, dance, and history to enrich the lives of my students in depth. Therefore, the real value of music lessons is to prepare the students for the future in making music an avocation, if not a vocation…“
Christine Lee
“My goal is not just to teach students how to play, but to help them grow in music, as well as in character. As a teacher, I take a personal interest in every student as an individual and I aim to touch their hearts through music. Helping students find joy in piano is my primary objective. Often practicing can be repetitive and tedious, especially technical exercises. However, those exercises and practices are necessary for progress. By teaching them music theories and histories, they have a better understanding and can adopt the music and express themselves. When guided by proper technique, unnecessary repetitions are minimized to allow them to find joy in music. Most of all, by revealing the wonderful world of music to them and showing them how exciting it is to play and enjoy the music, students seem to experience the music from their heart. ”
Bichuan Li
Xianhe Liu
Dr. Katy Luo
Piano, Composition, Chamber Music / Honolulu, Kailua, Kaneohe
“My goal as a teacher is to help each student develop a unique and meaningful relationship with music. I believe that it is only through direct and honest engagement with this art form, that music can make a profound impact in one's life. My students engage in a variety of activities that not only nurture fundamental musical skills, but consistently present challenges for exploration and experimentation.”
Landon Mattox
Joshua Nakazawa
My main goal is to make music fun while teaching how to learn most efficiently. The skills involved with learning how to play music can translate into all different areas of life. Whether one chooses to learn casually or seriously, If the student works hard enough, they can receive the training and knowledge needed to reach conservatory level expectations and can be provided with guidance for a professional musical career.
Su Jie Nam
Dr. Yuseon Nam
Sabrina Saiki-Mita
Jamie Sanborn
“First and foremost music is supposed to be fun and that is my main goal. Sometimes this means helping a student become the best but more often this means using music to help them find their own voice, courage, and community.”
Rachel Saul Schifino
“Prioritizing a curriculum that is unique to each student, I carefully observe each student's ability to determine the course of study. My teaching philosophy, influenced by my "Grandfather" teacher Ivan Galamian, emphasizes an equal pyramid of technique and musicality. Developing both equally, with technique’s sole purpose to express innate musicality, is essential to achieve the end goal to create artful music.”