Q&A with Joanna Fan
After Sophie Nguyen, 16, and Naomi Kobayashi, 17, took First Prize at the Music Teachers National Association’s (MTNA) National Performance Competitions. HMTA sat down with Joanna for a brief Q&A.
What is your favorite piece of music to play? To listen to? There are too many composers and genres for me to choose one piece of music to play or listen to. Each composer has his unique style. Some of my favorites are Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Prokofiev, Bartok. It would be an impossible choice for me. They’re all incredible.
What achievement over the course of your life are you most proud of? When I was younger, my passion was in performing but during the course of my life, I have found my passion in teaching. My proudest achievement is being able to give students, my students’ children and now my granddaughter, the gift of music in their lives.
How do you motivate your students to practice and excel at their craft? First of all, I discuss choice of music with my students. If the music is not engaging, it will not motivate. I try to choose pieces that the students will not only enjoy but will help them technically depending on what their strengths and weaknesses are. I also feel that positive challenges are important because without them, students will get bored. Working towards a goal is also an important aspect in order to motivate students to practice and to excel, such as working towards excelling at the annual guild exam or competitions.
How do you prepare students for competition? In order to prepare for competitions, I have my students do a lot of slow practice. This is to help them with accuracy as well as working on the musicality of the pieces. When I can, I try to bring to mind images and ideas pertaining to each part of a piece. Thinking of how a phrase sounds can help with visualization and bring a feeling to a piece, which is reflected in the performance. The last thing is preparing for performance on the stage. I try to have my students play as many recitals as possible in front of an audience, such as the opportunities offered by HMTA, HPTA and playing at retirement homes.
What is one of your fondest memories of being a piano teacher? My fondest memory of being a piano teacher is actually now, which is teaching my granddaughter Keeley, something that I thought would never happen.
What is your philosophy of teaching? My philosophy of teaching is about fostering an enjoyment of music that lasts a lifetime.
How are you dealing with the current COVID situation in your piano teaching? I have been teaching students via Facetime now on my iphone.
What advice do you have for the young aspiring musicians of the next generation? My advice for young aspiring musicians is to practice thoughtfully and with commitment, go to concerts, become a well-rounded and well-educated person, and follow your passion!