Q&A with Katharine Hafner

What is your favorite piece of music to play? To listen to?
There is so much inspiring, life-changing music in the world, I do not think I can pick one favorite. I love Bach and Handel, Mozart and Prokofiev, Beethoven, and Copland.

What is one of the most important pieces of advice that you were given as a musician or teacher?
If your students cannot do something, it is because you did not teach them to do it. Different students learn in different ways, and I need to be able to adjust to each individual child.

How do you motivate your students to practice and excel at their craft?
I often tell my students: “If it is too hard, simplify!” I encourage them to practice only a small section or group of notes, focus on one point, find the skeleton, and many other creative mechanisms. Another question I often ask them is: “What are you trying to accomplish here?” And keeping in mind always, people like to do what they do well, so I like to focus on what is developing well while gradually building up new abilities.

What is your philosophy of teaching?
Everyone can learn to play an instrument, and in the process of developing technical control and musical depth, we learn a lot about persistence, leadership and followership, honesty and bravery, structure and creativity, and so much more.

How has your life as a professional musician impacted your role as a music educator?
I love working with my Iolani orchestra. The creative process of teaching informs and enlightens what I do as a professional orchestra musician, and conversely, the standards of a professional musician often help me focus on bringing out the best in my private and orchestra students. In both of these worlds, we work hard and have fun!