SINGAPORE PIANO HUB

Are you someone who is exploring your options to pick up a musical instrument and wondering if it is an easy feat to learn the piano? In fac

Playing the piano might occur to most people as a fun activity. However, while you are having your share of fun, do remember that the piano is a sophisticated art and you should not forget your basic piano etiquettes. For those of you who are new to the piano game, here’s a beginners guide to piano etiquette! 1. Punctuality Most of the time, people tend to forget the fact that their piano teachers, despite their usual calm demeanour, are also human. They also have the need to

Delight in the playfulness of Mozart and the wittiness of Haydn, indulge in the romance of Rachmaninov and Chopin…or simply be wowed by the virtuosity of Liszt. The first round of the Leeds International Piano Competition was truly a performance not to be missed. The Leeds International Piano Competition Since its creation in 1963 by the legendary Dame Fanny Waterman, the Leeds International Piano Competition has helped many concert pianists start off their professional caree

With the recent conclusion of the 1st edition of the International Piano Island Festival held in Singapore, one could only marvel at the exciting line-up of accomplished pianists giving individual masterclasses and the opportunities to interact and befriend fellow piano lovers in person. In this article, you can learn more about piano festivals and the benefits they can bring to your child and your family! 1. Piano festival? What's that? A piano festival is an event held over

​ The new year is approaching, and for some of us that means new music! You eagerly retrieve your new book of Chopin Ballades from the bookshelf , plonk yourself before your piano and then… what? The excitement ebbs and you wish you can drown yourself in the sea of black dots right then and there. The question that you most probably shall have is “where do I start?” Do you decide to dive right in, get your hands dirty and courageously sight-read the entire piece? Or do you, a

​ It is difficult to pinpoint the exact definition of a “musician”. Is someone who plays soft background jazz at a restaurant a “musician”? Must a “musician” be someone in a cool rock band? Or does a virtuoso with a fancy tailcoat or tuxedo basking in the spotlight come to mind instead? Is a musician simply someone who learns or play an instrument? I shall hereby give a possible suggestion (credits to my piano teacher Ms Lena Ching) of the meaning of a “musician”: A musician

Haven’t we all heard the familiar statement from our piano teachers “Boy/Girl ah, you need to play more legato. Connect your notes…” But what does it exactly mean to play legato? Before that though, first let us have a look at the significance of legato. Legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz once said “the most important thing is to transform the piano from a percussive instrument into a singing instrument”. This is because music is primarily all about song and dance, and minu

Looking back at our learning journey, most of us probably realized we have our own preferences in picking up information. For instance, some of us work better by following written instructions whereas there are others, who would rather do hands-on work to better understand a concept. Likewise, for our students/kids, they have a preferred mode of learning. By identifying their primary mode of learning, we can utilize our teaching strategies better. Here are the characteristics

​What is it that makes a piano competition, or any competition rather, so alluring and seductive? Is it the yearning to perform, to showcase? Or is it the adrenaline rush, that steroid jab that makes your heart thrash against your rib-cage? Is it the sense of satisfaction, self-glorification triumph, when your hand closes around the plaque bearing your name, your title? Undeniably, these thoughts resonate within not only myself, but countless others. Why shouldn’t they? But t

You have spent a significant amount of money on your child’s music education, from piano lessons to purchasing a piano. Has it ever occurred to you that your child might not be appreciating music the way you had expected him to? Many kids lost interest entirely and gave up after years of learning. This can be salvaged if parents had spotted the trailing of interest before it was too late to do anything. It is therefore important to identify if they have lost interest in piano

In another article, I have penned down my thoughts and reasons on why is now the best time for you to learn the piano. But does that apply to your children as well? Or rather, to what extent is it true when it comes to children? Well, let’s touch on 3 main factors that will let you gain a better understanding and therefore make an informed decision. 1. Kids have grown but not big enough. Proper classical pianos come in rather standard sizes and makers don’t customize them to

This million dollar question never fails to pop up and bother many musically inspired individuals. Let’s be honest and face it - There is no answer to this question. Or rather, there are more than 101 answers to this. Put this in google and you will know what I mean. You probably landed here while trying to search for answers. The bad news for you is that I will not attempt to answer this question directly. BUT here’s the good news - I will solve the mystery behind this. How?

You have seen your friend’s angelic children playing melodious Christmas hymns during church concert and you are full of envy. You secretly hope that your kids can be the ones making the music. Is this kiasu-ism creeping into you? Fret not. Let me share with you why having this kiasu-ism is justified. 1. Let them be part of their music. Children definitely love listening to their favourite songs being played or performed to them. They will probably smile and dance along to it