Review from my student Maya Hsian

From a young age, I was exposed to the arts, including painting, dancing, theater arts, and much more. Rather than participating in my school’s sports teams and going down the athletic route, I partook in whatever performing arts-related activity I could. 

I began taking piano classes when I was around 6 years old. At that early stage, playing an interest was merely a small hobby, something I could enjoy in the comfort of my own home and without an audience. It wasn’t until I began taking classes from Ms. Ku that I took an interest in upgrading my skills and performing the pieces I learned. 

Ms. Ku is a teacher who is precise and responsible in her teaching. She notices little details and gives helpful advice to help her students improve and play to the best of their abilities. She is able to understand music in a way that makes her own playing of the piano extremely captivating. From determining the moods of the pieces to analyzing the personalities of the composers, Ms. Ku captures all the necessary components to play a piece of music spectacularly. 

Through Ms. Ku’s teaching, I developed a habit of paying attention to details and aiming to be precise in whatever it is I do. For example, as a dancer, I now listen carefully to the beats of the music in order to stay on time and focus on distinguishing between sharp and soft movements. I have also become more disciplined, knowing what it is I need to practice and how much work I must put in to make it the best that it can be. 

I have grown a lot from my many years as Ms. Ku’s student. She has helped me improve not just technically, but also as a person. She taught me skills to work on and gave me motivation to find things to practice on my own. My love for music grew tremendously, and for that, I must thank my piano teacher, who is expressive in her playing and dedicated to her work.