Teaching piano is fun and rewarding, but it is not a simple transfer of information from teacher to the student. A student can be damaged quite severely if the piano instructor does not provide proper guidance. The emphasis in piano is not how the student acquires knowledge, but how the student gradually develops their skills. It is the teachers job to guide the student in the right ways of learning and practicing piano, and if the teacher fails to do so the student will develop incorrectly, and it will affect their future as a pianist.

My approach to teaching piano centers around providing the most efficient and effective materials, and to be on constant guard as the student progresses. Knowing how to play piano means nothing when it comes to teaching others. I need to guide the student the way he/she needs to be taught, not in the way I was taught. I am always on the lookout for bad habits, inefficient practicing methods, and all kinds of other things that may come up as the student gets better. The student works hard to learn, and the teacher works hard to teach.

The number one difficulty in teaching piano is the natural gap between two people. Every person is different and we cannot read each others minds. Pianists forget how difficult piano was for them at one point. Speaking for myself as a pianist, it is sometimes hard to remember why some aspects of the music were difficult, or why I struggled here and there. When I see my students struggling through what looks to me to be really simple, I have to step out of my box to understand what they are thinking and what they are seeing. That is why teaching piano is challenging, yet very rewarding. Not only do I get to share my joy of piano, I also get to know my students very well as I learn to help them where they are struggling.