David began teaching at The Piano Studio last fall, and has been a welcome addition to our Teaching Team. Thank you David, for your dedication, and for answering our questions!
1. When did you first start playing your instrument?
I started playing piano at 5 years old.
2. Who was your favorite piano teacher and why?
My favourite teacher in my music education has been Kevin Komisaruk at the University of Toronto. He was my organ and harpsichord teacher. His easygoing nature and incredible depth of wisdom were incredibly helpful in jumpstarting my technique in keyboard instruments and renewing my appreciation for music.
3. What made you decide to pursue teaching as a job?
While I was still in university, people in my building heard me playing and asked if I could teach their children. It was at this point that I realized that I actually had something to offer. After teaching for a while, I realized that it was fun, too! So, after completing my degree, I heard about The Piano Studio and applied here.
4. What is your favorite piece to play?
While I haven’t played it in years (I lost the sheet music!), one of my all-time favourite pieces to play has been Night Train by Jimmy Forrest. It’s a fun, easygoing, jazz piece, and I find it quite relaxing to play.
5. Do you play in a band/orchestra?
I do not currently play in a band or orchestra. I am, however, preparing for my Performer’s ARCT and the co-requisite theory exams, as well as doing some piano accompaniment.
6. What is one of your favorite songs/artists/styles of music, and why?
My two favourite styles are Baroque and Jazz. These two styles are of course quite different, but a wonderful element to both of them is the improvisation and embellishment that give the sound a truly magical quality. Hearing a harpsichord’s running scale or a cool walking bass line can fill me with delight.
7. What other interests do you have, unrelated to music?
I am quite interested in computers and technology. I do a little bit of basic computer and web programming. I also like language; I speak French and a bit of Spanish. I have also started to learn some German.
8. Did you ever think about wanting to stop music? If so, what made you continue?
When I was a preteen, I had had a string of unenthusiastic teachers who just wanted to get me through exams. At some point, that studio closed down, my family had moved, and I was taking lessons at a new studio closer to home. After having a third teacher in 2 years, I wasn’t very keen on continuing lessons, but my mom and grandma kept me through it.
What made me intent on continuing lessons was when my teacher had introduced me to jazz music. I was playing fairly advanced jazz pieces for my level with a good proficiency, and more importantly, I was having fun! By improving my musical confidence and skill through jazz, I started to enjoy classical music as well, which until then, had been more challenging for me.
9. What is your advice to parents whose children are having difficulty finding or making the time to practice at home?
First, if your child doesn’t already have a set time to practice piano, try setting one up. What worked for me was practicing after dinner, and something similar could work (after school, after homework, at a set time like 6:00 pm etc.)
Second, your child needs to be able to enjoy what he or she is playing. If we can find music or a style that they want to play, they’ll find the time to practice for sure.
Finally, whatever you do while they’re practicing, make sure it’s supportive. Sometimes, children can be sensitive about their perceived playing abilities, regardless of their actual playing abilities, and it’s important that you listen to and compliment the music that they play.
10. If you could learn to play another instrument, what would it be?
The next instrument I would like to learn is clarinet. I’ve played it in my elementary and high school bands, but I’ve never actually had a one-on-one lesson for it, so I still have a lot to learn.
