My Musical Experience

Personal Piano Training (2021 – Present)

  • My latest music teaching project is building my Personal Piano Training Program which offers online piano lessons geared especially toward adult learners. I currently work with adult students either returning to piano after a hiatus or beginning piano for the first time.

  • I have conducted free trial online piano workshops in a masterclass-inspired format where a couple of participants submit video recordings to be discussed by all. This offers a platform for pianists to share musical and technical insights into the process of working toward an effective performance. I plan on making this workshop regularly available to my students in the near future.

University of Alberta (2018-2024)

  • I served as an ATS (academic teaching staff) lecturer for Rudiments of Music (Music 100), preparing classes that covered the fundamentals of Western Classical music notation. I prepared a Midterm Exam, a Final Exam, and a creative project for a class of 25 students while also regularly grading weekly music theory homework. (Winter 2024)

  • I worked as a teaching assistant and eventually ATS for Keyboard Fundamentals (Music 129) and taught

    undergraduate music majors. I make sure they know all their major and minor scales, arpeggios, and

    chords. I also assigned them repertoire from different periods of music. This work culminated in end of

    term juries. (Fall 2018 - Fall 2022)

  • I served as a piano studio teaching assistant offering piano lessons to undergraduate piano majors 6 hours a week. In between lessons with their primary professors, I worked on them with their repertoire, covering practice techniques, discussing musical possibilities, and preparing for technical exams and performances. (Fall 2018 - Winter 2020)

  • During the COVID-19 Pandemic, my work as a graduate teaching assistant led me to creatively and proficiently use online technology to deliver course material as seamlessly as possible via zoom lessons.

Freelance Performance Coach (2023 - Present)

  • I have been hired by colleagues and friends (in-person and online) to coach them or their advanced students in preparation for performances and competitions. I would listen to their repertoire, and engage in a thorough discussion of how to navigate musical, technical, and interpretive challenges in the music.

Walters Music Studio (2021 - 2022)

  • I worked as a private piano instructor, teaching students from age 6 - 27. Through my work I have learned more about the RCM exam system and have offered lessons both in-person and online. My time of employment was cut short due to my father’s terminal illness.

San Jose State University (2017-2018)

  • I worked as a teaching associate and taught piano proficiency to undergraduate music students. I made sure they know all their major and minor scales, arpeggios, and chords. I also assign them intermediate repertoire from different periods of music. I worked as a student assistant for an introduction to music course for non-music majors. The class covered the basics of music history, music theory, and piano playing.


Private Studio Teaching (2013-present)

  • I have managed a private studio of up to 19 students. I teach them weekly and organize annual recitals for them.

Veksler Academy of Music and Dance (2013 – 2016)

  • I worked as a piano instructor, teaching students from age 3 – 50. My experience challenged me to find inspiring and innovative ways of communicating musical information to students of varying levels of musical experience and diverse personalities. With intermediate students, I actively incorporated music theory in my lesson plans. I also prepared a number of students for annual Certificate of Merit Exams. I resigned from my position in order to make time for graduate studies

Santa Clara University (2012 - 2013)

  • I served as a teaching assistant for Theory III Class (Spring 2012). I conducted review sessions, helped with grading assignments, and supervised in-class activities (such as 4-part writing).

  • I served as a teaching assistant for Aural Skills II, III, and V (The Theory/Aural Skills Capstone). I collaborated with the professor in correcting homework assignments and administering exams.

  • I volunteered as a teaching assistant in a beginning piano class. I mentored students one-on-one, and help them keep up with the fairly brisk pace of the lesson plan.

Church Choir Accompanist & Workshop Leader (2024)

  • Together with a friend and colleague I set up a series of rehearsals and a workshop at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Edmonton. The intention was to support singers with little to no formal training in music. We observed significant improvement in the choir and still occasionally work with them on a volunteer basis.

EDUCATION

University of Alberta (2018 – Present)

  • Pursuing a DMUS in Piano

  • Current Teacher – Jacques Després

  • Solo and Chamber Performances

  • Graduate seminars in music theory & ethnomusicology

  • Courses in piano literature and piano pedagogy

San Jose State University (2016 – 2018)

  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M. M. in Keyboard Studies

  • Teacher – Frank Lévy

  • Solo and Chamber Performances

  • Graduate seminars in music history, performance styles, and music theory

Santa Clara University (2009 - 2013)

  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Music (performance emphasis)

  • Teacher – Hans Boepple

  • Thorough education in theory, musicianship/aural skills, and music history.

  • Advanced piano performance training

MUSICAL EDUCATION & TEACHER TRAINING

Avivo Teacher-Training-Institute (July 16 – 18, 2015)

  • Spearheaded by original members of the Walden School, the workshop was a discussion and exploration of creative teaching methods and fostering a unique artistic identity. [http://avivo.com/tti/]

Walden Teacher-Training-Institute (August 3 – 10, 2011)

  • attended the level 1 of TTI, which was an exploration of creative ways of conveying musical information and aiding students in grasping musical concepts as well as finding their own artistic voice. [http://waldenschool.org/teacher-training-institute/]

Private Piano Instruction (1997 - 2009)

  • 12 years of piano lessons (pre-college)

  • In 2009, I completed MTAC Certificate of Merit Evaluations which tested piano performance, technique, and theory knowledge.

  • Performed in studio recitals (about 2 each year)

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

Strauss Foundation Scholarship

  • On January 15, 2020 I was selected as one of the recipients of the Strauss Foundation Scholarship which will fund a trip to study music in Austria during the Summer (postponed due to COVID-19)

Beryl Barnes Memorial Graduate Award

  • Fall 2019

  • An award of $5000 which goes toward the tuition of my DMus studies at the University of Alberta

Edmonton Chamber Music Society Scholarship

  • September 14, 2019

  • An award of $1000 as well as the opportunity to play a pre-concert performance during the ECMS 2019-2020 season, featuring music by Prokofiev, Debussy, and Liszt.

Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship

  • 2018-2019 School Year

  • An award of $10,000 which goes toward the tuition of my DMus studies at the University of Alberta.

San Jose Music Study Club Competition

  • On November 12, 2017, I was selected as one of two winners of the San Jose Music Study Club Competition. I was the recipient of a $1000 scholarship prize and was been given the opportunity to perform a concert in Spring 2018. I played Rachmaninoff’s Etude-Tableaux Op. 39 No. 5 in E-flat Minor and Ravel’s Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit.

The Claude and Alberta Walker Scholarship

  • 2016 - 2018

  • An award of $13,600 ($3400 per semester) which went toward the tuition of my M.M. degree in Keyboard Studies at San Jose State University.

Santa Clara University Concerto Aria Competition

  • In 2010 and 2012, I was selected to play concerto movements with the SCU Orchestra. I played Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major (Mov. I) and Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor (Mov. I) respectively.

Music Teachers Association of California 2012 Concerto Competition

  • On March 30, 2012 I was selected as the first alternate of the MTAC Division IV Piano Concerto Competition. I played The first movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto

Music Teachers Association of California 2011 Solo Piano Competition

  • On July 2, 2011 I was selected as the winner of the MTAC Division IV Solo Piano Competition. I played Rachmaninoff’s Preludes Op. 23 Nos. 6 and 2.