Alyssa Wu

Alyssa is a PhD Candidate in Biochemistry at Western University. She obtained her BSc in Honours Life Sciences and a Minor in Music at McMaster University. She completed her Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Grade 10 Piano with First Class Honours in 2015. She is a continuous recipient of many awards and scholarships from several local festivals and competitions throughout the Niagara region. She has also competed in the OMFA Provincial Finals for many years, where she represented the Niagara region and their local festivals. As an educator, Alyssa provides interactive teaching methods, with an emphasis on developing strong piano technique and musicianship. By linking material in corresponding theory lessons to the student's current repertoire studies, this builds a foundation for deepening their understanding of the underlying musical foundations. Alyssa encourages her students to participate in recitals and festivals to build student confidence and stage presence when performing. Alyssa is also very engaged in the scientific research community. She has written about her experiences with online teaching and learning, pertaining to creating interactive online experiences while teaching piano and theory lessons during the pandemic. Her work has been funded by the Government of Ontario, Breast Cancer Canada, and TakingITGlobal. She frequently presents her work at international conferences.