Shirley Liu

Long before I went on to pursue my B.Music, my parents decided to sign me up for private piano lessons. It was a good choice; the piano is and always shall be my first musical love, no matter the flute degrees that I ended up obtaining! Since then, the piano and all my other music education has taught me invaluable lessons in not only artistry, history, physical coordination, and creativity, but life skills such as discipline, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving. I welcome students of all ages and abilities into my studio! Children and teens of school-going age will especially benefit from both my pedagogical knowledge and my experience as an Ontario Certified Teacher, as I draw upon these specialties to create comprehensive plans of study. My beginner students use the Piano Adventures method series. My students work out of the Lesson, Technique and Artistry, and Theory books, ensuring that their music education is well-rounded right from the first lesson. Using these books as a basis, my students complete roughly monthly units of study that introduce new musical concepts and technical exercises to develop healthy movement. We say that we “play” music for a reason. I sprinkle in multiple games and activities into lessons so students are able to engage with musical ideas in as many ways as possible. This is especially valuable to “sell” young students on the idea of practice. Making games out of repetition heightens concentration and transforms what may be tedious practice into a rewarding and enriching experience for students. This love of music-making is further strengthened when they are able to successfully play a stunning piano duet with their teacher in the next lesson! For students who show technical ability and an interest in performance, I strongly encourage them take RCM examinations. I continue to plan units of study for RCM students to ensure they are able to meet their examination milestones in a timely manner. I believe that examinations are highly valuable experiences, as there is no replacement for public performance. To that end, high achieving students are also encouraged to participate in additional performance activities such as festivals, competitions, and even non-piano musical endeavours such as their school band. In between units of study and examinations, I always give students the opportunity to learn a couple of “for fun” pieces each year. These pieces can be of their own choice or from a couple of options that I deem appropriate for their level. I love seeing students light up at the chance to play music they recognize, whether it be pop, jazz, movie soundtracks, or even from video games. Ultimately, I believe it is important to nurture a love of music itself. Sometimes we do that by taking a break from talking about Beethoven to (not) talk about Bruno! Long after their music lessons end, I hope my students remember the successes born of their effort. Whether it be in the form of applause in the aftermath of a performance or a “eureka” moment of understanding while in practice, I want them to know that their musical studies are worthwhile in and of themselves. And of course, I hope that no matter where they end up, they always have the time and ability to play the piano for the pure love of it!