Mr. Kevin Kao
(FreshStart Director)
Who is this Piano Teacher Guy?
*CLANG**BAM**CLUNK*
You're in the living room or kitchen, paying the bills, cleaning, cooking, or just relaxing and those are the sounds you hear coming from the other room--where the piano is.
Yeap, it's piano practice time.
Yeap, that was me in the piano room.
Now I didn't act out like this all the time (if my memory serves me correctly), it happened more times than I'd like to admit. But I sure am glad my mom never gave up on me and let me quit piano lessons, because the funny thing with those ugly practice sessions was--they always turned out alright. I'd bang on the piano for a bit, played hideously wrong notes on purpose, got no reaction out of my mother...
And got to work.
Five years at a music conservatory and two years of graduate studies in piano performance later (4-6 hours of practice a day, you do the math), I have the privilege and blessing to pass on my love and passion for classical music to my students. Thanks mom and all my piano teachers!
I won't go into my credentials here because honestly, the reasons why I've chosen to become a full-time professional piano teacher are much more important (as opposed to something in the sciences; bye bye UCI and UCSD, sorry dad!).
You're in the living room or kitchen, paying the bills, cleaning, cooking, or just relaxing and those are the sounds you hear coming from the other room--where the piano is.
Yeap, it's piano practice time.
Yeap, that was me in the piano room.
Now I didn't act out like this all the time (if my memory serves me correctly), it happened more times than I'd like to admit. But I sure am glad my mom never gave up on me and let me quit piano lessons, because the funny thing with those ugly practice sessions was--they always turned out alright. I'd bang on the piano for a bit, played hideously wrong notes on purpose, got no reaction out of my mother...
And got to work.
Five years at a music conservatory and two years of graduate studies in piano performance later (4-6 hours of practice a day, you do the math), I have the privilege and blessing to pass on my love and passion for classical music to my students. Thanks mom and all my piano teachers!
I won't go into my credentials here because honestly, the reasons why I've chosen to become a full-time professional piano teacher are much more important (as opposed to something in the sciences; bye bye UCI and UCSD, sorry dad!).
Alright, so why are you teaching piano?
To help people fully realize, develop, and benefit from the gift of music that's within everyone.
Through piano lessons, I want my students to learn to go through life with spirit, courage, perseverance, and confidence by encouraging their innate love for music and to learn to appreciate and be fanatics for classical music.
(Can you think of any other type of music that still brings people to tears centuries after being written? WITHOUT the use of words? I used to listen to KOST 103.5 all. the. time....NOW I CAN'T STAND IT.)
The focus of my teaching philosophy is to nurture students to become critical thinkers and independent learners so that they continue to love, progress, and enjoy piano all on their own for the rest of their lives.
So...I'm a bit of an oddball as far as piano teachers go...
Church Basketball Tournament
Besides teaching piano, I love playing basketball and working out at the gym. (Two things my piano teachers told me not to do). I love to eat Taiwanese and Japanese food, but I can pretty much find something I like in any cuisine (hence the necessity of basketball and gym).
This snapshot of one of my pre-kids summer pretty much sums me up:
And yes, that is me in the picture to the right--the helpless one that's about to get scored on. I don't always play defense, but when I do, I get scored on.
I'm currently living in Irvine, CA with my beautiful wife (Ms. Clare!) and two adorable kids.
Thanks for making it this far! I hope this page gives you an idea of my personality and paints a more complete picture of me outside of my professional training (You can read more about those in the links below).
This snapshot of one of my pre-kids summer pretty much sums me up:
- May: Competed at nationals in Minnesota for the North American Chinese Basketball Association (NACBAIT). Got to the FINALS--of consolation round.
- June: Visited best friends in Boston (Awesome food, awesome friends!)
- July: Attended the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) in Illinois.
And yes, that is me in the picture to the right--the helpless one that's about to get scored on. I don't always play defense, but when I do, I get scored on.
I'm currently living in Irvine, CA with my beautiful wife (Ms. Clare!) and two adorable kids.
Thanks for making it this far! I hope this page gives you an idea of my personality and paints a more complete picture of me outside of my professional training (You can read more about those in the links below).
More About Me |
Oh! One more thing...I sing :)....solo starts at 2:25.
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