Dr. Yiran He
Piano

Teaching Philosophy

I always believe that good music can purify one’s mind and lift one’s soul. It is an indispensable part of one’s lifetime. I always put these ideologies in my mind while teaching and performing. As a piano teacher, playing piano is not only a goal to overcome all kinds of difficulties of virtuosity techniques or develop finger technical proficiency, but it also should explore more innovation and breakthroughs in creativity, confidence, self-expression, and improving musical appreciation.

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During my previous teaching career at George Mason University, I always encouraged students to share their musical expression in piano playing. In my Keyboard Skills course, I guided them to know the keyboard, read notation, learn piano pieces, and train their sight-reading. Additionally, combining music theory with keyboard practice gives students a better understanding of the interval, scale, chord, and harmonic patterns. I have also taught students at least four different types of accompaniment styles. I also encourage students to think outside the box and create their style based on the foundation of playing the correct rhythm, notes, chords, and harmony. For example, some students like to add a Jazz Style to song-playing, which could add interest and variety. In my mind, piano playing is a comprehensive yet wide-reaching subject. Therefore, I require myself to be proficient in music theory, music appreciation, music history, and literature, which are necessary to guide students to have a better understanding of piano study and playing. During my teaching, combining this comprehensive knowledge will lead students to explore more possibilities in music study, creativity, and imagination.

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In addition, students sometimes face challenges and need support in their piano study. As a teacher, I empathize as much as possible with students, as I think respect for students is also essential as a teacher. A beautiful and consistent piano performance requires someone to continuously persist and take an arduous amount of time to repetitively practice over and over again. Therefore, encouraging their confidence plays an essential role in their study. During my piano teaching career, I have worked with many kinds of students, from kids to adults. But the core of my teaching philosophy is that I support and respect students, which is the first step. Building their confidence and developing students’ interests plays an essential role in their piano playing success and ability to perform; second, combining many areas of knowledge during my teaching guides students precisely to perform multiple musical styles. It encourages them to explore music creatively and with interest. I also encourage students to ask more questions and share their feedback; it pushes me to consistently improve my skill set as a teacher and gives me greater insight into the person I am working with.