Piano:
My name is James Ong. I am a piano teacher offering private,
one-on-one, lessons to those young and young at heart - discover your inner rockstar.
Philosophy:
Learning piano is a skills-based creative activity
for personal growth and expression. The experience of learning is
valued equally to the outcome of performance. Honest work on a
daily basis will achieve the greatest level of enrichment - lifelong
learning.
Instruction:
I support and motivate students to help them attain their music goals:
from learning the fundamentals to fine-tuning the subtleties, from
performing traditional styles to the most contemporary, from reading music
notation to creative exploration and improvisation, and from the
purely practical aspects to the theoretical substance behind it.
Pedagogy:
I use as many different pedagogical techniques and resources as there are different students i.e.
preparing students for Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM)
examinations or teaching students to perform contemporary material
in band or other small ensemble situations, using acoustic pianos or
sound design programs on computers.
Character is the backbone of our human culture. Music is the
flowering of character. Confucius, Chinese Philosopher.
Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching privately since 1988. During this time, I have
also taught at the Ailanthus School of Performing Arts as their
Associate Music Director and at the Prussin School of Music as their
Piano/Keyboard Instructor. In 1994, I received my Diploma in
Music from Vancouver Community College (VCC) having studied with
concert pianist, Margot Ehling; world renowned composers, David Gordon
Duke and Peter Hannan; and international recording artists, Kathy
Kidd and Sal Ferreras. I have also received music scholarships
from the VCC Music Department and the Community Arts Council of
Richmond.
Performing Experience:
Since joining the Vancouver band spygirl in 1996, my performance and
recording highlights have expanded to include a performance at the CBC recorded "Poor Boy: A Nick Drake Tribute" in 1999, the release
of a debut album and outdoor concert for more than 2,500 attendees
at the Annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival both in 2000,
appearance on CBC's North by Northwest spygirl Spotlight in 2001,
a UK tour in 2002, the release of an ep in 2005, and the release of
Pieces of Evidence produced and mixed by Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliot
Smith, Elbow, James Blunt, Sloan) in March 2008.
I have a passion for music and teaching that I share with all my students.
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