Right amount of teaching makes me a balanced person and musician. I believe in presence, patience, passion generated by LOVE when it comes to education (and everything else), including self-education/practicing).
I do not want to make the process of learning an instrument a traumatizing experience for the young. However, it does not mean I do not aim high for my students and myself. I merely try my best to aim high without damaging effects and disrespecting each individual's tempo. I strive that students develope "natural discipline."
( left: a spontaneous drawing by me, crayon, 2012 in Copenhagen)
I have been blessed that my parents were not like many Asian parents, who push their children to go to competitions in early ages and to practice pieces which are overly difficult. I was not the splendid genius child, but I didn't know I was talented either. However, my pace was respected, hence I have a very solid foundation which enables me to go very far, thanks to my earlier teachers.
I have had all kinds of teachers in my life, including the scary and sadistic kinds. In Taiwan, many still many honour the violent and strict teachers because of the conditioned belief that kids need to be pushed and get scared, which, according to my experience, is totally unnecessary and counter-productive. In my generation, the teachers in Taiwan were allowed to hit students. Naturally I was one of them being punished for smallest things like making a small math mistake. This fear-based way of teaching leaves a lot of scars and psychological complications, which took me a long time to be able to look at it honestly. Those who haven't recognized the scars caused by violence simply duplicate the violence, quiet unconsciously, in their daily life.
Luckily none of my musical teachers ever physically hit me, but still some of them use language violence. The intention was somewhat good, and it did make me work harder to " prove" that their discouragements were wrong. The effect was, however, short-lived and superficial. In the end, I didn't want to work harder, I wanted to have a break from being pushed that way.
Having realized that fear-based way of teaching do not serve me anymore, I have only attracted loving teachers ever since I moved to Copenhagen at age 22. Feeling safe and honoured as an individual, I have improved way more, and I gradually found my personal voice in perfect pace. It is beautiful that there isn't much hierarchy in Scandinavia, which allows me to communicate freely. And thank God when I got my first teaching job at age 25, I had no trace of violence from the scars formed in my earlier time.
I am equally grateful to have come through some unpleasant experiences being a student, because it taught me what was counter-productive. My multifarious experiences affirm me again and again, that Presence, Patience, Passion, generated by Love is the most beautiful and effective way to teach. I am grateful for many, many loving teachers in my life (including those who are not musical teachers), and I can't name you all here. I can only pass down my musical knowledge in the way you have shown me to. Thank you all for being my profound examples.
Ps I teach private students in all levels. I have also had the pleasure giving masterclass/workshops/masterclass in different conservatories/univiersities/festivals in Danmark, Germany, Taiwan and Korea.
It has been a tremendous joy to share the knowledge and the passion for music. It has also been a joy to see what the students are teaching me. It's never one way round.
©2014-2016 Ying-Hsueh Chen. All rights reserved
I do not want to make the process of learning an instrument a traumatizing experience for the young. However, it does not mean I do not aim high for my students and myself. I merely try my best to aim high without damaging effects and disrespecting each individual's tempo. I strive that students develope "natural discipline."
( left: a spontaneous drawing by me, crayon, 2012 in Copenhagen)
I have been blessed that my parents were not like many Asian parents, who push their children to go to competitions in early ages and to practice pieces which are overly difficult. I was not the splendid genius child, but I didn't know I was talented either. However, my pace was respected, hence I have a very solid foundation which enables me to go very far, thanks to my earlier teachers.
I have had all kinds of teachers in my life, including the scary and sadistic kinds. In Taiwan, many still many honour the violent and strict teachers because of the conditioned belief that kids need to be pushed and get scared, which, according to my experience, is totally unnecessary and counter-productive. In my generation, the teachers in Taiwan were allowed to hit students. Naturally I was one of them being punished for smallest things like making a small math mistake. This fear-based way of teaching leaves a lot of scars and psychological complications, which took me a long time to be able to look at it honestly. Those who haven't recognized the scars caused by violence simply duplicate the violence, quiet unconsciously, in their daily life.
Luckily none of my musical teachers ever physically hit me, but still some of them use language violence. The intention was somewhat good, and it did make me work harder to " prove" that their discouragements were wrong. The effect was, however, short-lived and superficial. In the end, I didn't want to work harder, I wanted to have a break from being pushed that way.
Having realized that fear-based way of teaching do not serve me anymore, I have only attracted loving teachers ever since I moved to Copenhagen at age 22. Feeling safe and honoured as an individual, I have improved way more, and I gradually found my personal voice in perfect pace. It is beautiful that there isn't much hierarchy in Scandinavia, which allows me to communicate freely. And thank God when I got my first teaching job at age 25, I had no trace of violence from the scars formed in my earlier time.
I am equally grateful to have come through some unpleasant experiences being a student, because it taught me what was counter-productive. My multifarious experiences affirm me again and again, that Presence, Patience, Passion, generated by Love is the most beautiful and effective way to teach. I am grateful for many, many loving teachers in my life (including those who are not musical teachers), and I can't name you all here. I can only pass down my musical knowledge in the way you have shown me to. Thank you all for being my profound examples.
Ps I teach private students in all levels. I have also had the pleasure giving masterclass/workshops/masterclass in different conservatories/univiersities/festivals in Danmark, Germany, Taiwan and Korea.
It has been a tremendous joy to share the knowledge and the passion for music. It has also been a joy to see what the students are teaching me. It's never one way round.
©2014-2016 Ying-Hsueh Chen. All rights reserved