１．Teaching Principles
Vine International Piano School conduct piano lessons according to the teaching principles below:
- Develop positive attitude toward learning the piano and music. Develop the ability to use your own initiative, to think for yourself and to be creative and pro-active.
- Set goals, manage your time and develop problem-solving skills. (Self-management skills)
- Learn about music-related things.
- Foster the attitude to overcome challenges continuously. Continuous improvement is a key to excel in your performance.
- Culttivate good manners and respectful attitudes. Always consider others as more important than yourself.
２．An opportunity to participate in the National Guild audition
The Guild audition sponsored by ACM in the United States has a history of nearly 100 years. It started in 1929 with 46 participants in Texas. Today it has grown to more than 850 audition centers where 110,000 participants enroll annually throughout the U.S. and abroad.
This audition is open to all students of ACM certified instructors. You
can play as many pieces you like, and you can choose any pieces. You can
participate in person, online or you may pre-record their performance.
College admission officers in the US evaluate not only students' academic performance but also their activities outside of school. Recently, more and more colleges in Japan conduct AO entrance exams also . Continuing to take the Guild audition every year will increase your chances for admission to the college of your choice. If you perform in this audition more than 10 years, you will have an advantage when you apply for scholarships in the US.
In addition to academic achievement, students who have been active in various fields such as art, sports, extracurricular activities, volunteer activities, will have a better chance of going to excellent universities such as Harvard University and other Ivy League schools. In Japan as well, there is an increasing demand for high-quality students, so I believe this audition will give my students an opportunity to build a better future.
３．Lesson prices are the same regardless of your piano level.
Lesson prices in this school are the same whether you are in the beginner,
intermediate or advanced level. This price system is used commonly in the
U.S. where the prices are set only by the length of the lesson.
One reason for this is that the instructor's labor and energy are the same
regardless of the levels. Another reason is that there are no clear measures
or guidelines to distinguish among the beginner, intermediate and advanced
levels. The designation of a student's level is totally dependent on the
piano teachers' discretion or the piano schools' guidelines. Thus, your
lesson price at this school will never be increased just because you advance
to a higher level.
４．Clear and easy to understand. Good results guaranteed.
My goal when I teach is to take anything that could be complicated, and make it simple and easy to understand. I will help you to eliminate your mistakes or problems so that you can achieve your best performance. This could mean practicing suggestions, fingering, hand position, techniques, body usage, and more. Whatever age or level you are at, I will help you to achieve your musical goals and lead you to success! If you are willing to learn more, I can always help you to improve your piano skills and advance to the next level regardless of your age.５．Provide performance evaluation on a numerical scale to make your progress clear.
Although it is often difficult to see how much progress you have made in
your piano lessons, I have developed a performance evaluation on a numerical
scale that I will report to you every year. This will help you to identify
how much you have achieved and what your strengths and weaknesses are.
In addition, using the piano lesson notebook (optional for adults) will
enable you to see the progress you are making and what you need to practice
at home.
６．Help to improve both your skills and yourself to enjoy playing more!
It is not until you understand music well and play it wholeheartedly that you can enjoy yourself and please others! I will help you to learn the piano step-by-step so that you can keep improving your skills and enjoy playing the piano. I will also help you to establish your mental attitude for quality practicing and stage performance so that you will have more confidence, tackle greater challenges and continue to grow as a person.
７．Cultivate your presentation and social skills through recitals and multicultural relationships.
This piano school offers recitals twice a year to give opportunities for students to demonstrate their progress to family and friends and help students develop self-confidence and musical mastery. Since this school is bilingual, students from many nations take part in recitals. So, these events and social time during or after the recitals offer all students opportunities to relate to people from other cultures. Since students make a short presentation to the audience before playing, they can also cultivate their presentation and social skills. These skills benefit us all, but will be especially important for younger students as they get older. Students will also learn how to recover from mistakes and how to give their best performance in front of a live audience.