Courses We Offer

In addition to traditional piano lessons, we offer a variety of courses that will help our students advance artistically and scholastically in music. Not everyone necessarily follows the RCM curriculum, but we find that we use it for a general guideline to gauge student progress.

Some students learn considerably faster, while others prefer to take their time and enjoy their progress. We do not necessarily use only classical music in the studio. Other kinds of music, including pop music is sometimes used to encourage students as incentives to continue their efforts in exercises like sight reading, technique, or memorization.

Piano Lessons
One question that comes up often is how young should a child start lessons? If your child can sit relatively still for 15 to 20 minutes, they can start lessons. The youngest is generally about 3 years. Anyone can start lessons at any age, and but need to be able to commit time on a regular basis to practice to ensure progress.

Piano lessons are more than just learning to move one's fingers across the keyboard. It's also a lesson in self discipline, thinking, organization and planning. For young beginners, I generally recommend that a parent attend the lesson as well. There's nothing quite like support and understanding from parents to help nuture one's interest. As the student grows and learns to work on their own, the parent would then no longer need to attend the lesson as well. I usually think of it as a chance for the parents to learn a little music basics as well. I normally do not teach lessons less than 45 minutes. In the lesson time, we can cover a fair amount of material, have clapping exercises, writing, singing, etc.

Guitar Lessons
Guitar lessons are also available at J.Chan Studios. Our teachers have plenty of music background and teaching experience to share the joys of guitar playing, for most ages and levels.

Theory Lessons
We teach all levels of theory that are required for Royal Conservatory. This includes all levels of Rudiments (Preliminary, Grade 1 & 2), Harmony 3 & 4, Counterpoint 4, Harmony and Counterpoint 5, and Analysis 5.

Royal Conservatory is currently implementing new titles for the theory requirements.

Theory lessons are held normally on a weekly basis in tutorial style. This allows students to progress more at their own rate, and allow for extra help in weaker areas. It is helpful for everyone if parents can drop off their children's homework the night before theory class to allow for more lesson time, rather than marking time. It also allows parents to be aware of whether or not their children are doing their asssigned homework.

Students requiring extra help may attend some of the other theory sessions held during the week. I just need to be informed, and it must be within reason. (attending every session, and expecting my full and constant attention is not fair to other students)

History Lessons
There has been a major change to the Theory Syllabus as of 2002. A textbook is not necessary, but borrowing one from a friend is helpful in conjunction with the study guide book we use in for the class.

Pedagogy Lessons
Another subject offered is pedagogy. Pedagogy is the Art of Teaching. Many students are interested in trying their hand at teaching, so we do our best in giving them some starter guidelines, and we continue from there. Eventually, they would then be able to take the RCM Teachers' ARCT examination. One of the requirements to join the BC Registered Music Teachers' Association is experience, so that is always helpful.

Wedding Music

If you are looking for someone to play at your wedding, please contact me about rates. Live music is often used instead of recorded music because it is more sympathetic to what is going on during the ceremony. For example, you don't want to be waiting for the recorded music to end abruptly when you're standing patiently up at the front waiting to get married. Or, the volume can vary too much from song to song... or needs to be louder for the bridal procession, etc.