Collaborative Pianist, Interlochen Center for the Arts https://www.interlochen.org/person/hao-zhang

My name is Hao Zhang. I hold a Master’s degree in Piano from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a Doctorate in Piano from West Virginia University, and both an Artist Diploma in Piano and a Graduate Certificate in Jazz Studies from the University of Denver. During my doctoral studies, I served as a full-time teaching assistant, leading undergraduate keyboard skills classes. As a pianist, I have been fortunate to earn several competition honors, including the Winner of the MTNA–Steinway Young Artist Piano Competition (Eastern Division) and the Bronze Prize in the Professional Open Group Final at the Yunnan International Piano Art Festival & Competition. My dedication to music education extends beyond performance. I studied piano pedagogy with Dr. William Wellborn at the San Francisco Conservatory and with Dr. Lori Piitz at James Madison University, gaining insight into diverse and effective teaching approaches. From 2017 to 2018, I taught weekly piano classes at Abraham Lincoln High School, and from 2018 to 2019, I led three classes per week at Raoul Wallenberg High School, focusing on keyboard technique and basic improvisation. This July, I was invited to give a lecture and masterclasses in Kunming, China. My lecture, titled “Using Your Ear to Improve Practice Efficiency”, and my masterclasses—featuring works by Chopin, Czerny, Wang Jianzhong, Burgmüller, and Lemoine—were well received by local teachers and scholars. In October, I was invited to serve as a jury member for the Steinway Piano Competition (China) division round finals for both the Junior Professional and College groups. I was also appointed as an associate piano professor at Qingdao Huanghai University this year.

As the Chinese proverb says, “give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” I think the ultimate goal for a piano teacher is to let students know how to teach themselves. To me, making students see and think things is much more important than only making them do things. My job is to inspire and help students have their own understanding and taste of music. I want them to be their own teachers and they should know there are more than one right way to interpret music. Personally, I would ask students questions and find out what personality type of student they are. Then I need to figure out their expectations and motivations, and bring them to their lessons. For example, for “Artisan” student, I would use some rewards as a motivator, such as candy or less homework. Because “Artisan” student like the idea of payoff. For “Guardian” student, I would give them recognition, instead of payoff. For “Rational” student, I would try my best to help them understand the works they are working on and satisfy their hunger for knowledge and insight. For “Idealist” student, I would share interesting stories with them and build a good relationship with them. I always like to have a deep and good relationship with my piano students. My students are very familiar with me, and they are not only my student, but also my friends. I like to hear their stories before the lesson starts, since it helps build relationship and trust. I believe trust plays an essential role in teaching piano, and it would be much easier and more efficient for me to teach students if I get their trusts first.