Welcome!

Hello everyone!

For those of you who don't know me, I'm Candace Marie Chien.  You can probably see my bio off to the side if you are curious about my life story.  For those of you who do know of this blog, I am willing to bet that you know of it because you or your child studies with me in New York City.  Welcome!

As an active performer, I prioritize making emotional and philosophical meaning out of music.  As a teacher, carry the same set of expectations to my students.  Even if they never choose to pursue music as a profession, which many of them will not, I want my students to love music and the piano in a way that touches their soul.  I believe that every child deserves that standard of music education as a right, and I know my teaching offers this.  However, my 30 or 45 minutes a week with a child is nothing compared to the rest of the time spent in the week!  It is also up to the world around them, including friends and family, to teach them more about how music relates to them.  This blog is for that purpose.

I often get a variety of questions about music teaching from parents of students, or parents who are interested in their child starting piano.  You may be familiar with some of these listed below:

- "When should my child start piano?"
- "How do I motivate my child to practice?"
- "How much does my child need to practice?"
- "How should my child be practicing?"
- "I have no musical training, how do I help my child?"
- "When should I get a piano?  Is a keyboard okay?"
- "What are the benefits of private lessons vs. group class?"
- "Should my student take through the summer?"
- "How is this going to help my child in the long run?"

These are some basic questions I will touch on, but really, it is also about how to make music a more active and rewarding part of your lives.  Look forward to posts about other musical events in the city (NYC, sorry to the rest of the internet), news from my own teaching studio celebrating my students' successes, children's books reviews, and guest bloggers who may also share their opinions on teaching, and the necessity of music education in a child's life.  Of course, feel free to comment and ask your own questions so they can be part of an ever expanding resource!  Happy reading, everyone!