Teacher Zennie

Teacher Zennie was my first piano teacher. I was only 6 years old when I started learning piano from her. She taught me for 12 years! I learned from her all the basic foundations in piano performance- note reading, technique, theories, and all the skills I needed to learn for a growing musician. She was like a mother to me in music. She witnessed all of my first recitals, the successful and the messy ones until I graduated from high school. She was there to cheer me up and reminded me that everything is going to be okay and that it is okay to be nervous. She was also the first person I told about pursuing a career in music and wanting to take music in college.

When she heard about it, she did not hesitate and was very happy to help, but also a little bit confused. Maybe it's because she didn't see it coming. I never told anyone about it and for 12 years with her, I never gave her and anyone any hint that I wanted to be a piano teacher, too. After hearing that, she highly recommended me to study in Manila, at St. Scholastica's College School of Music. She helped me prepare for my audition, gave me a recommendation to the Dean of Music at SSC, and never doubted my potential.

Fast forward, I graduated, and now we are the same products of the same school. She is also an alumna of SSC, now recognized as the Center of Excellence for Music in the Philippines. Before I left my country to study abroad, I personally invited her to my send-off concert in Cagayan de Oro and I dedicated my performances to her.

During the pandemic, I was able to teach two of her grandchildren currently based in Canada. To be trusted by your first piano teacher to teach her grandchildren is the highest honor I have ever received. So, thank you for the trust and I owe everything to her.

Sr. Lourdes

Sister Lourdes was my next piano teacher after my first piano teacher. She was very strict but very passionate in teaching me very difficult pieces! Before going to Manila, I was preparing for my audition to study at St. Scholastica's College. She taught me Haydn Sonatas, Bach's Inventions, and Buencamino's pieces, and they were all difficult for my level at that time. The way she taught me was so descriptive, detailed, and relatable to life experiences. Despite her old age, she was very young at heart. She accompanied me to my audition in Manila, and I think that was really sweet and kind of her to give her support from day one of the lessons until the audition.

And, yes, I passed the auditions! I was indeed lucky to receive a full-tuition scholarship under the Battig Music Foundation for my entire 5 years of college. The school is one of the most prestigious and expensive music schools in the Philippines, and I didn't have to pay a dime.

Prof. Rica

Ms. Rica was my piano professor at St. Scholastica's College School of Music. I was under her tutelage for 5 years. Her teaching prowess and performance are incomparable and I learned piano the hard way- meaning she taught me what a world-class pianist should be. 

But, I think I failed her... hahaha! I couldn't reach the standards she set and it was clearly not her fault. I was so scattered in my college years. Scattered in a way that I performed here and there, gigging everywhere, volunteering at many concerts with causes, chorale singing, becoming president of our music organization, was very active in extracurricular activities, accompanying the voice and string majors, and so many music students, THAT I FORGOT TO PRACTICE and prioritize my own pieces!

If I had another chance to do it right all over again, I would be practicing my pieces more. I still admire everything that she does as a performer, professor, and mentor to amazing young talents. I am grateful for all that she taught me because if not because of her, I wouldn't be able to change and improve humongously in my piano skills.

Prof. Belinda

There was a point where I got fed up with the piano. There will always come a point when any musician or person gets fed up and unmotivated by the things they love the most. I had to stop learning and be away from the piano for a month, and I sought to have new ideas and inspiration. This is where I met Prof. Belinda. I watched her solo concert once and I was mesmerized by her performance. I will never forget that concert because I got inspired so much that I returned to practicing my piano. I went to the conservatory where she taught and I asked if I could have piano lessons with her for one summer. It was indeed one of the best piano lessons in a summer camp, and my passion to learn piano was ignited again. I am always indebted to her kindness and for accepting me in my lowest points as a pianist.

Prof. Greg

Prof. Greg is, I think, the most humble, kindest, gifted, and understanding person and piano professor I know or we know. He became like an uncle to me. I graduated under his tutelage in the college of music last 2015. He prepared me for a year a half for my solo piano recital. I am really lost for words while typing this blog. I can't fathom how grateful I am to have him as my professor until I obtained my diploma. He literally saved me from my schooling, to be honest. It was indeed a marvelous performance when he accompanied me in my piano concerto in F major by Shostakovich, and I couldn't believe I made it possible. My respects for him since freshman in college went beyond until graduation. He was there for me, he was there for everyone in the school of music, and he is a well-respected professor by the school community and the whole music industry.

Prof. Grace

Ms. Grace is a very dynamic, encouraging, and amazing mentor and you can call her a friend. She was my piano teacher for 4 months as I prepare for my audition for my studies abroad. She is the only piano teacher who believes in and encourages me to join the piano competitions! Competing in national competitions is the very last thing I want to do in life because I know the intense pressure and demand of it. I might not be able to take the nerves when I compete.

I first approached her to give me master classes for the pieces I prepared for the audition but I didn't mention that it was for an audition. She is also an alumna of the same university I was applying for Japan. My lessons with her were full of excitement, open-mindedness, and discoveries. I love the way she encourages and pushes me so that I can play it better, more precisely, cleaner, and more expressive. It was only a week before my auditions that I told her my goal- to audition for Elisabeth University of Music. Aside from my thesis proposal defense, I had to perform in front of the Japanese professors who visited the Philippines for the exams. It was very nerve-wracking, but I survived it with the grace of God! I told her the good news after passing with a full-scholarship tuition grant. Once she found out, she handed me Japanese dictionaries, scarves for winter, and some of her performance gowns! She was way more excited than me! I will never forget her kindness and I want to be like her. She is an epitome of a wonderful mentor, person, and musician.  I am always indebted to all her help.

Prof. Tokaji, 戸梶先生

Upon arriving in Japan, Tokaji Sensei was my piano teacher at Elizabeth University of Music, Hiroshima and I was under her tutelage for two and a half years, 5 semesters in total.

She was the piano teacher who unlocked my dreams to play the piano pieces I always wanted to play and reach the level I always wanted to achieve. She believed in me that I can play very technical and heavily skilled piano pieces from Chopin Etudes to Beethoven Sonatas, and we share a love for Scriabin compositions. 

She taught me during our lessons in plain Japanese! Can you imagine how I learned from her teaching me in a language I barely understand? But her explanations and demonstrations are crystal clear and she made me understand how to perform highly technical pieces into something that looks so easy. She is very cheerful and she greets me like a friend or a big sister. I always looked forward to seeing her smile and cheerful disposition for she's the kind of teacher you would want to see every lesson.

She helped me made my dreams come true by teaching me some of my favorite piano pieces. She is the sweetest, most polite, understanding, and cheerful professor I have ever known. She truly relates to my experiences because she also studied abroad in Paris, and we always talked about what it's like to study abroad.