It all begins with love.

I am a strong advocate that excellence is achieved through love.

My teaching philosophy revolves around the principle of excellence. Excellence is the representation of three elements: skills, characters, and contributions. Every student in my studio will develop proper piano techniques, a deep understanding of musical interpretation, a myriad of wholesome characters, and a commitment to give back to society. I know for a fact that these valuable traits are best cultivated through love and not fear.

Some years ago when I was in grad school in Boston, I had the opportunity to witness some of the best piano playing from my colleagues. It was truly an eye-opening experience as a lot of these grad “students” already carried the caliber of a concert pianist. They were driven, dedicated, and focused and I often marveled at their accomplishment. However, I also encountered musicians who were exceptional at what they did but unequivocally displayed a lack of love for music. “You play so well! How could you not love what you do?” was a common question in countless conversations with my colleagues. Although the answers varied, there was a common theme that tied everything together: they experienced a childhood of fear which unfortunately is regarded by some as a necessary evil to achieve excellence.

The stern education that leaves a lot of children traumatized has been the tradition for centuries and is deemed the “only way” to reach the pinnacle of musical excellence. Those who cannot withstand the undesirable environment are often regarded as unfit or do not have what it takes to be great. But I couldn’t help and wonder, “Is it so? Is fear the most effective factor to achieve excellence?” The answer to me is apparently no. I believe a child deserves a loving environment to learn where they are not afraid to make mistakes, are curious about everything, and grow with encouragement.

What is “love” though? Love is patience, the will to resist the temptation to yell at the students, the effort to think of various ways to best communicate with them, the desire to help them reach their potential, and the commitment to walk every single step with them in this tough journey. Love does not make compromises for mediocrity though. The standard of excellence will forever be high and difficult to achieve, but a loving teacher will inspire, guide, and motivate the students with positivity instead of belittlement and shame. As I always tell my students,

“Yes it is tough, but Mr. Ben is here with you in every single step of this journey.”