“My goal is to help enrich students' lives through music by having happiness and positive playing experiences that are an invaluable treasure in their lives.”
- Serena
BOOK AN INTERVIEW WITH SERENA NOW
My teaching philosophy is patient, caring and learner-centred to teach according to students' aptitudes and help them reach the best of their ability through dialogue pedagogy to cultivate students’ independent thinking ability, appropriate learning attitude, and growth mindset. In addition to considering students’ technical skills and helping them understand how to interpret each piece’s standards and aesthetics for play. I especially prioritize the student's mental and physical wellness by teaching them knowledge of injury prevention, healthy and efficient practice skills and strategies to manage stage fright. Overall, my teachings goal is to help enrich students' lives through music by having happiness and positive playing experiences that are an invaluable treasure in their lives.
Name: Serena (Full name will be provided upon registration)
Age: 30's
Gender: female
I am a teaching artist, appearing as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra musician, and educator. I am classically trained and started my music journey with the piano and cello at the age of 5. Between grades 3-12, I was studied in a music-gifted program. I hold degrees in music performance from Taipei National University of the Arts (Bachelor of Music), Mannes College of Music (Master of Music) and Michigan State University (Doctor of Musical Arts).
I am The 2nd prize winner of the American Fine Arts Festival― Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition. I was given my solo debut at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in the winners’ concert in 2016. In addition, I was invited as a jury panellist in the 18th and 19th Capital Taipei International Music Competition and music-gifted program in Taiwan. My performing journey includes countries in Asia, Europe, and North America, including renowned venues in New York City, such as Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, The Symphony Space, etc.
English
Mandarin
Taiwanese
Rates and Studio Policies
Registration Fee: $25.00 (One-time lifetime registration fee may be used by all family members)
Rates for instruction:
30 minute private lesson: $39.00
45 minute private lesson: $49.00
60 minute private lesson: $59.00
Travel charge: additional $15.00 per visit (for lessons in a client's home as opposed to my studio)
1. Cancellation Policy
Lessons not cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice are billable to the client and payable to the teacher. This does not of course apply to travel fees unless the notice is effectively given at the door and the teacher has travelled to the location.
2. Cessation (quitting) Policy
A client must provide a 2 lesson notice period to stop lessons. So a weekly student needs to give 2 weeks of notice, a biweekly student works out to 3 weeks notice and a twice weekly student works out to a week of notice.
3. Illness Policy
Lessons cancelled due to illness or extraordinary circumstances with less than 24 hours notice remain billable to the client and payable to the teacher.
BAH teachers are encouraged to offer a make-up lesson at a future date in the interest of client relations and general goodwill. This only makes sense as teaching a student with the flu for example, will ruin the rest of your week's employment.
No more than 2 lessons may be made up due to illness within a 60 day period.
4. Rescheduling Policy
Any lesson can be cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice.
Summer Vacation and Extended Absence Policy
Clients may schedule longer absences for trips etc. 24 hours notice is required.
It is normal and typical for students and about 20% of our teachers to schedule a break in the summer. We do not enforce a notice period (see cessation of lessons) at the end of a long summer break.
5. Evaluation Period
There are no free trial lessons with Beethoven at Home but we do offer a 2 lesson evaluation period where it is easy to try out a teacher. There are no free lessons during the evaluation period and clients may choose to discontinue the lessons at any time by providing the required 24 hours notice. After the student's 3rd lesson the required 2 lesson notice period will apply (see cessation of lessons above).
Online lessons
Serena can provide online instruction. While other platforms are possible BAH strongly recommends the use of the Zoom video conferencing platform as it is optimized for music lessons and audio quality.