About Heather Whelan

Did you know that children who study a musical instrument learn responsibility and discipline? They gain pride in their accomplishments which in turn makes them confident. They learn to think in a logical manner, and they will perform better in school. Music helps with brain development not only in children but in adults as well. Studies have shown that Music has helped even the elderly people improve from brain degeneration. These are just a few of the benefits children, adults, and elderly could gain through music lessons.

My Education: At an early age, I took a great interest in music, so my older sister who is four years older than I taught me what she learned in her piano lessons. She also taught me music theory. Between the age of 12-14 my parents sent me to private piano lessons. My piano teacher at that time told me that I needed to find a new teacher because she had taught me all she knew. After that, I approached a well known Julliard Master in town. He took me on as a student after he heard me play the Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata in C minor. I learned through Arthur Fiddler's comment made in the newspaper that Mr. Chang, my teacher, in his opinion was the best piano teacher in Hawaii. Under Mr. Chang's tutelage, I was exposed to a variety of classical pieces written by famous composers of the 17th to 19th centuries. At the age of 14, I made my first piano recital debut. My piano teacher was impressed with my talent and expressed his wish for me to pursue music and enter into Julliard. But, my parents being immigrants from Korea, did not think it was a good choice of career. So, I went into nursing instead, much to the consternation of my piano teacher. My career began as a RN with Bachelor’s degree in Nursing until in 2013. I had a diversion of career from nursing and I absolutely fell in love with the idea of teaching piano . I decided to go back to school to get Bachelor's training in Piano Performance from Towson University in Maryland in May of 2017.

My area of specialty in teaching piano is sight reading to the young beginners as young as 5 and 6 years old. I think I have a good understanding of where they are coming from and I have notion about how to make connection with the young students.

In my piano lessons, besides just learning to play the piano, students will participate in flashcard drills, writing work, and other activities to get an overall knowledge of music. This will prepare them for continued study in piano, for playing other instruments or singing.