I would like to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to The Business Times for recognising our piano school and our long-standing contribution to professional piano education. Being featured as a leading institution that has successfully produced numerous diploma piano graduates and trained piano teachers who have gone on to build sustainable teaching careers is a meaningful milestone for us. This recognition affirms the depth and seriousness of our approach to professional piano training.
Following the publication of the press release, we received a significant increase in enquiries from both local and overseas piano teachers. Many of these teachers are experienced professionals who wish to upgrade their playing skills, deepen their musical understanding, and pursue diploma-level qualifications under my guidance. A common question raised is whether diploma piano lessons can be conducted effectively via Zoom, especially given today’s high-speed and stable internet connections.
This is an important question, and the honest answer is that diploma piano training cannot be effectively delivered online. Regardless of how smooth the connection may be, advanced piano study requires face-to-face instruction to achieve the technical precision, tonal control, and expressive depth expected at diploma level.
Diploma piano lessons focus heavily on advanced piano technique, particularly the development of finger strength, independence, and refined control of touch weight. When training students at this level, I must demonstrate in real time how much finger weight is applied, how the arm supports the hand, and how wrist and finger movements are coordinated to produce power without tension. These physical mechanics are subtle and three-dimensional. Observing them through a screen limits accuracy and often leads to misunderstanding or imitation errors.
Another key aspect of professional piano training is rhythm and tempo control. Many diploma candidates struggle not because they lack musicality, but because they rush, drag, or cannot internalise the correct pulse indicated by the metronome. In face-to-face diploma piano lessons, I set the metronome, tap the pulse physically, and demonstrate how rhythm aligns bar by bar at the keyboard. When necessary, I play together with the student to guide them so they can clearly feel how fast or slow the tempo should be. Through Zoom, students cannot physically feel the tapping pulse, and latency prevents true rhythmic alignment, making this process ineffective.
Tone colour and expressive control are central to diploma piano examinations. Candidates are assessed not only on loud and soft dynamics, but on their ability to produce layered tone colours, shape long musical phrases, and execute extremely refined dynamic ranges from ppp to fff. These expressive elements depend on highly delicate finger movements, including subtle sliding and surface contact on the keys. Unfortunately, online platforms cannot accurately capture these fine changes in tone colour, nor can they clearly show the micro-adjustments of finger movement that are essential for expressive playing.
Pedalling is another area that requires in-person professional piano training. At diploma level, pedalling must be customised to the repertoire, acoustic, and individual sound production of the student. During lessons, I listen carefully to how clean or blurred the sound becomes and annotate precise pedal markings directly on the score. These markings are adjusted continuously based on real-time listening. The same applies to fingering. When a student uses awkward or inefficient fingering that affects hand position, immediate correction is necessary. Such detailed listening and instant correction cannot be achieved through Zoom lessons.
Immediate technical correction is critical in advanced piano study. Diploma students practise many hours each week, and even minor technical mistakes can quickly become ingrained habits if not corrected early. Face-to-face diploma piano lessons allow technical issues to be identified and resolved instantly, ensuring students practise correctly and efficiently. This level of precision and responsiveness is not possible through online teaching.
For these reasons, while online piano lessons may be suitable for beginner or intermediate levels, diploma piano lessons in Singapore must be conducted in person to maintain professional standards. Advanced piano training is a physical, auditory, and artistic discipline that depends on shared sound, real-time interaction, and close observation.
I am deeply grateful for the trust shown by piano teachers and advanced students from around the world who wish to study with me. For those who are serious about achieving diploma qualifications, mastering advanced piano technique, and receiving genuine professional piano training, in-person lessons remain essential. (WhatsApp 98256286) This approach ensures the highest level of musical growth, technical accuracy, and long-term success.
