"I recently completed the requirements for the ARCT (Piano Teaching) from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
During the period when I was preparing for the examinations, Dr. Morgan was keen in bringing fresh, up-to-date perspectives to piano pedagogy and piano performance. I found the experience most rewarding."
Eric Lam M.A., M.Ed.
Vancouver, BC
|
|
My Biography
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, I went to the University of Toronto in 1984 to study piano with Patricia Parr and to pursue an undergraduate degree. I earned a BA in music and arts management, and worked for several years in the Toronto arts scene.
Graduate studies followed at the Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester, in Rochester N.Y.) where I studied piano with Douglas Humpherys. I received a Master of Music degree in piano performance, a Master of Arts degree in musicology, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and literature from Eastman.
While there, I assisted in teaching courses in piano literature, music history, and coached undergraduate majors as Assistant to the Douglas Humpherys studio. I was also co-founder and president of the Association for Injury Prevention and organized workshops on how to give a masterclass with Nelita True as clinician.
I assumed the position of Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii (Honolulu) in 2000 and taught there for 4 years. My students in Hawaii performed successful recitals, advanced to graduate programs at universities, secured teaching positions in prominent local studios, and won merit awards for talent -- including two students who were winners of the University concerto competition. I also acted as Chair of the piano area from 2001-2004.
In addition to teaching piano at U.H., I taught classes on piano pedagogy, piano literature, piano ensemble/accompanying classes, and music history. I also kept a private studio of talented students in Hawaii at the intermediate and advanced level, and from younger students to adults. I acted as President of the Honolulu Piano Teacher’s Association in 2003-2004.
During my years at Eastman and the University of Hawaii, I gave solo and collaborative recitals in Canada, the U.S., Great Britain, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Highlights include:
| ~ |
recitals at the Holywell Music Room and as part of the Wolfson Creative Arts Fellowship Lectures, both at Oxford University in England |
| ~ |
solo performances and masterclasses in Hong Kong and Taipei, including a masterclass at the Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts |
| ~ |
appearance as guest soloist at the 2001 International Samuel Barber Symposium in Richmond, Virginia |
| ~ |
convention artist at the 2003 convention of the Hawaii Music Teacher’s Association in Honolulu |
| ~ |
guest soloist at the University of Alaska at Anchorage |
I have acted as judge for the Eastman International Piano Competition, and for Hawaii and Alaska State MTNA competitions. I have given several presentations on injury-prevention and piano technique including a presentation for regional competitions of the MTNA in Honolulu, and at the National Taiwan Normal University.
My ideas on tension-reduction at the piano were included in the technique column of the Autumn 2003 edition of Keyboard Companion Magazine. I presented a paper at the national conference for the Society for American Music in 2003 on Samuel Barber’s Souvenirs, and gave pre-performance lectures at revival performances of the ballet Souvenirs by the Pacific Northwest Ballet Company in Seattle.
I returned to Canada in the summer of 2004 and settled in Vancouver where I am now focussing my energy on teaching in my own, private studio. I became an Examiner for Canada's Royal Conservatory of Music in 2006, and am an active member of the British Columbia Registered Music Teacher's Association. I had the pleasure of acting recently as an Adjudicator for the North Shore Music Festival (2007).
I gave a presentation for the Vancouver chapter of the BC Registered Music Teacher's Association on the transition to advanced piano playing for RCM grades 7-9 (May 2008), and was a judge for the inaugural Kawai Piano Competition at Lowen Piano House in Vancouver (May 2008). |
