Kristal Kim
San Jose CA | 95136
About me
Ms. Kristal Kim teaches piano privately to students of intermediate and advance levels in San Jose, CA. She is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, majoring in piano performance and minoring in music theory. Originally from the bay area, Ms. Kim had just moved back to California, and has opened a studio in San Jose.
Born and raised in South Korea, Ms. Kristal Kim started music studies at the age of eight. During the first year of her studies, she received the fourth place at the National Korean Piano Competition, which served as a starting point for her career as a pianist. After she immigrated to U.S., she continued her study at the preparatory division of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under Ms. Tomoko Hagiwara. She won local competitions and Honorary Scholarships at the Conservatory. She performed in many different venues, as a solo recitalist, in chamber ensembles, and as the winner of the Annual Concerto Competition with the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra, successively in the year 1995 and 1996.
For her undergrad studies, Ms. Kim attended UCLA, where she originally intended to study pre-med. After two years, however, she reaffirmed her passion for music and started studying privately with Mr. Walter Ponce as a music major and began performing again. Along with performing, she also studied piano pedagogy and extensive music education courses which enabled her to gain extensive knowledge and experience in teaching children. She continued to pursue her master's degree at the SF Conservatory of Music, under private instruction of Mr. Mack McCray and performed actively as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber ensemble pianist. She had also studied privately with Mrs. Sharon Mann, Mr. Eugene Pridonoff, and Mrs. Elizabeth Pridonoff, and played in master classes given by Mr. John Perry, Mr. Boris Berman, and Mr. Andrew Cooperstock.
Before she had moved to Cincinnati for her DMA, Ms. Kim had worked for American Conservatory of Theatre and the San Francisco Boys Choir as an accompanist and theory instructor, and led a private piano studio in San Francisco. She is now in the south bay area, San Jose, and recruiting new students.
Ms. Kristal Kim believes that as a teacher, it is important not only to instruct the students with sound knowledge of the materials and skills, but it is as important to figure out the students’ profiles and guide them to keep and grow their interests and abilities in the subject according to their unique needs and wants. Given this disposition, she puts great importance in relating to students, observing and discerning students’ existing abilities, personalities/characteristics, potentials for growth, and their individual objectives/goals in the subject. Ms. Kim organizes and plans lessons according to the diagnosis of students, adjusting the education fitting and helpful for the students’ interests and needs, and encouraging them to grow in the right directions.
Specialties
Ms. Kim's piano lessons are comprehensive learning experience. She believes firmly in well-roudned music education, where students are not merely capable physically at the piano, but are also engaged intellectually with the score and involved interactively with the listeners. Lessons are structured to include not only technique and repertoire building, but also to cover consistent theory and musicianship skills. Holding her degree in Piano Performance with minor in Music Theory, Ms. Kim is trained to benefit her students with truly sound and comprehensive music education.
Lesson details
*Daily Practice
It is very important that student practices daily, following the instructions and doing the assignments on the practice charts. Parents are welcomed to encourage a regular practice. It is proven through my teaching experience, that the more parents are involved in regular and positive practice sessions at home, the faster students advance in their learning.
*Weekly Lesson
Lessons are given once or twice a week, depending on the needs and the levels of students. Each lesson is divided into technique, theory, and repertoire studies. All lesson progresses are recorded in the practice charts with practice guidelines and assignments for the student to take home.
*Studio/Musicianship Class
Periodically Studio/Musicianship Classes are given at no charge. All the students in the studio are welcomed to attend. The class provides good opportunities for the students to perform for one another, sharpen musicianship skills in an interactive environment, and learn from each other as well.
*Annual Recital
Students are encouraged to participate in annual recitals by performing works that they are comfortable with. The recitals give great opportunities for the students to learn about performance and also to feel accomplished about their hard work throughout the year.
*Other learning opportunities
Every student has a different goal and is at a different level in his/her music lessons. As appropriate, state music exams, local competitions, and other performing opportunities can be arranged and suggested, depending on students’ needs or desires.
Education and Accreditation
•Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance, Candidate 2010, University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, expected degree 2011
•Master of Music in Piano Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Music 2003
•Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Piano Performance, University of California, Los Angeles 2000
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