Grade 8 Distinction Piano Tutor — Sunway Music Performance Student and Patient Teaching

Find out more about V Karthikgayan

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favourite instrument?

  I started to develop a passion for music when I was four years old, as I felt a specific spark from listening to music that drove me to play the my favourite instrument, the piano, which continued into my life until now.

• Is there a particular type music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  I mostly love classical music, but I also like to listen to rock and pop as well. Beethoven is my favourite classical music composer, whilst Micheal Jackson and Queen are my favorites to listen to pop and rock.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  A riveting course that I could personally give to a student of music should be a course on building music entrepreneurship for students. This is because when becoming a musician, there are rarely any full-time jobs available. Thus, the musician should be ready to make their own income streams to allow for extra income. I am doing this right now, so I can share real experience.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  The most complicated instrument to master is the snare drum. This is mostly because of the technique needed to play the snare drum. For example, to play certain dynamics, you have to place your drumsticks in a specific way to show the contrast of dynamics, which is really difficult to do.

• What are your keys to success?

  My keys to success are to always be hard-working and resilient in order to achieve the dreams you want. You should also enjoy the process and consistency into getting them, as focusing on the result leads to burnout and additional stress factors.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Three musicians I dream of meeting in my favourite bar in the early hours of the morning have to be the following. Firstly, it has to be Freddie Mercury, due to his immense voice and charisma that leads him to be an entertainer. Secondly, it has to be Michael Jackson, due to his hard-work and dedication into what he envisions his songs to be. Lastly, it has to be Billy Joel, because of how he can improvise fully on the piano, which I would like to learn as well.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  A valuable anecdote related to music has to be that there is no such thing as a professional musician. What this means is that there is no 'winner' in the game of music, as everyone has their own interpretation of playing their own pieces. For example, one pianist can play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata in a fast manner, whilst another in a slow manner, so there is no clear winner of a musician.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  The little touches that make me a Superprof in music has to be the way I give my lessons. I don't make it into an strict lesson where the student is expected to do what I say. But rather a relaxed one where I get to bond with the student and their particular interests. I also would play games frequently in my lessons as well, as games are what make a student remember the lesson rather than forget it. Thus, a major little touch that makes me a Superprof in music has to be the relaxed method I give lessons in.