Piano Student, Peter C. S.
Piano is a popular choice of instrument for music lessons at SMMC. Our Center boast a large number of piano students and teachers. It’s a popular “first choice” instrument and there are several factors that play into this. For one, the instrument does not need to be held by the student. In that sense, it’s easy to be able to walk up, sit at the keys and plunk away! Second, the motor skills needed to operate the instrument are pretty basic so most 5 or 6 year old’s are good to start. What’s more, both right and left hands operate in the same fashion as opposed to a guitar or a violin. That helps beginners not feel so daunted in learning separate techniques for each hand. Lastly, learning to read music on a piano is more natural than with other instruments. Notes displayed on the music staff align with the keyboard layout, so it tends to make sense for a beginner. SMMC has published a few tips for teaching your young piano phenom how to read notes! Check out our short tutorial to learn about SPACES and LINE notes!
Peter started his music lessons at SMMC since July 2019! At that point, Peter was only 4 years old when he started to learn to play piano. Side note: check out our “Top 3 Instruments For Your Child’s First Instrument” article to learn what instruments work for young students. Peter has earned the award because he is a dedicated student who practices on a consistent basis at home (thanks mom and dad!). Peter does not take very long in learning and mastering new pieces. This helps keep his playing fresh and his interest engaged. Peter is able to incorporate dynamics into his playing which is not always easy to do for a nine year old. Dynamics are when you play with varying levels of volume and tempo to make a performance interesting. Way to go Peter!
In His Teacher’s Words
Peter takes lessons from Mr. Tom Fong, a classically trained guitarist and pianist who has been playing music since the age of seven. Mr. Tom holds grade 8 certificates from The Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music for both instruments. Mr. Tom joined the team at SMMC in August 2022 and boasts a healthy roster of both piano and guitar students.
“Peter is a hardworking and talented student who always shows up on time and puts in the effort. He practices consistently, completes the assignments given each week, and plays with great musicality and expression. His dedication paid off last year when he passed the ABRSM Grade 1 piano exam with Distinction! That is the highest grade one can possibly score-an incredible achievement! It made me really proud of my student. If that were not enough, he’s now expanding his musical skills by taking guitar lessons with me as well. Peter’s passion and commitment to music reminds me of my younger self and it’s truly inspiring to see his growth.“
Peter Performs At Our Winter Recital, 2025
Enjoy this performance of “Russian Sailor Dance” performed by Peter at our Winter Recital on January 26th, 2025.
That is some stellar playing Peter! Thank you so much for sharing a bit about yourself Peter. Congratulations from all of us at SMMC and we look forward to see what your musical future has in store for you!
In His Own Words
Now for our favorite part of the blog-the Q & A! We sent Peter a list of questions to get to know him a little better and here is what he replied:
- How long have you been playing your instrument? What do you like most about playing it?
I have been playing piano for over 4 years. Each time I play piano, it sounds good to me and makes me feel better. - How do you make time to practice with your busy schedule?
I tend to stay up late. - What brand/size instrument do you play on? What do you like about your instrument’s sound and is there anything that makes your instrument special?
I play on a Baldwin upright. It was my aunt’s piano, so it’s nice to play on something that has been in the family for years. - What do you like about the pieces you chose to perform for the SOTM video?
It’s calming and upbeat. - What do you like to do in your spare time?
Playing video games or tag!
Thank you for sharing Peter!
Meet The Instructor
Tom Fong is a versatile guitarist based in Los Angeles. He started learning the piano and the guitar at the age of 7 and 12. He holds grade 8 classical guitar and piano certificates from The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Tom obtained his Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance and Minor in Audio Production from Musicians Institute. After graduating, Tom worked there as a teaching assistant before pursuing his Master’s Degree at the University of Southern California. At USC, he studied under renowned maestros including Frank Potenza, Paul Jackson Jr., Bruce Forman, and Adam Del Monte. In 2022, Tom graduated from the Studio/Jazz Guitar Performance program at USC. In addition to teaching, Tom is a composer for commercials and a seasoned music director. Lastly, he has recorded as a session guitarist, working with a wide range of artists.