I have a dream.
A dream that every child who learns music will not only be able to play the piano, but also truly hear music—understand it, recreate it, and eventually create their own. When I was in primary school, my mum and I loved going to the movies. Back then, Taiwanese films were very popular, and each movie had its own unforgettable theme song. After every movie, we would go home and try to write down the melody we had just heard—and then play it on the piano. At the time, I never realised how powerful that simple activity was. It quietly trained my ears. It taught me to listen deeply, to recognise patterns, and to translate sound into music. Today, as a classically trained pianist, I still deeply enjoy interpreting and performing classical works. But the skill that brings me the greatest joy and freedom is something else—the ability to listen to any piece of music and play it, to write it down, and to make it my own. And yet, this skill was never part of my formal piano lessons. My mum was my teacher in this area. Over the years, I have tried to pass this skill on to my students. However, with the demands of traditional piano training—repertoire, scales, sight-reading, and studies—there is often little time left to nurture listening skills in a meaningful way. And so, I have a dream. I dream that every Dorayme student will graduate not only as a pianist, but as a complete musician— someone who can:
- listen and write down music
- play by ear
- improvise freely
- compose and arrange with confidence
This dream is the reason we created the Online Setting the Standard Workshop—a programme designed specifically to develop one of the most neglected yet essential musical skills: listening.
For just $20 per term, your child will:
- Attend a focused online workshop once per term
- Complete a structured listening assignment
- Receive guidance from their teacher (if needed)
- Progress through levels by mastering their listening skills
With minimal time commitment, no travel required, and no additional cost beyond the workshop fee, this programme offers a simple yet powerful way to unlock your child’s musical potential. This is, in my view, one of the most valuable gifts you can give your child—not just the ability to play music, but the ability to understand and create music for life. Because when a child learns to truly listen, music is no longer something they just play— it becomes something they own. Together with their weekly piano lessons, this skill will stay with them into adulthood, allowing them to enjoy music in a deeper, more personal, and more meaningful way.
So today, I invite you to be part of this dream.
Give your child the opportunity to develop their ears. Give them the tools to become a complete musician.
Join our Term 3 & Term 4 Online Setting the Standard Workshop by clicking the link below: