Yu Cheng Dai

I am a teaching artist, appearing as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra musician, and educator. I am classically trained and started my music journey with the piano and flute at the age of 5. I started playing bassoon when I was 11 years old. Between grades 3 and 12, I studied in a music-gifted program. I am currently based in Toronto and teach Bassoon and Piano. For Piano, I teach methods such as RCM and Yamaha.

I encourage students’ musical, social, personal, and emotional development by creating dynamic, well-thought-out lesson plans that empower and engage them. I am a self-motivated, creative individual who champions diversity, equality, and inclusion in music education, as well as developing and promoting novel teaching ways to overcome learning hurdles. I am a multilingual communicator (Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese) who develops great bonds with kids and their parents/guardians from a variety of ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

As a music teacher, I believe that all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, physical or intellectual capacity, should be given the chance to discover and develop their intrinsic musical potential, as well as to enhance these natural abilities via formal music education. The purpose of music education, in my opinion, is to enable students to build their own distinctive musical identity via academic study and performing opportunities, and to form an appreciation of other people’s music. I feel that musicianship and instrument technique both are equally important. I believe in a comprehensive approach to music, as well as music appreciation and listening.

My primary purpose in teaching is to assist the student in learning, exploring, and growing in love with music and the instrument. To encourage musicianship, I believe in playing together with the student in classes. In addition to taking into account students’ technical abilities and assisting them in understanding how to interpret the standards and aesthetics of each piece for play, in my music classes, I aim to assist learners acquire an aesthetic and academic knowledge of music as well as practical music skills. As a result, my curriculum focuses on a goal based sequenced learning targets in all aspects of music performance, music literacy and fine arts integration.

Overall, my teaching objective is to assist students enhance their lives via music by providing them with enjoyment and great playing experiences that are a priceless gift.

Music Qualifications & Achievements:

I have attended the following schools earning the following degrees:

• Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, New Jersey (Doctor of Musical Arts)
• Mannes School of Music, The New School, New York (Master of Music)
• University of Taipei, Taiwan (Bachelor of Music)