May 15, 2023
May Student of the Month: Elijah Yap
This May, we’re happy to spotlight CCM piano student, Elijah Yap, for our Student of the Month! Elijah has been taking piano lessons at CCM for 5 years. He currently studies at CCM’s Sunnyvale location with Teacher Dario. Elijah is always proactive with his practice! He is inquisitive in the lessons which enhances his learning experience that much more.
Student of the Month – Elijah Yap
What is your name?
My name is Elijah Rohan B. Yap.
How old are you?
I am 10 years old.
Who is your teacher?
My teacher is Teacher Dario.
How long have you been taking piano lessons?
I’ve been taking piano lessons at CCM since I was 5 years old.
What advice would you give to a piano student just starting out at CCM?
Keep practicing everyday and have fun and enjoy playing music.
What piece are you looking forward to learning someday?
I love to learn Kiss the Rain by Yiruma and more classical pieces like Canon in D by Pachelbel.
What is your favorite thing about playing piano?
My favorite thing about playing piano is that I get to play music that I like.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is a Filipino Escabeche that I personally call “vinegar fish soup.” It’s a fried fish cooked in a sweet and sour sauce.
Do you have a pet?
I have a Ball Python snake that I named Nagini from my favorite book and movie, Harry Potter.
Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
I am not really into sports, but I sometimes play badminton and I play online games and spend time reading.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a Cardiologist someday.
What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
My most memorable experience at CCM is participating in recitals and performing without mistakes.
Parent Spotlight – Stella Yap
Regarding piano instruction, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?
We are most proud of Elijah watching him play confidently at every recital in front of a lot of people and watching him work so hard and putting in a lot of effort and making sure he practices everyday and get every piece perfectly.
What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
Learning piano is a process that requires time. Try to be patient, and help your child to stay patient too. Encourage and motivate them to practice everyday, develop a routine but give your child the freedom to learn at their own pace, encourage them when they achieve new milestones, even if they’re just taking baby steps, and most importantly, let them have fun and make their music experience enjoyable.
Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
At a young age, Elijah already loved music and showed interest in learning how to play piano. In fact, he was the one who told us that he wanted to take piano lessons. As parents, we are here to support him and give him the opportunity to find passion and love on whatever that interests him, in this case, music. On the other hand, we know that learning music has a lot of benefits and can enhance every area of a child’s development.
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