Today we’d like to introduce you to Youngwon French.
Youngwon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a classically trained pianist and started my own teaching business, Hyde Park Piano Studio in 2017. My piano journey began at the age of five in Seoul, Korea. My tiny fingers played across my Appa’s (dad in Korean) forehead whenever I had a chance. I wanted to become like the pianist that I watched on TV.
A year later, Appa bought me a brand-new upright piano! Wanting to become a concert pianist while growing up, I was seriously dedicated to my training. I have believed “practice makes perfect” since a young age. I can still feel the adrenaline rushing through my body when I think about competitions and recitals.
Fast forward through my life, I lived in many different places: Buenos Aires, Montreal, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Diego before calling Cincinnati my home in 2007. Along the way, I was fortunate in getting my feet wet in special event productions in Chicago. Through the ins and outs of the performance stage, running special events, and keeping my Artistic creativity alive, I decided to shift my goal to piano teaching. I wanted to transfer knowledge and unique experience to my students and those who want to learn everything about the piano.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In 1990, one of the professors in Montreal highly recommended that I should give piano teaching a try. I think he had a sixth sense. My very first student was a 6-year-old boy from Paris, France who spoke no English and I spoke almost no French. We found a solution which was to communicate through illustrations while we improved our language skills. Well, thankfully our desperate attempts worked, and he flourished as a fine young pianist.
Coming from a highly competitive Korean educational culture, any mediocre progress wasn’t simply good enough in my early days of teaching. I took everything too seriously. Eventually, I had to learn how to manage my expectations and fuel them into positivity. Identifying and embracing many degrees of talent are the essential skill sets for a teacher. Extracting good qualities and turning them into their strengths create confidence. A healthy, happy, and positive way of teaching piano – with the patience of Yoda – became my mission and contribution as an educator.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is based on love, respect, and complete trust. Students’ individuality, talent, and wanting to learn piano energize me every day to be a better educator. I like to deeply ingrain healthy practice habits into their daily routine so that they will not only evolve into accomplished pianists but also be prepared to use that discipline in other areas of their life. It takes that one person to see their full potential and help them flourish. I like to call myself an INFLUENCER in piano education and love it!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
There are so many accomplished mentors out there but find the one who feels your soul and looks out for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hydeparkpianostudio.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/youngwonfrench
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hydeparkpianostudio
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCHv5K6_TP_rv8D0xL26XmGg
Image Credits
Willis Music and Aubrey Backscheider
