Profile of Piano Teacher
Dr Heideaki
- Ph.D. in music theory from the University of Washington, USA
- MA in historical musicology from Keio University, Japan
- Former assistant professor at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore
- Current part-time lecturer at National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
- Experienced teacher of music theory, music history, and Philippine kulintang/world music
- Co-founder and performer of Sari-Sari Philippine Kulintang Ensemble
- SYF adjudicator and Singapore Symphony Orchestra collaborator
- Teaching Location: Jurong West, Jurong East, and other locations in West and Central of Singapore
About
Dr Hideaki received a Ph.D. in music theory in 2004 from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, USA. While there, he taught at the UW and University of Puget Sound, Tacoma. He came to Singapore in 2005 and was assistant professor at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), National University of Singapore (NUS). He also taught at LaSalle College of the Arts and the School of the Arts (SOTA). Currently, Dr. Onishi currently teaches at the Natinal Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Dr Hideaki also holds an MA in historical musicology from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. This complements his strength in music theory and make his approaches to music more comprehensive and contextual. He has taught music history courses at YST and LaSalle.
Dr Hideaki’s credential is made even more unique with his rare experience as a performer and scholar of the Philippine kulintang. He started taking kulintang lessons with ethnomusicologist Dr. Pamela Grace Costes Onishi at the UW and soon began to perform in public. He also had lessons with such master musicians as Danongan Sibay Kalanduyan (a winner of the 1995 National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts, USA), and the University of the Philippines lecturers Kanapia Kalanduyan and Aga Mayo Butocan. After working with Dr Pamela for his interdisciplinary researches, Dr Onishi co-founded Sari-Sari Philippine Kulintang Ensemble in 2009 with her and has been actively performing with the Ensemble since then, both islandwide and overseas (Bandung, Indonesia and Hong Kong). As a kulintang teacher, he taught at NIE for five years (2014-2019) and has led several workshops.
While it may be possible to find somebody who is versed with one of the three specialisations (music theory, music history, and the Philippine kulintang/world music) separately, very few individuals are equipped with all three of them. Dr Onishi can convey all of them not only as knowledge but also as actual skills of living music. His students truly “live” (in) these different musical cultures and gain unforgettable and invaluable musical experiences that are sure to stay and enrich their lives. His current clients include the National Institute of Education (part-time lecturer, 2014-), the Ministry of Education (as SYF adjudicator, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022), and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (2022).
My daughter had learned piano for three years in Japan, and we were looking for a piano teacher who can teach in Japanese here in Singapore when we met Onishi-sensei. He makes the best use of every single lesson to share musical knowledge with her and teach her a wide variety of music, ranging from classical to her favorite Anime songs. He is in constant dialogue with us and adjusts the pacing of his lessons to my daughter’s progress. Watching her enjoy playing the piano makes me realize how lucky we are to have found Onishi-sensei. [Translated by Hideaki Onishi]
My son had learned piano in Japan and met Dr. Onishi when we were looking for a teacher who can teach in Japanese here in Singapore. He currently studies musical rudiments through texbtooks and learns classical as well as pop music pieces he likes. Private lessons make it easy for us to adjust the way he learns and to set future goals. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Onishi for his patience when he encounters a difficult passage to play. [Translated by Hideaki Onishi]
Dr. Onishi has been an incredible influence on Hannah’s music education. His dedication to teaching music has been truly remarkable, and we cannot thank him enough for the knowledge, skills, and passion he has instilled in my daughter.
Dr. Onishi’s teaching style is not only informative but also engaging and interactive. He is patient, encouraging, and always willing to explain things in different ways to ensure that Hannah fully understand the concepts. She always looks forward to his music lessons as she knows she will gain many takeaways.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Dr. Onishi to anyone looking to learn and grow as a musician. He is an exceptional educator, mentor, and musician, and Hannah is truly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from him.
Hannah received Distinction for her DipABRSM exam on 16 June 2023. Many contratulations, Hannah!
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