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Morita said he plans to create the music invitational as a collaborative competition where students can compete in a classical music setting in such categories as solo, duet, trio and large ensemble. From there, the top five vote-getters in the country each secured $100,000 prizes for their schools. He initially was named one of 15 finalists - three of whom were from Hawaii this year - and advanced to the online public-voting phase of the competition. Morita’s winning proposal to establish what he envisions as the Niu Valley Music Olympic Invitational edged out hundreds of proposals from teachers nationwide competing in Farmers’ annual Thank America’s Teachers® Dream Big Teacher Challenge®.
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“I will continue to teach because it is what I love to do,” she says.įor more information on Joyce Shih Piano Studio, visit Valley Middle School music teacher Zachary Morita was handed a giant ceremonial check from Farmers Insurance for $100,000 in a surprise award ceremony as hundreds of students cheered him on Tuesday morning. “They also are able to compete in annual piano competitions, and I encourage them to attend live piano performances.”įor Shih, sharing her passion for music with others makes her entrepreneurial adventure the best composition of all. “My students perform at retirement homes, studio recitals and community recitals that are part of Honolulu Piano Teachers Association and Hawaii Music Teachers Association,” she says. She received her degree from National Taiwan University of Arts in music and deems it important to provide her students with the best opportunities possible. Shih is trilingual and speaks Mandarin, Taiwanese and English. There are no boundaries when it comes to music, as it is a universal language. “I am rewarded by my students’ progress in piano, and several of my students have majored in piano performance and music at UH Manoa, so they can continue what I have taught them,” Shih explains. “My students, past and present, have accomplished so much,” she says, adding that her former students have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, musicians, accountants, teachers, architects, engineers, journalists and more, in addition to being named winners of Hawaii Music Teachers Association annual convention competition and Morning Music Club of Honolulu annual scholarship competition.Īccording to Shih, taking part in piano lessons is one outlet that allows people to excel in other aspects in life. In fact, Shih says that one particular study confirmed that children who received piano/keyboard training performed 34 percent higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability. Studies have shown that there is a profound link between music and academic achievement.
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“I give private piano instruction so students can learn to enjoy playing piano, develop self-discipline, concentration, coordination and courage.” I love music and I want to share that with my students of all ages (age 5 and up),” says Shih, who was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, and decided to make Hawaii her home almost 50 years ago. “I want to educate students so that they can enjoy and have a lifelong appreciation of music. She currently conducts private piano lessons in her Hawaii Kai home and centers her life around her love of music. Joyce Shih, owner of Joyce Shih Piano Studio, has been brightening the lives of keiki and adults alike through the beauty of music since 1964. Joyce Shih conducts a piano lesson with student Harvey Wang | Photo from Joyce Shih