Nan Ni
Teaching Philosophy
Influenced by my own mentors, my approach to teaching music revolves around guiding students to cultivate a holistic understanding of music, instead of simply dictating instructions. Thus I strive to foster a thought-provoking approach that equips students with the skills to perceive music profoundly and practice effectively.
I believe collaborative exploration between student and teacher during in-depth music studies can spark new discoveries. By incorporating imagery and encouraging connections to the broader world, students not only enhance their performance skills but also imbue music with deeper personal meaning.
Biography
Being the first prize winner of the 2022 Fou Ts’ong International Concerto Competition, Nan was praised by the Boston Musical Intelligencer as “a confident, accurate, powerful, articulate interpreter”. Her performance of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the Mercury Orchestra at Jordan Hall also received acclaim for her “limpid refinement and exquisitely vanishing pianissimos”. Her performance of Beethoven Sonata Op.2 No.2 was featured in New England Conservatory’s YouTube broadcast. During the summer of 2024, she will perform chamber music works by Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Dvorak, and Saint-Saëns at the Music@Menlo festival. Nan has also performed as a solo organist at the Church of the Covenant in Boston.
Other prestigious music festivals she has attended include Music Academy of the West, and the Summer Academy of Mozarteum in Salzburg. She has taken master classes from Arie Vardi, Jeremy Denk, and Jonathan Biss, among other distinguished musicians. Nan has previously attended Shanghai Conservatory Middle School for nine years. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at New England Conservatory, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree. Her important mentors include Bruce Brubaker, Alessio Bax, and Natalia Filippova.
She holds extensive teaching experiences ranging from beginners to highly advanced students who are preparing for competitions and auditions. During 2020-2022, she participated in Boston Hope Music Project, which offers one-on-one zoom piano lessons to medical workers at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Degrees
Doctor of Musical Arts, New England Conservatory of Music (in progress)
Master of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, 2023
Bachelor of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, 2021