We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Po Sim Head. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Po Sim below.

Po Sim, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I have ever taken is coming to the United States from Hong Kong to pursue my studies in music. It is definitely life-changing! I have been living in Kansas City since 2016. Prior to that, I was divorced and felt like a change. I earned two masters and one doctoral degree in the past six years. So it is life-changing not only physically but also intellectually. I have become a better piano teacher and a piano player; I am working on expanding my career into research and writing as I am always interested in discovering more musicians and their music from different parts of the world.

Po Sim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a musicologist-pianist and a passionate piano teacher. As an active performer, presenter, and writer, I am interested in discovering lesser-known musicians and promoting their works. I am an active participant in national and local music conferences. I also write for the online magazine Interlude.hk. I have a thriving studio whose students are active participants in student recitals and local music events. I serve as an adjunct instructor at Metropolitan Community College- Kansas City.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being an artist or creative is rewarding in many ways. As a pianist, the most rewarding moment is seeing my audience enjoying my performance. I also enjoy the interaction with my audience after my performance. As a piano teacher, I particularly feel rewarded when my students show me how much they enjoy playing the piano. I am a teacher who always likes to challenge my students and encourages them to participate in competitions, festivals, and master classes. I am glad that many of them were eager to try, making progress during the process, and feeling fulfilled after participating in the event.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Besides taking private lessons, there are many resources for piano teachers and pianists regarding techniques, performances, and career planning. I think I knew about them very early on, but I never took them very seriously. I am glad that I met Dr. Scott McBride Smith. He is a famous piano pedagogue. At the beginning of studying with him, I wanted to understand what he did, and I found his writings regarding pianos. Since then, I have fallen in love with piano pedagogy.

Although there are many resources about piano pedagogy, I find there is room for more discussion. We are all unique individuals. As teachers, we might have the same goals, but we can approach them in many different ways. I hope my website, which is designed for piano teachers and students, provides a different lens to piano pedagogy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thescientificpianoteacher.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thescientificpianoteacher
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgt2mbaOohOUHeMn0G9pt0g; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyR8I9lKm1cHl_M-eo0jdQg;
• Other: www.kcguitarpiano.com