Michael Lui
Piano teacher Piano Accompanist Vocal Coach
Biography
Michael Lui is an experienced piano teacher and coach accompanist in Hong Kong. For the past 10 years, he has been working closely with his students to prepare them for performances such as HK music festival competitions, practical exams by ABRSM and Trinity College and auditions for various schools and orchestras.
Michael began his musical training in Hong Kong at the age of four. He moved to the United States at the age of 15 and completed his bachelor’s degree in piano performance at Ohio University. As he was working with different musicians, he became fascinated with chamber music and vocal repertoire. Subsequently, he continued his studies and went on to gain two masters degrees at Kansas University in piano performance and collaborative piano. Afterwards, he went to the University of Colorado in Boulder to further deepen his knowledge of collaborative art and graduated with his doctoral degree in collaborative piano.
The piano pedagogues he studied with included Martin Katz, Margo Garrett, Robert Koenig,
Margaret McDonald, Alexandra Nguyen, Mutsumi Moteki, Nicolas Carthy, Gail Berenson and Jack Winerock.
Michael has extensive experience in performing solo piano, chamber music, art songs, opera scenes and musical theatre in music festivals across the US, Europe and Asia. He has participated in the Pittsburgh Opera Theatre in Pennsylvania, the SongFest in California, the Salzburg Program in Austria, the Orvieto Musica in Italy and the Banff Music Festival in Canada. Michael has also worked as a coach pianist for the Kansas Lyric Opera and the Boston Lyric Opera outreach programs. In Hong Kong, he has performed in concerts hosted by institutions such as the Yip’s Children’s Choral & Performing Arts Centre and the Opera Society of Hong Kong. In addition, he frequently gets invited to perform in faculty recitals and to give master classes at the Sichuan Conservatory in China.
Teaching Philosophy
Michael is fluent in Cantonese, English and Mandarin. He is a teacher who likes to encourage his students to pay attention to the smallest nuances in music. He uses various images, stories and games to explain concepts and techniques that often seem abstract to students. His ultimate goal is for them to become technically proficient yet expressive performers.
There are several aspects that Michael likes to focus on during lessons:
Technique
Using a variety of exercises to help students build a solid foundation that will allow them to artistically integrate nuances such as dynamics, articulations and phrasing into their playing.
Expression
Using stories and imagery to help students to use their own emotions and imagination to express the composers’ intentions in their playing.
Exam preparation (ABRSM, Trinity College)
Rehearsing and fine-tuning the exam pieces with students and accompanying them during the exam. For the ABRSM exam (grade 1-8), he also provides aural and sight-reading training.
Competition, performance and audition preparation
Helping students by choosing the appropriate music, teaching stagecraft and interview technique and performing dress rehearsals.
Diction
Coaching vocal students to sing accurately in Italian, French, German and English songs with authentic pronunciation.
Lessons
Michael offers private piano lessons, accompanying and vocal coaching sessions in his North Point studio. He's also available to provide these services at other locations. Please contact me for lesson rates and further arrangement.
Private piano lessons
Depending on the student’s age and level, piano lessons are offered weekly in 30, 45 or 60 minute sessions. My studio is located in North Point.
Accompanying sessions (instrumental and vocal students)
I provide accompanying service for lessons, rehearsals, exams, competitions, auditions and recitals. I am experienced in both instrumental and vocal repertoire. In an accompanying session, I will encourage students to improve in aspects such as intonation, rhythm, dynamic, interpretation and ensemble.
Vocal coaching sessions
In addition, for vocal students, I will explain the stylistic differences of various vocal genres (arias, art songs, musical numbers, etc.) as well as the proper pronunciation of various languages such as English, Italian, French and German.