Have you ever seen the movie "Take the Lead"? It's one of those cliched, cheesy inspirational movies you watch when you're home alone and depressed and eating ice cream, etc. It's really not a very good movie, but one particular scene has always struck a chord with me. It's a scene in which Antonio Banderas convinces a group of parents on the PTA to turn detention into ballroom dance lessons at an impoverished New York City high school: "Yes, we teach your kids dance, and with it a set of rules about respect, team work, and dignity. If your son can learn to touch a girl with respect, how do you think he will treat women throughout his life?"
It's this type of abstraction that encapsulates the three major facets of music that Brendan has ingrained in me: professionalism, integrity, and discipline. Not only was he intently concerned with how good I sounded, he invested just as much time into my personal/professional development. Likewise, my two years studying under him showed me that the way you approach the piano closely resembles the way you approach life (something I found particularly perturbing as I was probably one of the worst students any teacher could ever want). But unlike all of my previous teachers, Brendan took the time to specifically tailor his teaching style to my personality. He's the first teacher who helped me truly understand the piano on a deeper introspective level. I firmly believe that the 3 years I spent getting that undergraduate degree in music would be completely and utterly useless if I didn't have the pleasure of studying under him. Brendan is the most effective piano teacher you will ever find; no one else parallels.
– Isaac L.
Brendan is an excellent teacher and I always learn a lot while having tons of fun. Brendan is very knowledgeable of all genres of music. I drive over an hour each way to get to my lesson and it is well worth the drive.
– Joe M.
Our son was a talented beginner when he began studying with Brendan Nguyen. In less than two years he improved to such an extent that he auditioned for and was accepted to the school of music at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Brendan emphasizes musicianship, sound production and effective practicing. His love of music is contagious. Students of all skill levels and age groups can and do benefit from his instruction. In short, Brendan is the finest piano teacher we've ever met.
– William B.
You meet that ONE person, and your whole life's direction changes completely........
well, that person was Brendan for me. Unbeknownst to Brendan or I at the time, we would soon embark on an amazing journey of piano lessons together.
Brendan was my first official piano instructor at UCSD for 2 years, and my improvement under his coaching was OFF.THE.HOOK.
I entered the music program with fast fingers and a strong sense of self-discipline......but without the proper technical training or understanding of music. Brendan changed everything: He revamped my technique, identifying my problem areas, fixing these issues, and enhancing my abilities in a way that no other teacher had, or ever has since.But even more importantly, I came to perceive musical success entirely differently after studying with him. Before, I thought musical success was miraculously getting through a piece without hitting any wrong notes. No, my friends. Not even close.
To truly understand music is a magical, intricate, and damn difficult process, but Brendan guided me in such a way that our 8am Thursday morning lessons actually REJUVENATED my spirits and ENERGIZED me for the rest of the day. Every lesson served as an opportunity for both musical and personal growth, and it perpetually excited me. (Also, Brendan has the best analogies. And he taught me how to say "no". An important life lesson, I feel.)
In short, I have learned an incredible amount about myself through these piano lessons with Brendan; I believe that is one of the marks of a truly great teacher, no matter their field.
Place trust in this yelp review, trust in the process, and let Brendan dazzle your musical mind.– Binh-An N.