Inspiring Conversations with Elisa Chan of Andante Piano Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisa Chan.

Hi Elisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Coming from a musical family in Hong Kong, where my dad is a violinist and my mom is a pianist, I started playing when I was just three. However, I would say my journey really started at the age of ten, when I matriculated at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Just like most Asian parents, they wanted me to be great at what I do. Under a very competitive environment, I practiced 8-12 hours a day. I competed often and won internationally. However, I never felt like I truly loved music. Performing music was just something I am good at. I think I truly fell in love with music when I went abroad to Indiana, USA for my Master’s degree. Perhaps, it’s that experience of leaving home and living in a different country. Music began to feel more exciting when you are embracing a new chapter as connected me to foreign people and a new community. Also, the different approach to music in the United States of training beyond performance reignited my passion.

Fast forward to 2019, I decided to go to USC for a piano collaborative certificate because after playing solo for so many years, I discovered I have a strong interest in playing chamber music and enjoyed having interactions with other musicians. In the same year, I am fortunate enough to get a job as a piano instructor at a music academy. After graduating from USC with the Outstanding Graduate Award in 2022, I decided to open my own piano studio. I work as a professional collaborative pianist and a piano instructor in Los Angeles. I hope to nurture the young generation with my own experiences and help them understand the beauty of music. I also look forward to continue meeting great people through music and giving back to the art I love so much.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
That’s a very tricky question for me. I would say fifty-fifty. It has been smooth because my path went from one to another without long gaps. I picked solo piano as a profession for college, went abroad for a master’s degree, worked as an instructor and accompanist at Indiana University, completed another degree in Collaborative Piano at USC, and now finally have my own studio to teach the next generation. Also, I am lucky enough to have a lot of incredible professors and friends who helped and supported me along the way. However, I think the hard part was my own personal struggles. Should I continue with what I do, will it be better if I do something else, etc. Today, I am happy to say I am glad that I never gave up, and I kept going even during the days when I was uncertain.  I think nothing is easy, but there will always be a way for each different person, and we will all figure it out.

We’ve been impressed with Andante Piano Studio, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Andante Piano Studio is my own private studio in Los Angeles. Andante means “to move” in Italian. It is my favorite pace in life. We do not have to move too fast, but as long as we are moving forward, it’s good enough. At Andante Piano Studio, we teach according to student’s aptitudes because every single one of us is unique in our own way. We encourage students to not give up when they face challenges during the learning process, just like in life. We also emphasize building up a strong musical foundation and, at the same time, helping them embrace their musical utmost.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elisachanpianist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andante.pianostudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elisachanpianist