Derrick Hahn Pianist-Composer

Introduction: Throughout the years I have been grateful to have met many teachers who have a deep passion for teaching music.  Their discoveries of music during their professional careers inspired me to be the musician I am today.  I wish to carry on their legacy. ​ Due to a piano related injury, I grew great appreciation of healthy playing through awareness of muscle movement.  With the help of my mentors in Alexander Technique and the world-class Taubman Technique, I have become aware of how to play piano in the most efficient way possible.  I teach this bodily awareness to all my students. ​ Also as a classical improviser I make sure all my students approach music as a form of language, with all the theory that entails.  I make sure that their discoveries of improvisation, the most natural approach to the piano, applies to their playing of written music. ​ I also teach composition, as I believe that to truly connect with music, you must create music within yourself. Music has always been with me. In fact, it seems to impact every part of my life. I find myself looking at the world with a new perspective all the time, because I have found myself on a spiritual path interconnected with music. A part of that path is the act of giving. I share my love of music with all my students. In doing so, I discover how my students approach music, and what they love about themselves. Do they like a challenge? Or do they like to write music instead of taking on challenging pieces? These questions are important to me, and is what makes music satisfying for me. I get to see how this universal language is approached by all ages, and all new perspectives.