Jae Han - A4 Collective

Introduction: You can find more information online when you search for "A4 Collective Brooklyn". Jae Kyo Han has devoted his life to pianos through his work as an instructor (Steinway Educational Partner), pianist, piano tuner/technician, apprentice piano rebuilder and founder of A4 Collective. Introduced to the piano when he was four, Jae began to compete early on and continued to do so throughout his musical studies. He regularly received top prizes in statewide and regional competitions, and was a finalist in the 14th Chiang Wen-Yeh International Young Artist Piano Competition. He was also twice selected to perform in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, both times as a winner of the American Fine Arts Festival. For over 10 years Jae has taught music and piano to students of all ages, and believes it is never too late to learn. Rather than one’s age, successful learning relies on a sense of curiosity and the constant desire to improve, as well as a strong teacher-student dynamic. As an instructor, Jae strives to bring joy to his teaching, creating a comfortable environment where mistakes are not avoided and the allure of music is never lost. With decades of performance experience to draw upon, Jae guides students in how to build an effective practice, utilize memorization techniques, apply music theory analysis, as well as develop sight-reading, listening, improvisation, performance and interpretation skills. Curious by nature, Jae is motivated to understand his instrument beyond the realm of performance. Following his graduate studies in classical piano at Mannes School of Music and Manhattan School of Music, Jae apprenticed as a tuner/technician discovering the piano anew from the inside out. After years of training he began maintaining pianos for fellow professional pianists, esteemed recording studios and performance halls. In 2019 Jae met Jimmy Greenfield, the founder of Soapbox Gallery, a multimedia performance space in Brooklyn, and soon became the resident piano technician. Constantly exploring new aspects of piano technology, Jae also works as an assistant to pianist James Carney at his rebuilding workshop in Brooklyn. Their recent projects have included pianos produced by Steinway & Sons, Bösendorfer, Grotrian, Mason & Hamlin, Yamaha and other high-end manufacturers. Jae also ran a music school that served hundreds of students in New York City from 2017-2021. During his time as the school’s director, Jae gained invaluable experience overseeing tens of thousands of lessons and fostering a committed team of professional instructors. Inspired by the mission of Soapbox Gallery, Jae gradually redirected the focus of his work back towards performance and founded A4 Collective in 2022. A4 is the culmination of Jae’a various interactions with the piano, utilizing his insight as a performer, administrator and a technician.