About me
Nicholas was born and raised in Singapore, and started playing the violin at the age of 4, going through the Suzuki Method and taking Exams with the Associate Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM), while performing several times a year with different ensembles, both Jazz and Classical. At age 13, he completed his Grade 8 Performance exam in violin, and moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he joined the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA)'s Philharmonic Orchestra where he performed 3 times a year for several years in the city's famous Majestic Theatre. After graduating from High School, he attended Arcadia University for a year, where he helped found the Arcadia String Ensemble, and acted as the Professor's assistant, tutoring fellow students, before returning to Singapore for his military service. In 2021, he graduated from Temple University with a double degree in Music Performance and Music Education with First Class Honours. Nicholas is currently pursuing a Master's of Music Education (Autism Concentration) at Berklee College of Music, and aims to be an effective advocate for students with disabilities, and inclusive classrooms.
Nicholas has been teaching music since 2016, seeking to promote inclusivity and education for all.
Teaching Philosophy
Everyone can.
Every child is an individual with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. I believe in individualised education that will bring out the best in each student, and help them grow into the best versions of themselves. While we believe that the potential of children is limitless, why should the reality be different for those of different ages and abilities? Regardless of who you are, everybody has the right and ability to express themselves through music.
Music is Culture.
Music is not merely sounds or noise. It is the harmony of those sounds that come together and tell a story — your story. Whether it be the story of your life, or the generations before you, music never fails to express that culture. And when culture is shared, people come together, and grow together.
Perfection is out. Excellence is in.
As the old adage goes, “failure is the mother of success.” In other words, failure is crucial for success. Once we learn to embrace failures as an inevitable part of our journey, we can learn from our mistakes and head towards greatness. I teach students with the hopes that they will not only grow musically, but in character as well. As such, I aim for excellence within my students, that they will always try their best, in whatever form that may take.
