TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: AMY HSU
Taiwan-born New Zealand pianist Amy Hsu has spent the last two years travelling and performing with musicians from all over the world as a musician on Holland America. Earlier this year, Amy returned back to her hometown of Auckland and has since been teaching piano for Lewis Eady Music School at our Epsom studios and at Westmere Primary School.
LEMS: Let's start from the beginning!
Rhapsody in Blue with ASO at Auckland Town Hall, Aug 2017
Amy: My music journey started when I was a kid in Taiwan, going to group keyboard classes. I moved to New Zealand at the age of 8 and I started individual piano lessons. Throughout intermediate and high school, I played the piano in jazz combos and also percussion in concert band and orchestra. I have always enjoyed playing music in an ensemble, regardless of who with or what we were playing. During my university years, I played the piano for five to six musicals a year, arranged popular music for the solo piano, musically directed a production for the first time, and performed Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue as a concerto soloist with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra.
LEMS: What is your favourite style of music to play?
Amy: I guess I'm pretty happy as long as I'm playing music with other people!
LEMS: You were a musician on the Holland America cruise line for the last two years. How did this job come about?
Amy: In high school, there was a bass teacher who used to work on cruise ships. The lifestyle seemed like a dream come true; playing music every day, travelling around the world, not having to worry about living costs. I talked about it a lot, and a friend of mine recommended an agency for me to look into. I did an online audition for them, which involved some sight-reading and improvising, and passed! Once I was part of the agency, they lined up contracts for me and helped with the paperwork involved.
Sunny day in Antarctica with fellow band members, Ruairidh Saunders and Tony Cantisano, Feb 2018
LEMS: And how many countries have you travelled to with this job?
Amy: I've visited almost all seven continents, except Africa... for now!
Hiking in Norway with the band, Joaquin Melero, Reese Maultsby, and Omer Idan, June 2019
LEMS: How are you finding working at LEMS after travelling and performing all around the world?
Amy: It's certainly such a change of pace. Teaching is something that I missed greatly when I was travelling. Considering the current state of the world, we are definitely very fortunate to still be able to have music lessons. I am so grateful and excited to be doing what I know is an important part of these students' lives.
LEMS: What is your inspiration behind performing and teaching?
Amy: Being able to impart the joy of music-making to another person. There is something so special about the connection that is created when making music together. Whether that's on stage or off stage, impromptu or rehearsed, professional or in a classroom.
Keyboard section of AMICI Production’s Mamma Mia at the Bruce Mason Centre: Zac Johns, George Bonner, and Mark Bradley, April 2018
Lewis Eady Music School delivers instrumental music lessons to over 1,300 students across Auckland and Wellington. Online Skype lessons are also available.