Piano Lessons
My Story Continues …
A Bilingual Pianist Seeking Continuous Inspiration
One of my most significant achievements is the release of my album titled Variations on a Theme by Stefan Wolpe and Other Selected Piano Works. This album includes compositions by American and Korean composers, contributing to the integration of both worlds within the broader context of new and contemporary music.
By presenting these works, I aim to contribute to the expansion of the repertoire and provide audiences with a diverse and enriching musical experience. Collaborating with living composers and performing their works is an invaluable pursuit that enriches my role as a classical pianist. The opportunity to work closely with composers, understand their artistic intentions, and bring their music to life is a source of great joy and inspiration for me.
I have had the privilege of residing in both the East and the West. South Korea is my birthplace, and it is where I was raised, while the United States became my home for over half of my life as a non-immigrant. It is through my performances that I proudly embody and represent my dual identity. Since publishing my doctoral dissertation, I have specialized in performing music that delves deeply into the blending of Eastern and Western concepts. This exploration has been a focal point of my career as a performer, allowing me to further understand and appreciate the harmonious coexistence of these musical traditions.
Moreover, I am passionate about introducing future generations to a diverse range of repertoire, including new piano music composed by indigenous artists. Exploring and performing pieces that have yet to gain widespread recognition, we can offer fresh perspectives and broaden the horizons of young musicians and listeners.
If you are a composer looking to commission your work or a prospective student interested in learning indigenous piano repertoire, please feel free to contact me. During our conversation, we can assess if we are a good match!
My Story
Piano has maintained an interesting relationship with me throughout my life, in both countries I have resided in. South Korea, my birthplace and upbringing, holds the memories of my earliest connection with the piano. While my interactions with it were sporadic during my childhood, the piano served as a comforting companion.
My journey with the piano took an accelerated pace as I decided to make a deeper connection with it in the U.S., which led me to pursue and obtain my doctoral degree at the young age of 27. While I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to achieve a terminal degree at a young age, I must acknowledge the challenge of not being able to fully enjoy piano playing at times, due to the constant time strain of being a student, despite my genuine love for piano lessons.
I started my formal training relatively late. It wasn’t until my college days in the U.S. that I began consistently studying piano. I suppose I had just enough luck and talent to be accepted into college as a piano major, but I lacked the necessary fundamentals and proper technique, particularly with my small hands. As a result, I had to devote extra time to practicing and redeveloping those aspects, in addition to working on my repertoire.
I wish I had established a stronger foundation in piano playing during my childhood. While I enjoyed playing the piano and even won prizes in competitions, I lacked the discipline and guidance to develop the essential skills required for success, regardless of whether I wanted to pursue piano as a career. These skills include active listening, consistency in lessons and practice, setting realistic and achievable goals, and having the patience to work towards those goals. And this is all before even discussing music fundamentals and piano techniques.
Throughout my teaching career, I have recognized the immense importance of establishing a healthy and mutually agreed long-term goal for piano lessons, among the student, parents, and teacher. This collaboration triangle forms the foundation for effective and productive short-term goals towards the long-term goal right from the start. A well-defined long-term goal helps students understand that progress in piano playing takes time and requires consistent effort, and creates motivation for success. This approach of setting long-term goals is equally applicable to older and adult students.
I have learned that when all parties are not aligned and committed to the long-term goal, it can lead to incorrect practicing patterns and a waste of time in undoing and redoing tasks. In particular, if the pacing is too fast and students try to achieve their goals too quickly, it causes anxiety in the enjoyment of piano playing. It serves as a reminder to avoid rushing through the learning process, similar to the hare in the story of “The Rabbit and the Turtle.”
Over the years, I have encountered numerous students and parents who display the characteristics of the Rabbit, eager to sprint ahead without paying attention to proper technique and musicality. I helped them by pinpointing one issue at a time and repeating the phrase “slow down.” This isolated and slow practice encourages them to take the time to diagnose and master the challenging spots in their pieces, and listen to the process. Mindlessly repeating the same trouble spot without recognizing the errors or the incorrect speed at which they are playing, only hinders their progress. It often results in fatigue and frustration, eventually necessitating extra time to regain their energy and refocus on fixing the issues.
It is tempting to adopt the mindset of the Rabbit when engaging a musical instrument, whether as a professional or not. I have witnessed this behavior, both in my students and in my younger self, where we pretend that playing through a piece from beginning to end constitutes practice. However, this approach lacks the depth and focus required for improvement, and wastes time. The Rabbit mindset only retains a short-term memory, it does not sustain a long-term memory as well as the Turtle mindset.
Taking a broader perspective, it’s evident that today’s populations are caught in a whirlwind of activities, navigating a hectic and overwhelming schedule. The ability to deeply focus on one thing becomes increasingly challenging, resulting in a decline in the quality of their performances and practices. Rushing through the process of learning a musical instrument serves as a metaphor for simply rushing through life’s tasks, filling up time without allowing for the necessary space and consistency required for effective and meaningful practice. I embrace the Turtle, who teaches us that slow and steady wins the race. By adopting this balanced approach, one can save time and accomplish more with the ability to fully focus on one task at a time.
If you resonate with the patient and steady approach of the Turtle in “The Rabbit and the Turtle” story and are looking to learn piano in a better way without feeling rushed, I invite you to book a free assessment call with me. During the call, you can obtain the details of my online piano program and determine if it aligns with your needs and desires.
Transformative Piano – Online Program
Benefits: You will be able to
• Develop observational and self-evaluation skills by listening to their performances and those of others.
• Enhance attentiveness and concentration on critical elements and challenging sections.
• Foster proper technique and musicianship across diverse musical periods.
• Achieve successful outcomes in virtual competitions, festivals, and performances.
• Cultivate independent learning and effective practicing habits with clear and concise guidelines, emphasizing one-point focus at a time.
• Enjoy performing piano music.
5 Core Principles
• Have a clear long-term goal in piano playing and have the patience to work towards it.
• Already play piano at some level, not completely as a beginner (age 7+).
• Are willing to listen, communicate, cooperate, and collaborate.
• Are willing and able to focus on one thing in-depth at a time.
• Are committed to excellence, practice, and have the discipline to do the work.
Whom it is for: This program is for you if
• You seek to uncover purpose in your piano-playing.
• You desire a deeper understanding of the artistic nuances behind the notes.
• You struggle to infuse creativity into your musical expression.
• You find yourself critiquing your playing without finding satisfaction.
• You are tired of perpetuating bad practicing habits between your in-person weekly lessons and are seeking more robust community support.
• You aspire to unearth significance and resonance in the world through your music.
• You long to perceive your music as impactful, contributing to a better world.
This program may not be suitable for you if
• You are an absolute beginner.
• You are unwilling to cultivate your mindset to achieve optimal progress.
• You are unprepared to participate in classes and learn alongside peers.
• You are averse to online study.
Professional Biography
South Korean native Koeun Grace Lee is a pianist based in the Chicago area. She is a Continuing Education Instructor in Piano at Harper College Community Music and Arts Center, serves as a pianist at the Community Church of Barrington, and operates a private piano studio. Dr. Lee is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, the College Music Society, New Music Chicago, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and the American Musicological Society. She is a recipient of MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grants in recent years, the 2024 American Musicological Society Career Development Grant in American Music, and the 2022 Steinway Top Teacher Award.
Dr. Lee has presented lectures and performances at numerous conferences throughout her career. Most recently, she presented Korean composer Texu Kim’s solo piano works at the Composition in Asia International Symposium and Festival at the University of South Florida and performed solo and collaborative contemporary repertoire at the TUTTI Festival at Denison University. She also presented Navigating Hypermobility: Assisting Young Pianists with Double-Jointed Fingers at the 2025 MTNA National Conference and NCKP, as well as the 2024 Illinois State Music Teachers Association Conference. She has appeared at several College Music Society National Conferences and will appear at the upcoming 2026 conference. In 2011, she presented a lecture recital on Isang Yun’s Fünf Stücke für Klavier (1958) at the CMS International Conference in Korea. She later completed a DMA dissertation related to the work, titled Isang Yun’s Musical Bilingualism: Serial Technique and Korean Elements in Fünf Stücke für Klavier (1958) and His Later Piano Works. Over the past decade, she has given numerous presentations on Isang Yun’s piano works, as well as on David Burge’s Go-Hyang, at CMS regional conferences, the Composition in Asia International Symposium, and various guest artist seminars. Her performances have aired on Music in Chicago on WFMT, Chicago’s classical and folk music radio station, as well as on other radio stations and webcasts. Her 2023 album, Variations on a Theme by Stefan Wolpe and Other Selected Piano Works, has been featured on classical music radio and webcasts such as WWFM, WMBR, WFMT, to name a few.
Dr. Lee holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music in Piano and Piano Pedagogy, as well as an Artist Diploma, from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. She is also a certified Suzuki piano teacher for all books and received a Pass with Distinction for RCM Levels A through 4 (Teaching Elementary Piano).
Media Coverage
2024 Career Development Grants in American Music
WWFM Cadenza with David Osenberg
https://www.wwfm.org/show/cadenza-with-david-osenberg/2023-04-26/ko-eun-grace-lee-piano
WFMT Music in Chicago
Between the Keys with Jed Distler
https://www.wwfm.org/show/between-the-keys-with-jed-distler/2023-06-26/new-old-unexpected-xii
Interview
The Inside Story: Koeun Grace Lee and Variations on a Theme by Stefan Wolpe – by PARMA recordings
Classical Discoveries
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/khedgecock/episodes/2023-05-28T23_00_00-07_00
Welcome Page
Performance Videos
E-Poster on Jean Ahn’s Folksong Revisited
Jean Ahn’s piano music reflects musical elements from the East and the West, as shown in her three Korean folk song arrangements, Folksong Revisited for solo piano. The poster introduces each folksong used in the set and its transformation to pianistic writing.
Amazing Grace Lee 