Today we’d like to introduce you to Nightingale Ngo.
Hi Nightingale, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
A native of the Philippines, my musical journey started before I turned three years old. My mother was a piano teacher and I would watch and listen to her give lessons. At age three, she decided it was time to start lessons when she saw me picking out tunes by ear that her students were playing.
I continued with lessons after our family moved to Miami and went on to study piano and organ at Texas Christian University, then came back to Miami to study at the University of Miami, where I received a Master of Arts in Film Studies and a Master of Music in Musicology. During this time, I opened my piano studio. Through the 22 years, I’ve had to privilege of being part of the musical journeys of many students.
Lessons include proper technique, theory, sight reading, technique exercises, and repertoire. In addition, students are given opportunities throughout the year in recitals, evaluations, and competitions – in local, state, and national levels. The goal of piano and vocal education in this studio is to foster a love for music by providing a holistic musical education.
When the pandemic turned the world upside down, my studio seamlessly transitioned to online lessons and performances. Students have thrived in the online lessons and learned even faster than in-person lessons, as the focus is very different.
In the community, I play the piano/organ and direct the Handbell Choir at my church. I’m also the chairperson for the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival in Miami. In addition, I’m active in the Coral Gables Music Club, where I am on the Board, and also the Miami Music Teachers Association. I am also a Steinway Educational Partner.
I also recently released a Christmas album, “The Holiest Night,” which is available on streaming platforms. I also have a book that is translated into seven different languages about Johann Sebastian Bach, his students, and their contributions to organ music.
It is my desire to bring beauty into the world through music.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a professional musician and a small business owner is filled with ups and downs. From wondering when the next paying gig will be to getting affordable health insurance, it is a road that makes life very interesting. In addition, as a studio owner and teacher, I am well aware that a student can leave the studio at any time and the promise of a new student isn’t given.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Of course, I am proud of my students who work hard and are rewarded with high scores at evaluations and placing in competitions. I’m most proud of students who graduate from the studio and continue to make music a part of their lives. This could be having the confidence and knowledge to play any piece they wish – classical, pop, jazz, and everything in between – when they move on from the studio. It can also be having a deep appreciation and lifelong love of music. One of my former students is a doctor who uses music with her cancer patients by playing and singing for them and their families to lift their spirits and coordinating a musical ensemble during Christmas to sing carols to patients in the hospital.
It is, therefore, not just about learning to play a piece but understanding how to read and analyze music (music theory), background of the composer and the time period in which the piece was written (music history). The more the student understands the music they are working on, the more they appreciate it.
It is much more than learning to play piano – it is contributing beauty to the world through music.
I’m also very proud of all my students who made the transition to online lessons and performances without skipping a beat. Combining my background in music and radio/television/film, the online format has allowed my students and studio to thrive.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Bible – my faith is very important to my life in every way
Sparkle Hustle Grow – a subscription box for women entrepreneurs that includes an amazing community where we encourage one another on our journey
Zoom – online lessons have proven to be as, or even more, effective than in-person
Music streaming apps – Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music – and SiriusXM classical stations.
YouTube – I encourage students to look up performances of the pieces they are playing and analyze them. It helps them become good listeners, which is integral to being a musician.
Contact Info:
- Email: nightingale@nightingalengo.com
- Website: nightingalengo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightingalepiano/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightingaleNgoPiano
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGIygRmkUkGIBcLoNHW4l4A
