Derek Chan
Violin Studio

about

Hiu-yin Derek Chan was born in Shanghai, China. At the tender age of five, Derek began learning the violin from his father Ping-wing Chan, since then he studied with Russell Kan Wang-to, Ding Zhi-nuo, Shen Rong and Wong Wai-ming and Benedict Cruft. For the past 20 years, he acquired his expertise from performing, teaching and conducting in various schools and music institutes in Hong Kong.Derek graduated from the University of Auckland’s School of Music, then went on to study violin performance as a visiting student at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. His teaching methodology is influenced by his mentors, Professor Ding Zhi-nuo of Shanghai Conservatory, who inspired him to build a solid foundation of techniques for his students. Mr Benedict Cruft, the Dean of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, taught him baroque violin playing that subsequently became his artistry of early music performance practice.Derek has great passion for teaching and is currently doing research on violin pedagogy at the University of Auckland. When away from this teaching and learning, he enjoys being with his family as well as observing the nature.陳曉彥生於中國上海，五歲開始跟隨父親陳炳榮學習小提琴。其後分別跟隨簡宏道、丁芷諾、沈榕、黃偉明及顧品德學習。陳氏於奧克蘭大學取得榮譽學士學位後，在香港演藝學院進修小提琴演奏。 他的教學法結合了傳統俄羅斯學派的技術訓練, 及歐洲早期音樂表演藝術風格, 讓學生們能夠提升技術之餘亦能表現出充滿藝術性的樂章。陳氏醉心於教學，現為奧克蘭大學碩士研究生，主力為更全面的器樂教學法作學術研究。

Current and former appointments

Epsom Music School (Auckland)
ACG Parnell College (Auckland)
L‘Accademia (Auckland)
Howick School of Music (Auckland)
Kowloon Tong School Primary Section (HK)
The Y.W.C.A. Hioe Tjo Yoeng College (HK)
Yips' Children's Choral and Performaing Art Centre (HK)
Ying Wah Primary School (HK)

Testimonial

Wison ChanMr Chan has been my violin teacher since I was 7 and he has been much more than that.
Learning under his wing, I attained Distinction in my LTCL violin diploma from Trinity College at the age of 15. I am sure those who decide to learn from him would find Mr Chan’s ability to provide analogies, and to simplify complicated techniques immensely beneficial. Through his teaching, I have not only honed my violin skills, but translated the ability to correct habits in violin playing across many aspects in life. He is one of the most influential figures I have had.

Grace ChanDerek is a patient, passionate and energetic violin teacher. We felt very lucky to have him being the violin teacher for Elizabeth, especially while Elizabeth was on the brink of giving up when we came back from Germany. Derek knows how to communicate with young people (teenagers). He made Elizabeth relate to the techniques and music pieces through her personal interests and experiences. He has a way to make the lessons interesting and lively. Thanks to Derek, Elizabeth picked up her confidence and interest in violin and achieved her goal.

Daniel LauDerek’s lesson had given a huge influence to my violin playing. He taught me not only about the violin techniques, but also my mindset and attitude towards music and problem solving. Derek had also used various ways to make his teaching more clear and more easy for me to understand. Since it was totally different from my previous music lessons, I have lots of breakthroughs in it.

Mrs Lilian ChanMr Derek Chan is a teacher who teaches with heart and his lessons were inspiring and enriching. The instruction given was easily understood even for an early years learner like my six year old son. Ever since we engaged Derek as our son’s violin teacher, I was seeing my son progressing tremendously day by day, and it’s beyond my expectations that at such a young age he was able to learn up advance level pieces (ABRSM Grade 8 above) with ease under Derek’s earnest guidance. He customises the music and lessons to my son’s current skill level at the same time providing challenges to keep the learning process going. Derek’s teaching technique is evident in helping young learners spark passion for playing music at their best and it yields favourable results.

Whitney LauLearning the violin is the most difficult thing, I have to handle the tone, volume, intonation, tempo and coordination between the left and right hands, especially for me who start learning as adult. Luckily, I was grateful to meet teacher Derek. He taught me according to my aptitude in patient. He observed the shortcomings of mine and used various methods to teach me. These keep me improving in my skills, and the most important things to a step forward ahead. Maybe the progress was relatively slow, but in fact this was very important to establish a solid foundation so that I can play a melodious song in the future! Finally, I would like to thank him again for his teaching and hope that he will continue to bless other students in other countries!

張文曦媽媽* 陳曉彥老師在小女文曦快五歲時開始教她習琴，一直到陳老師離港前的半個月，五歲小女孩已經成為一個十四歲少女，十年的時間，師徙兩人也有較深厚的感情，在教琴這段時間裡，陳老師一直是一位傑出的老師、導師和榜樣，他正確引導和激發了女兒對音樂的熱情和欣賞。
作為一名小提琴老師，陳老師展示了非凡的專業知識和技能水平，他對小提琴的音樂性有透徹了解，能夠幫助到文曦理解她演奏的音樂的細微差別和微妙之處。除了他的技術專長，陳老師也是一位非常有耐心的導師。 女兒小時候，他會悉心指導並經常鼓勵小女，培養文曦拉琴的技能和信心，在女兒的音樂發展和𠆤人成長過程中有深遠的影響。
文曦在十三歲已經考獲英國皇家音樂學院演奏級一級，現任香港青少年管弦樂團第二小提琴首席，參加多個樂團演出，並與樂團選出的七位演奏者在香港金融管理局晚宴出席表演，在多個坊間比賽中獲得冠亞軍、金獎等。文曦在音樂方面有這樣的發展，與陳老師的悉心栽培息息相關，作為母親，我非常感謝陳老師的付出，我相信陳老師將成為未來與他合作的任何音樂機構、學校和學生最好的選擇。*

陳雅琪我是一位成人學生，我從零開始跟隨陳老師學習小提琴只有 11 個月的時間，他以多年豐富的教學經驗，運用有趣而具體的比喻、想像空間等方式，幫助我更容易明白一些概念性的知識，並輕鬆地掌握學習基本的小提琴技巧。他著重手形、持弓的姿勢及音色，讓我能打好良好的學習基礎，亦讓我在7個月內成功考獲3級小提琴，現正準備進行5級考試。陳老師用心教導，能清楚了解需要改善的地方，能作出示範及修正，每一堂課都會清晰地指出學習重點，令我知道自己如何作出改善，有效地提升拉琴的技巧，讓我對小提琴有更深入的認識。若你是一位成年人，而你也有興趣開始踏出第一步去學習小提琴的話，我極力推薦陳老師作為你第一位小提琴老師，我相信你會更加熱愛這種充滿無限探索空間的樂器，讓你有更大的信心能持續學習小提琴！

Performance Gallery