Music education extends far beyond learning notes and perfecting techniques. At Pacific Music Institute, a large part of learning stems from our amazing faculty members who hail from Hawai‘i and beyond. The PMI team brings a range of different experiences from which to teach our students, from professional musicians to educators and more. Their wisdom resonates both in the practice room and in life, and their collective insights paint a picture of what it means to grow not just as a musician, but as a human being. Read on for 5 inspiring lessons from the PMI faculty.
1. The Beauty of Challenge
“Never give up!” emphasizes 2024 violin faculty member Jisun Kang. “When you learn music, in the beginning, it’s always hard. If it’s easy, it’s not challenging, and you will get bored very easily. The beauty of learning music is that it’s not easy, but you have to keep going and never give up. Life is the same!”
This perspective on embracing challenges is echoed throughout our faculty’s teachings. Clara Kim, violin faculty member, is passionate about helping students discover creative problem-solving approaches, breaking down complex challenges into manageable pieces while developing both technical and artistic skills.
We love how students at PMI are so determined to learn and grow, always rising to the occasion. Our encouraging faculty are certainly part of the reason our students can push past what they thought possible and exceed even their own expectations!
2. Growing Beyond the Linear Path
Craig Chee, ‘Ukulele Workshop instructor, offers a particularly insightful perspective about the nature of growth: musical development isn’t always linear. Sometimes we plateau, sometimes we need to step back to move forward, and that’s perfectly normal. This understanding helps students release the pressure of constant forward progression and embrace their unique learning journey.
Having great mentors to remind students that ups and downs are a natural part of their musical journey is an important part of the encouraging environment of PMI. Having cheerleaders in your corner who have been where you are can help you overcome any obstacle!
3. The Power of Intention and Creativity
Andrew Kam, violin faculty member, emphasizes the importance of intentionality in everything we do, from how we enter a shared space to how we approach our craft. He shares that mindfulness extends to technical aspects of music-making, where even small adjustments in technique can lead to exciting discoveries.
Duane Padilla, PMI 2024 Freestyle String Ensemble Conductor, approaches creativity through an interesting lens, teaching students to overcome the paralysis of infinite choices (such as that provided by the practice of improvisation) by setting helpful parameters. Starting with limited options—like using just four notes of a scale—can make improv less overwhelming and more accessible. Organizing the way you practice with intention can help you make progress, even in a freestyle form of art!
Our faculty are experts at balancing intention and creativity. Whether it’s creating routines in everyday life to maximize creativity or devising purposeful rehearsal plans to tackle a difficult passage, our faculty are fantastic role models for our students in how to practice framing intention and creativity.
4. Building Community and Connections
“We are all part of a community,” reminds Richard Scerbo, NOI+ Festival Director, highlighting how the connections we make in music become lifelong relationships. Michael Lim, violin faculty member, reinforces this by emphasizing how music teaches us to be responsible, contributing members of society through lessons in commitment, perseverance, and hard work.
Community is a big part of what makes PMI special. From our partnership with NOI+F to our community concerts throughout the city, broadening our circle to share music with others helps teach our students many valuable lessons.
5. Finding Your Voice
Steve Treseler, Jazz Intensive Instructor, encourages students to stay alert for music that deeply resonates with them, as these discoveries help develop their unique musical voice. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining professional relationships, as today’s peers could be tomorrow’s collaborators or employers.
Ellie Rose adds a powerful message about the validity of personal musical opinions. “Music is not a binary system,” she explains, encouraging students to move past the fear of playing “wrong” and instead explore their own interpretations and musical decisions. “I think one of the most important things that I like to impart on my students is that their musical opinion matters,” Ellie says. Just because you’re a student doesn’t mean your musical voice is irrelevant!
There are so many opportunities at PMI to find your musical voice and gain confidence in sharing it with the world. From soundpainting and improvisation to chamber music and small ensemble playing, PMI is all about gaining a variety of musical experiences, which translates into real world lessons!
The PMI Philosophy
Joseph Stepec, PMI Artistic Director, brings these threads together by emphasizing the importance of being gracious with ourselves while keeping sight of the bigger picture. Whether performing a challenging solo or taking artistic risks, focusing on self-confidence and personal growth takes the pressure off and makes learning fun.
At PMI, we believe in nurturing not just musical talent, but the whole person, creating an environment where students can grow, challenge themselves, and discover their unique artistic voice. This is why we strive to provide a diverse group of faculty, as well as many opportunities for our students to learn from a broad range of instructors. Through this variety of learning experiences, our students can have a safe place to explore, learn, and grow.
Through the combined perspectives of our faculty, we see that music education at PMI is about more than mastering an instrument—it’s about developing life skills, building community, and growing as individuals. These lessons resonate far beyond the practice room, shaping not just musicians, but thoughtful, well-rounded human beings ready to contribute to their communities and the world of music.