Donovan Kwan

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ABRSM Exam Prep, Piano, Mandarin, Classical Piano, K-pop, New Age Piano, Anime Music, Audition Prep, Cantonese, Ear Training, English, ESL, Gospel Piano, Jazz Piano, Keyboard, Music, Music History, Music Theory, Pop Piano, Rhythm Training, Rock Piano, Sight Reading, Worship Leading, Worship Piano
5.0
(144 reviews)
100+ lessons booked on Lessonface

Lesson Fees
from $28.00 / 30 Minutes

About

Mr. Donovan is a prolific educator who possesses 3 decades of teaching experiences in the education sector, these include teaching individual piano/keyboard instructions, classroom music, English and Mandarin/Chinese at international schools, private schools, colleges, music schools and his own private studio. In addition, he is the band leader in his church; performing on the keyboard and directing his worship band.

Mr. Donovan is proficient in four languages, namely English, Chinese/Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay. He possesses native-level English, Mandarin/Chinese and Cantonese; and teaches these 3 languages too. 

Please see a recommendation and referral below, made for Mr. Donovan by one of the very top music teachers in Lessonface, Heather Gerber, for him being a great Lessonface teacher. Here is the Lessonface link:

https://www.lessonface.com/instructor/heather-gerber

You may find more about Steve’s success (a current piano student) in learning with Mr. Donovan in Lessonface and learn all about the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), London, in an article found in this Lessonface link:

https://www.lessonface.com/content/celebrating-student-success-steve-and-all-about-abrsm

 

(1) Piano/Keyboard:

Mr. Donovan graduated with a UK Music Degree, alongside two UK music diplomas. He majored in piano & keyboard performance and was formally trained in classical, popular and jazz piano. He teaches the piano and keyboard from beginner to diploma levels. His students range from children to adults.

His music students learn music for different purposes: (1) Passing music examinations and gain a music qualification (2) Passing a music audition to gain admission into a local or foreign music conservatory/university (3) Participate in music competitions (4) Professional performance and teaching (5) Leisure/hobby.

(2) English:

Mr. Donovan uses English extensively in his daily teaching. He has been teaching English to school students, college & university students and working adults whom he has injected with a love for English. His lessons are practical, useful, interesting and inspiring; and many of his students have improved their English steadily over time and achieved their personal goals.

His students are users of English for different purposes: (1) School, college & university (including satisfying the English requirement when enrolling for higher education programs, e.g. IELTS) (2) Studying & working in, and migrating to a native English-speaking country (3) Adults who want to improve their daily communicative English in personal and work/business settings.

Armed with a UK English Teaching Qualification and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Certification, Mr. Donovan is highly qualified and competent in the English Language Teaching.

(3) Mandarin/Chinese:

Although Mr.  Donovan graduated with a UK degree, he is equally proficient in the Chinese Language. In fact, he won the first prize in the Chinese Essay Writing Competition of his secondary school. Besides this, he became the Chinese reporter of his school, writing for many of its special activities and events.

His students are users of Chinese for different purposes: (1) Adults who want to learn daily communicative Mandarin in personal and work/business settings (2) School students who learn Mandarin as a first, second or foreign language (3) Tertiary students who want to sit for their Chinese Language Proficiency Tests (e.g. HSK & TOCFL) to gain admission into China and Taiwan Universities.

With the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language Certificate (TOCFL) awarded by the Taiwan Ministry of Education under his belt, Mr. Donovan is highly proficient and competent in the Chinese Language.

(4) Cantonese:

As a Chinese, Mr. Donovan's dialect is Cantonese. And in Malaysia and Hong Kong, Cantonese is a very popular dialect among the Chinese community. 

Mr. Donovan has recently taught Cantonese to a Malaysian Chinese college student, someone who knows some basic Cantonese and is planning to study for her MBBS Degree in the University of Hong Kong. In fact, he coached and prepared her for the entire admission interview of her MBBS Degree; whereby part of this interview would be conducted in Cantonese. 

The tuition fees of all courses displayed in Mr. Donovan's profile are starting fees for beginners, students' actual tuition fees will vary if they have higher skill levels of the same courses, as mentioned in the "Teaching Style" Section below; as they will be learning higher-level skills with Mr. Donovan.  Please write to him to confirm your current standard/level first and he will then customize your fee based on your current standard (i.e. intermediate/advanced levels), before purchasing any of his courses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Main Piano/Keyboard Courses Offered:

(A) Classical Piano:

Mr. Donovan adopts the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London (ABRSM), Trinity College of Music (London), Rock School (London), London College of Music (LCM) and the Australian Guild of Music Education (AGME) curricula for music grade & diploma examinations; and even for students' leisure learning.  Students learn progressively from beginner, then Grade 1 till Grade 8. After which, they may proceed to further study for the piano diplomas.

For music students residing in North America or Canada, there is a very well-known and fantastic music examination board – The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), Canada; for which they can opt to sit for music examinations, if they wish. And Mr. Donovan can also prepare and train them for those certifications.

For leisure learning, Mr. Donovan may cater to students' needs to play their favorite classical piano pieces and not following the above curricula. The idea is to learn for leisure.

(B) Popular Piano:

There are three different levels for popular piano courses; namely beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. For beginner popular piano students, they will need to have classical piano foundation (around Classical Grade 1 to 3 or elementary playing standard), before they can join the beginner popular piano course.  They will learn to play simple left hand bass lines in different harmonic & rhythmic variations, based on the given contemporary chord symbols in the lead sheet; while playing the right hand melodies.

As for intermediate popular piano course, students will need to have prior beginner popular piano playing skills, and/or classical piano Grade 4 to 6 levels (or intermediate playing standard), before they can join it. Students will learn to place contemporary chords below melodies for the right hand in their performances; and play left hand bass lines in a more complex manner. 

In the advanced popular piano course, students must have learned intermediate popular piano course previously. They will learn embellishments and improvisations to enhance their performances. A wide range of musical styles, such as blues, rock and funk will be taught.

(C) Jazz Piano:

The jazz piano course is designed for advanced classical piano students and teachers. They need to possess prior classical piano level of around Grade 8 before joining this course. Contemporary chords & harmony, rhythmic & harmonic comping, chord voicing, different jazz styles, such as Swing, Bossa Nova, Ballad, Samba and Latin will be taught.

(D) Keyboard:

The keyboard course is designed for learners who have digital piano/keyboards and wish to play popular tunes by manipulating the buttons & functions of these instruments. Learners will learn to set voice registration, play popular tunes with rhythmic box, play with single-fingered or full chords for the left hand, manipulate the basic recording function of a digital piano/keyboard.

(E) New Age Piano:

Students joining this basic level of the  course need to have basic pop and/or classical piano playing. They will learn to play new age piano pieces composed by famous new age pioneered composers such as Kitaro, Yanni, Enya, Yukie Nishimura and many others; as well as the piano works of the world-renowned contemporary Korean new age composer and pianist - Yiruma. Students may also like to learn playing Japanese anime theme music.

 

(2) English:

Students will learn the 4 core skills, namely listening, speaking, reading and writing.

English Courses Offered:

(A) Daily English for Communication e.g. English conversation (for school leavers and adults).

(B) English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL).

(C) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Academic & General Training.

(D) College & University Academic English.

(E) Business English.

(F) School Academic English.

 

(3) Mandarin/Chinese:

Students will learn the 4 core skills, namely listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Mandarin/Chinese Courses Offered:

(A) Mandarin for adults (beginner to advanced levels: Daily conversation & Hanyu Pinyin).

(B) Chinese/Mandarin as a second language and foreign language

(C) Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) 6 levels.

(D) Business Mandarin

(E) School Academic Chinese

 

(4) Cantonese Course Offered:

Conversational Cantonese.

 

Reviews from Group Classes

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Verified Student
on March 9, 2022

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
M. A.
on March 8, 2022

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Verified Student
on March 9, 2022

Mr. Donovan is an awesome Mandarin teacher! Patient & knowledgable, with great energy to keep the kids engaged. Highly recommend.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Amanda B.
on March 15, 2022

This class was excellent. The teacher is very organized and I loved the fact that he has the kids repeat after him so they are very engaged in the class. He makes learning fun. Great class, I highly recommend it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Amanda B.
on March 8, 2022

Great Class and great teacher. Well organized and very enjoyable!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Amanda B.
on March 15, 2022

Great class and great teacher. Mr. Donovan is very well organized and encourages everyone to participate. He teaches lessons from the textbook and workbook which includes speaking, writing, and listening.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Amanda B.
on March 22, 2022

Great class. My daughter enjoyed it and looks forward to the next one.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Alika .
on March 15, 2022

This is a fantastic class. Very well organized. My daughter has really been enjoying the classes with Donovan. Our family is not Mandarin speaking, but Donovan makes learning easy and fun. It is remarkable to witness her learning this complex language under the tutelage of such a patient and capable instructor.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mandarin for Kids
Amanda B.
on March 29, 2022

Great class again! Mr. Donovan is a very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and organized teacher. My daughter enjoys the classes.

(1) B.A. Mus. Edu. (London) (2) DipHE. Prof. Mus. - Piano Perf (London) (3) Dip. in Mus. Perf. - Piano Recital (London) (4) Cert. in English Language Teaching (London) (5) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Certificate (CEFR - Advanced), British Council (6) Test of Chinese as Foreign Language (TOCFL) Certificate (CEFR - Advanced), Taiwan Ministry of Education (7) Prof. Cert. in Teaching Online (Malaysia)

Reviews of lessons with Donovan Kwan

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