My brother's trauma in teaching piano the old school Chinese/Russian way led to our accidental invention of the Muso Method: a fun and serious teaching style.
Story Time
It was 2019 or 2020. One of my majors at the University of Western Australia was Social Psychology, and we were learning about the findings of B.F. Skinner's study: positive reinforcements versus negative reinforcements in child learning.
At the same time, I noticed my younger brother's mental health declining during that period (he has been teaching piano since 2017). Lawrence loved teaching from 2017 to 2019. His old school performed funny skits to motivate kids to practice (as you can see in our own Muso Concerts too), and they even went to China for a performance tour. The whole audience exploded with laughter!
The Shift
But then something happened between 2019 to 2020. Almost every night, my brother would complain to me about disliking the 'negative gossiping' over unhappy parents, performance issues, competition results, or just small nitpicking complaints in his old job. It was so bad that even the teachers working at the old place started to 'talk badly' about each other. Even the boss also had to talk badly about his own staff to maintain 'peace' and 'reputation' with the parents.
During teacher meetings that period too, the negative 'fearful' teaching style was more heavily reinforced to align with the traditional Chinese and Singaporean parenting way—to endorse 'power' and 'authority' over the traditional clients, because their 'WeChat community' had gotten too strong and toxic. While it was great for business, it was terrible for culture. And if you are traditional Chinese and Singaporean, you know exactly what we mean by 'toxic gossiping'.
Students (mainly with Chinese backgrounds), whether forced or interested, were all accepted. Interested students generally aren't the ones with issues—it's the 'forced' students with high parental expectations who are the problems. Yet Lawrence's old school believes any forced, disobedient, spoiled Chinese child can become a master of the piano for the sake of a high school scholarship. It also did not help that the old school was run by a couple who had no background in business education.
So this meant that kids taught by Lawrence could be very good or highly above average, but they were all motivated by some level of fear, especially the ones who were forced—to meet parent expectations.
The Impact
The kids probably got trauma from Lawrence. And Lawrence also got trauma from himself.
Pedagogy Trauma
Lawrence, my younger brother, started to get nightmares from the 'fearful teaching style,' and they got worse as months passed by. To describe how bad the gossiping and backlashing was, Lawrence and I often used the terminology 'need to wash off the dirty words.' Like, literally.
Due to toxic expectations and high pressures from parents, Lawrence had to do the 'old school Chinese/Russian teaching method.' In other words, this is called scolding or belittling. Sentences include 'Why can't you do it? It's so easy!' and 'How can you not get this right? FOCUS!'
Not sure if it's guilt or the misalignment with values—but Lawrence started to also lose sleep due to the nightmares and toxic pressures. He was no longer happy; his eyes were always tired, and he had no life apart from studying and piano teaching. He was getting trauma from himself.
I think any older sibling would understand how sad and hurtful it is to see your own brother lose life in his eyes. A younger sibling is also your first child (or perhaps that's just how Asians are raised), and I wanted to help him badly.
Older Sister Advice - Psychology Background
My first advice to him was to distance himself from the toxic culture and team. It was heartbreaking for Lawrence since they all used to be close friends, but individual happiness is most important. It also helped that I joined the teacher team in 2020, did not let the toxic environment affect my personality, yet was still able to maintain friendly relationships.
My second advice was—why not positive reinforcement? After all, the Skinner studies on operant conditioning provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement in child learning. While both methods aim to increase desired behaviors, Skinner's research suggests that positive reinforcement is generally more effective for fostering long-term learning and motivation in children.
The Exploration of Muso Method
So in 2020, Lawrence and I started to explore this method in our old school. Perhaps around 60% serious, 40% fun—because that's what we grew up with when we were younger. Lawrence might argue it was 70% serious, 30% fun.
One parent even sent me a clip of teaching their child before we started the Muso Method. I was SO serious and was not smiling at all! Haha!
The Beginning of Muso Method
The integrated balance of 50% fun and 50% serious was not refined properly until 2023—and I must say, some of the biggest contributors included Muso Teachers Andy Li (piano) and Sherene Nee (flute) as well as an old Muso Parent and Student, Pian Xu and Sarah Shu.
Andy and Sherene's Influence on Muso Method
Andy and Sherene taught Lawrence and me that it is possible to build 'friendships' with our students and parents. I still remember the shock when I saw Sherene behaving very 'buddy' with her parents, and Andy even used 'banter' with his students. I think I even told them to stop or 'be careful' in 2021 (the first year) haha, but they just kept being themselves—and that's how the Muso Method triangle philosophy (student, teacher, and parent teamwork) was formed.
Pian and Sarah's Influence on Muso Method
I have no clue if Pian even knows this, but my observation and study of the cute parent-child interaction may be one of the biggest foundations established in the Muso Method. Lawrence and I both taught Sarah Shu (daughter of Pian Xu).
What we both found that was shocking yet amazing:
- Every time Sarah made a mistake, Pian (Mum) would laugh and kind of sing 'Sa-raaah!'
- Sarah had other hobbies aside from piano (and violin).
- On their Instagram, we often see Pian (Mum) taking Sarah and her brother out for walks, even during competition periods.
- Sarah would prepare a piece so well that in competitions, Pian (Mum) would never tell her off before competitions even if she appeared 'distracted'—and still would perform well (and win).
- Pian (Mum) also treated Sarah as a buddy or a friend, allowing Sarah to express herself well.
Thanks to this duo, we were able to share their story with other modern parents or those transitioning in parenting styles. It also helped that our students at Muso Music Academy, Perth (2021) and Hong Kong (2023), still won prizes and showed skills in both technique and musicality, despite learning with soft toys, smiles, and high fives.
The Passion of Muso Method
No student or teacher should go through this experience! Whether you relate to the 'classical music lessons trauma' as a kid or teacher, Lawrence and I are passionate that no one goes through this. Many of our Muso Music Academy teachers also went through toxic work environments, creating an imbalance of love and hate with the instrument and classical music. That should not be allowed!
This is why Muso Method aims to not only give a better life for the kids and parents—but also a better life for the teacher. Classical music learning should not be traumatic; it should be enjoyable, challenging, fun, rewarding, hard work yet proud work!
Performance confidence and musicality should be more focused than exam results. A sense of belonging, bonding, and progress should matter more than immediate perfection and posture.
Timeline of Muso Method
- 2021: Lawrence Ng and Isabelle Ng founded Muso Music Academy (Perth).
- 2022: Muso Music Publishing was founded to create better kid-friendly music education products. The first product, Muso Flash Cards, was launched to promote Active Recall learning concepts (e.g., say, play & explain; spin & play) and Muso Method tips (written on flash cards) to improve sight-reading skills.
- 2023: We promoted this product on our first Muso Method tours in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia under Muso Music Publishing.
- 2023: We launched our Muso Method Fundamentals Certification (Beginner to Grade 5), so other teachers can teach Muso Method and parents can be referred.
- 2023/24: Muso Music Academy in Hong Kong was founded to study the application of the Muso Method in 'big cities'.
- 2024: We launched our first Muso Method web app https://musomethod.app and promoted this on tour in Southeast Asia.
- 2024: Muso Method products were listed on Amazon.
- 2025: We launched the Muso Practice Diary (track & color) to help students self-practice, focus, and efficiently drill in a fun way.
What's Next for the Muso Method?
- Launching Muso Method For Busy Students - Fundamentals Certification (name to TBC). Focuses on very efficient learning and practicing in a fun way.
- Muso Flash Cards (violin)
- Muso Method Books (piano)
- Muso Method Curriculum