STUDIO OF DR. MINJU CHOI WITTE
Dr. Choi is not currently accepting new students, but interested students may be added to a waitlist for a future audition. She teaches advanced-level piano students in the Indianapolis area. Students must be at least 13 years old to audition. If in-person lessons are not possible, she may consider video lesson arrangements. Additionally, Dr. Choi offers online masterclasses to help pianists prepare for concerts and competitions.
To be added to the waitlist, please complete the online registration form below. When audition opportunities become available, you will be contacted and asked to submit a screening video of the student’s playing before being considered for an in-person audition.
For any questions, please email minjuwitte@gmail.com.
Teaching Philosophy
My passion for teaching began almost 25 years ago as a Teaching Fellow at The Juilliard School, where I started my university teaching career. It continued through my role as an Assistant Professor of Piano at Missouri State University and beyond. Throughout my career, I have tailored my teaching to meet the diverse needs of my students, challenging them to become expressive and effective communicators through their playing—regardless of their level.
My goal as a teacher is to understand each student through their playing and guide them toward expressing their unique temperament. Repertoire is selected based on a student’s musical maturity and individual learning needs, ensuring that each piece serves as a tool for artistic and technical growth. I emphasize that true performance comes from within the pianist, fostering integrity, confidence, and musicianship in every lesson.
I encourage my students to transfer their musical insights—whether in tone production, phrasing, articulation, or nuanced expression—from one piece to another, building a foundation for lifelong musical independence. What does not interest me as a teacher is a performance that sounds indistinguishable from one to the next. Interpretation should be historically informed yet deeply personal. My students are not only trained to succeed in performance but also to become independent scholars of their music.
Competition Policy
Pre-college and college students of Dr. Choi have been prizewinners in competitions including the MTNA and IMTA Competitions, Carmel Klavier International Competition, and have performed as soloists with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Lafayette Symphony Orchestra as winners of their concerto competitions. Additionally, her students have performed at Carnegie Hall as winners of the New York "Golden Classical Music Awards" International Competition.
While competitions can be a valuable tool for progress, motivation, and learning, they should not disrupt a student's overall musical development. This can happen when competitions are entered too frequently, leading to an overemphasis on repeating the same repertoire rather than expanding musical growth. New students may be considered for competitions after a minimum of one year of study with Dr. Choi. Participation in competitions is at the absolute discretion of the teacher, based on the student's readiness and progress. Additionally, all competition plans must be discussed well in advance and approved by Dr. Choi. A student's urgency to enter a competition does not create urgency on the teacher’s part. Last-minute requests to enter competitions will not be approved.
Registration
Please note that lessons are only available on weekdays. Dr. Choi does not teach on weekends.
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