FAQs
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
For Piano/Theory Lesson: We can discuss and schedule a lesson, starting with the music style and materials you are currently interested in, I can also make some recommendations to help you explore the repertoire. The lesson contents are customized based on your need and is flexible to adjust anytime. Weekly meeting basis is suggested for making a good progress. I usually travel to client's place for lessons; it could also remote via Zoom. For Music Entertainment: I'd love to know more about the event so our performance can perfectly fit your needs and together make a successful event. We will walk through the details including music style, preferred repertoire, desired instrumentation, event length, venue equipment, location, and so on.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
“With a confident, graceful tone and a smart harmonic sensibility...with his harmonic concept at its most sophisticated, it’s the record’s best evidence that Hon has a promising career ahead of him in this music.” — ALL ABOUT JAZZ Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Francis Hon began playing classical piano at the age of six. In 2011, Francis moved to the United States to pursue a Doctorate in Piano Performance at The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Gregory Allen, the Grand Prize winner of the 1980 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition. Francis was always influenced by a variety of musical genres, which formed the foundation of his future musical style. Francis ignited his passion for jazz music in Austin, “the live music capital of the world.” While continuing his classical piano studies, he took up jazz piano with Jeff Hellmer and started playing with many musicians on the Austin jazz scene. He also worked as the Assistant Artistic Director and Lead Pianist for “Life in the City,” a weekly concert with jazz music and other genres. Francis’ final doctorate thesis in the work of Nikolai Kapustin solidified his interest in combining elements of classical music with the jazz idiom. After graduation, Francis moved to New York City to attend the Jazz Studies Masters Program at New York University. While acting as an Adjunct Instructor of Piano at NYU, he studied with renowned musicians on today’s jazz scene, including: John Scofield, Stefon Harris, Don Friedman, Alan Broadbent, Billy Drummond, Alex Sipiagin, Ralph Lalama, Billy Drewes, Ron McClure, Tony Moreno, Alan Ferber, Michael Rodriguez, and others. He also lead his trio and quartet in various distinguished productions and events, performed in many music venues in New York including Steinway Hall, Club Bonafide, Rockwood Music Hall, ShapeShifter Lab, Tomi Jazz, Tishman Auditorium, Williamsburg Music Center, Queensborough Performing Arts Center Theatre, The Provincetown Playhouse, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, and others. In 2017, Francis co-founded World Jazz Quintet (WJQ) along with Dr. Scott Litroff, David Ullmann, Jeong Hwan Park, and Daisuke Konno. The WJQ draws from a variety of styles including jazz standard, American and Asian pop, contemporary, experimental, and folk music from around the world to produce a truly unique and highly improvisational sound. Francis' jazz trio debut album, "Before Dawn," was released in 2018 to positive media reviews. The album consists almost entirely of Francis’ original compositions and arrangements and features Billy Drummond. Audio of the album is available on all music platforms. Besides music performances, Francis has been the Official Educational Partner at Steinway & Sons since 2019. Through this partnership, he devoted himself to connect students to the brand and bring piano/music education to next level.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
As a professional music educator, I've worked with students from beginner to advanced level in diverse background and ages. For music entertainment, I have provided solo piano performance to various types of events including wedding ceremony and reception, cocktail hour, corporate event party, private house gathering, open house event, charity concert, etc.