THE BOOK:
You Are Slightly Very Late
“I just finished reading your book. You have many wise, thoughtful insights into life. I can sense your love for your students and desire for their success. Thanks for sharing the book with me. It makes me wish I was one of your students. It reminds me of my sister's piano teacher, who would hit her hand when she made a mistake. No wonder she hated going to lessons and cried often. She did get another teacher and she made good progress. She loves to play piano even now. Too bad she didn't have a teacher like you when she was young.”
— Amazon Review
You Are Slightly Very Late by Hwa-Jin Kim
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You Are Slightly Very Late was born in a college music classroom, where one student quietly recorded the spontaneous, quirky, and sometimes profound things their professor said throughout the year. What began as a surprise leather-bound notebook became the heartbeat of this book: a collection of unfiltered classroom moments—funny, blunt, and unexpectedly deep.
Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim, a concert pianist and award-winning educator, shares fifty memorable moments sparked by those quotes. Each one opens a story—of students, music lessons, life lessons, and the unpredictable rhythm of learning. Some quotes are hilarious. Some are tender. All are true.
This book also honors the Hurricane Helene semester of Fall 2024—a time that devastated Asheville and the Western North Carolina region. It was a season of resilience, shared struggle, and extraordinary human connection.
Blending humor, heart, and reflection, You Are Slightly Very Late invites readers to sit in the back row of a college classroom and witness what education really looks like: imperfect, inspiring, and deeply human. Whether you’re a teacher, a student, a musician, or someone who remembers what it’s like to learn in community, these stories will make you laugh, nod in recognition, and perhaps even tear up.
Excellent read for anyone involved in learning & growing!
—Katie, Kindle Reader on Amazon
“This is an excellent book, and a very fun and quick read, with applicable lessons for anyone passionate about teaching, students, or just getting better at anything in life. Hwa-Jin's quotes bring a smile to your face, and her explanations of them are insightful and cause you to think about the quotes in a new way, and in ways that you can easily and quickly apply to your own life. Even if you're not involved in music, I would strongly recommend this book as a breath of fresh air and a positive look at focusing, learning, and improving in today's busy world.”
—Amazon Review