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Amy Chiu

Pre-College
  • Chamber Music
  • Piano
Continuing Education
  • Piano
Amy Chiu headshot

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Coaching Focuses

Musical Accompanist, Collegiate

Piano Lessons, Pre-College + Continuing Education

Education

MM, Collaborative Piano, San Francisco Conservtory of Music

MM, Piano Performance, Manhattan School of Music

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Taiwan

What is your favorite recording? Why?

Horowitz’s recording. I really love his musical interpretation.

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Travel

Who were your major teachers?

Alexander Sung, Zeno Fishbein, Tim Bach

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

No pain no gain!

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

How to practice?

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

When I was in graduate school

What was a turning point in your career?

When I got the position at SFCM as a professional piano collaborator 

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

Cook

What is your daily practice routine?

Warm up exercise first, study the score, practice musical phrases, different speed from slowly to tempo, playing through.

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

Beethoven,  Brahms, Chopin

Biography

Amy Chiu received a Master degree in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York, studying under Zenon Fishbein. She later studied piano accompaniment at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (Conservatory) under Tim Bach. After receiving  both degrees in 1992, she was recruited as a piano collaborator for the Conservatory. Since then, she has played with students and faculty members in numerous recitals and master classes under world well-known musicians.

Meanwhile , Ms. Chiu started her career in piano teaching and has been actively involved in local and national teaching organizations ever since. She has served as the president of the California Professional Music Teacher Association (CAPMT) where she was responsible for organizing and hosting numerous recitals for very talented young pianists. Me. Chiu’s teaching had helped so many students became the winners of many international piano competitions.

In 2008, Ms. Chiu became a faculty member for the Preparatory Division at the Conservatory. Having spent much of her career working with and mentoring college age students, she wanted to be able to share music with younger musicians as well. She takes great pleasure in inspiring students of all ages to enhance their technique and to explore their musical expressions. Within the Preparatory Division Ms. Chiu is active in 1 – on – 1 private lessons and chamber music coaching.

Outside of her involvement with students at the Conservatory, Ms. Chiu is also an accomplished piano performer. She was invited to perform before His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his San Francisco Tour in 2007 and has performed globally.

Accepting beginning, intermediate, and advanced students.