Lin Chiao

Ms. Chiao offers comprehensive piano instruction in classical, pop, and jazz to students of all ages and skill levels. Her approach integrates aural training, sight singing, and music theory with practical instruction on both piano and viola.

As an active performer, conductor, and composer, Ms. Chiao brings a wealth of experience to her teaching. Though her roots are in classical training, her passion spans pop and jazz, as well as educational theories and world music from various cultures.

Ms. Chiao's own musical achievements include winning the 2nd prize in a national music competition in Taiwan and earning the top award at the prestigious Cathay Pacific Airline Music Competition during her youth. She graduated with the highest honors from Taiwan's best music school, later securing a music fellowship in the U.S. and a full scholarship for graduate studies in music.

Ms. Chiao's piano pedagogy lineage is notable: her instructor, Betty Yang, was the first Chinese pianist to win the Geneva International Piano Competition, and she studied under the legendary 20th-century composer Olivier Messiaen in Paris. Ms. Chiao was educated in a prestigious Taiwanese music school that follows the French music education system, and she extends this European educational approach to her students.

Ms. Chiao is particularly proud of her students' achievements in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exams, where 70% have passed with "Distinction" and the remainder with "Merit." In the 2017 Spring season, one-third of the Bay Area's highest "Distinction" awardees were her students, making her one of the most successful ABRSM teachers in the region.

Ms. Chiao is dedicated to fostering a love of music and watching her students grow in their musical journeys, whether they are young learners or adults.