Naha, Okinawa

I began learning piano at the age of 3 in Okinawa, Japan,
my father a professor of guitar and mother a fashion designer.
Having won numerous competitions in Naha, Okinawa,
I moved to the US at the age of 8 1/2 years old.
At the age of 13, I was fortunate again to win a piano concerto competition
and perform Rhapsody Blue with the orchestra.

University of Hawai`i

I began teaching in Hawai`i when I was 16 years old,
mentored by Professor Marion Kerr of the University of Hawaii.
I loved teaching so much that I decided to major in piano performance and pedagogy.
I also specialized in Music Theory and History. Upon receiving a full scholarship as an undergraduate,
I was hired to teach at Ellen Masaki School of Music in Honolulu and was a staff there for 4 years!
I taught beginners to intermediate piano students at this school and assisted our monthly recitals.
My major professor was Dr. Edward Shipwright.
After I graduated from UH, I received a full scholarship for Master's Piano Performance
studying with Tella Marie Debose who specialized in Technique for beginners to advanced performers.
I also had fun taking extra Music Theory Classes.
I took specialized harpsichord private lessons to enhance the performance of the Baroque styles.

I S U

I was able to teach piano privately at Illinois State University for 4 years and
2 years as piano instructor at ISU for both Music and Non-music majors.
After I received a special award as Teacher of the Year through ISU,
I had the opportunity study with artists in Chicago and collaborated with trios and quartets.
I also received a minor in music computer programming with Mac Software.

U of A

A full scholarship to attend University of Arizona
as Doctoral Candidate Piano Performance Major
allowed me the privilege to work with my major professors
Nohema Fernandez, Paula Fan and Nicholas Zumbro.
I enjoyed teaching privately for 7 years at the U of A and had the opportunity to teach piano class for 2 years
for the Undergraduate Music Majors and Education Majors.
I was given the opportunity to adjudicate (judge) piano and guitar competitions.
My dissertation was titled "Disparate Measures : Two 20th Century Treatments of the Paganini Theme"
comparing two composers with their original theme and variation based on Paganini's Theme.

Stanford

After graduation, I opened a private studio in the vicinity of Stanford University, near Palo Alto, California.
Collaboration with the students at Stanford was a treat,
performing composition majors repertoire and accompanying students preparing for major recitals.
Most of the students were from San Francisco, Cupertino, Atherton, Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
I taught there for 7 years,
and was hired as one of the staff at Rufina Gorin School of Music for 1 year for piano and theory.
My students have passed MTAC Certifications and have won the
Piano Concerto, Composers, and Ensemble Competitions.

Oro Valley

I later moved out to Oro Valley, Arizona (just north of Tucson),
teaching in my studio for a number of years until this very day.
My students have won the gold medal and received superior honors in the Arizona Study Program.

At Tucson High Magnet School as Faculty for Piano and Theory,
it was such a joy having a room full of 20+ high school students on 24 Yamaha Clavinova.

I have been a performer, educator, researcher, guest speaker, master class coach,
adjudicator, accompanist, arranger and an adviser for collegiate levels.

For fun, I have taken cello, violin and guitar lessons as time allows.

I am a MTNA member to the local branches in Tucson, Sierra Vista and Phoenix.