Get to know our instructors
Carmen Ng
Master in Music
Stanford University
Carmen's musical journey began at age four, and at 14, she uncovered her passion for piano and classical music, earning an ARCT Diploma in piano performance. Despite her Engineering major in college, she pursued music, achieving an LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College London). Post-graduation, Carmen pursued a Master's in Music, Science, and Technology at Stanford University, boasting a perfect GPA of 4.0.
While her professional career thrived in technology, music remained her steadfast love. As a piano teacher to her children and others, she seamlessly blended technology into her methods, bringing her immense joy and reaffirming music as her enduring life passion.
Rongrong Chen
Piano & Composition
Master in Music | Composition
San Francisco Conservatory of Music | University of Oregon
Rongrong Chen is a music educator, contemporary music composer, music theorist and pianist. She received her bachelor's degree in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2020, and her master's degree with distinction in composition from the University of Oregon in 2023.
Teaching music has been an essential part of her academic career. She has tutored music theory and musicianship for three years during her undergraduate career at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and taught introductory piano skills at the University of Oregon for one year. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, English, and Japanese. Ms. Chen is passionate about incorporating music by women composers in her teaching and expanding the default classical music repertoire while connecting theoretical knowledge to the repertoire in every lesson, making music fundamentals relevant to students’ musical lives.
陈嵘榕是一位注重音乐教育,音乐理论和钢琴技能的现代音乐作曲家。她2020年毕业于旧金山音乐学院获得作曲本科学位,2023年毕业于俄勒冈大学获得作曲荣誉硕士学位。教授音乐一直是她学术生涯的重要组成部分。 她在旧金山音乐学院辅导了三年音乐理论和视唱练耳,并在俄勒冈大学教授过钢琴入门课程。 她精通中、英、日三国语言。陈老师热衷于将女性作曲家的音乐融入她的教学中,扩展现有的古典音乐曲目范围,同时将理论知识与每节课的曲目有趣易懂地联系起来,让音乐基础知识与学生的演奏技能紧密关联。
Jane Au
Piano, Theory
Berklee College of Music
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jane started learning to play the piano at the young age of 4. She received dozens of awards from the Hong Kong Music Festivals throughout her elementary school years, completed her ABRSM Grade 8 at age 12 and received her Trinity ATCL diploma when she was 15.
Jane’s real interest in music sparked when she got invited to play in a contemporary band in high school. She realized that there was more to piano than just reading off of music sheets. She began to explore the world of pop and immediately fell in love with it. She decided to continue to broaden her horizon by completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Berklee College of Music in 2016. Jane moved home in 2018 and started teaching piano, preparing her students for their Hong Kong Music Festival competitions and ABRSM exams. Having just moved to the Bay Area, she is beyond excited to continue her passion in teaching!
Jane is a patient, encouraging and fun teacher who is loved by kids. She teaches both Classical and Pop piano (chord theory). She believes in helping kids build a strong foundation in sight-reading, ear training and theory, so they can explore the world of music on their own in the future.
SONYA TANG 湯怡盈
PIANO | VOCAL
MASTER IN MUSIC EDUCATION
Soochow University, Taiwan
台灣東吳大學音樂系音樂學碩士。
現任PALO ALTO CHINESE SCHOOL教師、FMMA音樂教師。
曾參與台北市立交合唱團、南加州臺大校友合唱團、COLBURN COMMUNITY CHORALE、華山天主教聖樂團、實驗合唱團等演出。
發表文章<十七、十八世紀法國歌劇-從歷史背景談拉摩的相關創作>與論文<兩部義大利寫實歌劇代表作的探討-馬斯卡尼的"鄉村騎士"與雷昂卡發洛的"丑角">
曾任桃園市建國國中、新北市福和國中、台北市百齡高中音樂教師。
Sue Yang
PIANO | VOCAL | VIOLIN
Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Australia
Sue Yang, a virtuoso with a strong classical piano background, embarked on her musical journey at the tender age of 4. By the age of 9, she seamlessly added the violin to her repertoire, laying the foundation for a remarkable career in music.
Her prodigious talent shone brightly as she graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in Australia with a Bachelor of Music at the young age of 18. Sue's exceptional abilities were further acknowledged when she clinched first place in the Australian National Singing Competition, propelling her into the limelight as a signed artist with Rock Records.
Under the tutelage of the iconic John Denver in Hollywood, Sue's singing career flourished. Her prowess extended beyond performance as she assumed roles as the Education System CD vocalist and head voice training instructor at the YAMAHA Music Education System in Taiwan. Simultaneously, Sue showcased her versatility as a demo vocalist and featured singer in the theme song of the online game "Star Dream 3 / 明星志願3"
Having spent a decade in performance, event production, and teaching, Sue made Sunnyvale, California her home. She served as a resident bilingual music instructor at the International School of The Peninsula in Palo Alto, where she played a crucial role in developing curriculum from nursery through 5th grade. In 2009, Sue established the Sue Yang Music Studio, a precursor to her founding of the First Movement Music Academy. In 2018, she enriched the musical landscape with the release of her first Mandarin children's music album, "Bam! Boo! Music."
As a devoted mother of two, Sue's expertise spans piano, voice, violin, and songwriting. With 22 years of experience seamlessly blending classical discipline, jazz technique, and contemporary music, she has crafted engaging curriculums tailored for students of all ages in the SF Bay Area. Sue's impact extends beyond the studio as she is the founder of the TAJCCNC National iSing singing competition with ETTV North America. She is an active contributor to the Taiwanese-American Chamber of Commerce (TACC), ardently promoting Taiwanese culture worldwide through the universal language of music
Ms. Jocelyn Wei (Wei,Yi-Ying)
Master in Music Performance-Cello ,
Essen Folkwang Hochschule (Germany, 2003)
Performance 1998-2014:
Solo, chamber and concerto performances in Taiwan 2006-2012
Solo recital toured throughout seven cities in Europe, 2010 August.
1998-2003 Performed in chamber with world renowned cellist Rudolf Weinsheimer from Berlin Phiharmonie. Worked with internationally acclaimed cellist Steven Isserlis, Ralph Kirschbaum, Wen-Sinn Yang and Prof. Alexander Hülshoff.
Teaching experience 2004- 2012:
2005-2012, appointed as the instrumental specialist for individual cello lessons at Stella Martutina Girl’s High School 曉明女中音樂班特聘, Taichung Taiwan.
Minshen Elementary School, Changhua Taiwan
Tina Yen (virtual)
PIANO & IMPROV
鋼琴即興演奏家 | Yamaha 3 級講師
MASTER IN MUSIC | PIANO | DANCE ACCOMPANIST
Ms. Tina Yen started to learn piano at age of 4. Graduated from NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY with master of music degree in Taiwan. She has been teaching piano privately while being a professional dance accompanist. She was the featured dance accompanist of Cloud Gate 2 (Cloud Gate Dance Theater), BALLET & MODERN DANCE department at TAIPEI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF TAIPEI, TAIPEI MUNICIPAL ZHONG ZHENG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, and CURRENTLY at TAICHUNG MUNICIPAL WEN HUA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
於4歲開始習琴，畢業於國立交通大學音樂系碩士。畢業後從事鋼琴教學以及專業舞蹈伴奏至今。曾於雲門舞集2，台北藝術大學，台北市立大學，台北市立中正高中等著名舞團及舞蹈科系擔任芭蕾與現代舞舞蹈伴奏。目前定居於台中，於台中市立文華高中擔任舞蹈伴奏。
