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STUDENT PERFORMANCES

Zixuan Chen

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.2, Mvt. 3
*Winning performance from 2022 MTAC
Concerto Competition*

Hahnlin Noonan

Liszt: La Campanella

Arianna Gago

Bernard: Underwater Wonderscapes

"If you want to really learn to play the piano, and I mean really play beautifully, then this is the piano instruction that will get you there.  Not your typical piano instructors that just teach you to hammer away on the keys. The instruction is excellent.  You learn proper technique....dynamics, phrasing, fingering, etc. in a an enjoyable manner rather then stiff, static, and boring practice techniques. You are able to pick pieces you truly want to play with input as to those pieces that will allow your skills to progress.  Whether you are a just wanting to learn to play a few songs or are planning on becoming a professional pianist, the instructors will help you reach your goals.  The teachers at San Diego Piano Academy are highly trained professionals who have put considerable effort into developing techniques, practice skills, and tailoring lessons to the individual.  They excel in efficient practice techniques for rapid improvement rather then inefficient practice that wastes valuable time and slows your progress to a crawl. They are friendly and patient and only ask that you make an effort to learn.  Melissa is my teacher and I have been able to progress far faster then I thought possible.  My previous music lessons have frankly paled in comparison." - Howard W.

Zixuan Chen

Conservatory Audition Program
*Chopin Etude Op. 10 no. 4, Chopin 4th Ballade, Beethoven Sonata Op. 81a mvt.1*

Neha Bhat

Debussy: Arabesque No.1

Jason Chen

Beethoven: Für Elise

"After I started my lessons with Chetan, I rediscovered my passions for both piano and for music as a whole. Chetan is an incredible teacher. He is also the most skilled pianist I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with, and I don’t make either of these claims lightly. Chetan is more than just a piano teacher to me: he is a mentor, in every sense of the word. He has taught me how to take control of my life and steer it in the direction I want it to go, and he has outlined the exact steps needed to do so. He has been the light at the end of the street through the darkest of times that I’ve gone through, and he has helped me through. After every single lesson, I feel like I have truly learned and grasped something, be it a musical concept or a discipline of life. Chetan’s command of the English language is like nobody I’ve ever met: he is able to put whatever abstract concept that you’re trying to comprehend into words that you can understand and apply. And he teaches in the same way. He can make the most complex music and emotions straightforward and applicable, without losing any depth and power. By combining these two elements, Chetan is able to effectively communicate his skills directly to his students, through lesson plans that provide both structure and creative freedom." - Hahnlin N.

Madhav Ramaprasad

Tierra: 1637 Etude

Reid Foster

Tierra: Midnight Rose

Timothy Chen

Faber: Dragon Hunt

"Brendan’s the first teacher who helped me truly understand the piano on a deeper introspective level." - Isaac L.

"Lesi is a patient teacher who I'm very fortunate to be taking lessons from. I'm sure any students of hers would say the same. My playing and technique has drastically improved and will continue to do so as I plan on taking lessons with her as long as I can." - Caleb R.


"I could not speak more highly of Chetan, and I have also recommended him to whoever asks me for a piano teacher in San Diego. I love structure and Chetan is very organized and on top of my learning schedule. The SDPA online platform is absolutely amazing, because it gives me the opportunity to go back to a particular lesson more times, in case I missed something, and try to incorporate those suggestions in my daily practice. I am learning the piano for pleasure and as a hobby, but Chetan is really pushing me to do my best. I want to thank Chetan for all the work he puts in for me and also his wife Melissa and the other teachers at the SDPA for all the work they put in everyday for their students' development. To be a great teacher you must be a generous soul...and I truly believe that the SDPA upholds this fundamental truth."  - Stefania Di Costanzo

Ailee Almog

Adams: Honeycomb Rag

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Recital Highlights: May 2022

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Recital Highlights: October 2021

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