Dr. Tomoko Uchino is a dedicated teacher who pushes her students to do their personal best. As her student, I was constantly challenged and held to a very high standard, and as a result, my skills as a musician grew exponentially. In addition to improved technical skills on the piano, I also developed a greater ability to add musicality and emotion to the music. My understanding of music theory and the way pieces are structured were also increased. Additionally, Tomoko taught me more effective ways to practice and make improvement more quickly. Due to this, I have become a more disciplined musician. I felt very prepared as I entered college as a music therapy major, and I know that taking piano lessons from Tomoko has helped me to become both a successful student and musician.” – Amanda Watson, former Student

My daughter has been studying piano with Dr. Uchino for over 3 years.  Dr. Uchino is a caring, patient but disciplined teacher who makes sure my daughter is learning without overtaxing her.  Dr. Uchino sets clear expectations and assignments, reviews the progress and makes adjustments to ensure my daughter is making progress.  She is diplomatically honest in her feedback and holds my daughter accountable for her practice and progress. Dr. Uchino’s straightforward pedagogical style is matched by her ever constant encouragement of her students to find the expression and emotion in the music they are learning.  My daughter also plays violin and Dr. Uchino is her coach. Her feedback has been invaluable in developing my daughter’s musical expression. Dr. Uchino’s approach is a great balance of technique, theory and musicality. – Mei Nishiwaki

Mrs. Tomoko is very attentive to detail, and is great at correcting technique so that your piano playing can be as smooth and efficient as possible. My technical skills have improved greatly since she became my teacher.  – Haofeng Liu (14-year-old)

Mrs. Tomoko is very helpful and encouraging when she teaches me. She always tells me everything I need to do precisely. All my pieces have improved after she became my teacher. ~ Haochen Liu (8-year)

My daughter (7 years old), my son (10 years old) and I have been students of Tomoko for a full year now. We can say with great confidence we have  learned a lot from her. She is so dedicated to and passionate about her students. With her we have so many opportunities to participate in play-ins and recitals which are diligently organized by her. The preparation we always receive from her to take part in those is excellent. She is a real professional pianist herself; this is the basis for her teaching students so well.  She has given us, and should give you, a very good start …for the rest you have to put your own effort in :-)! – Daniela Treptow

If you have ever heard Tomoko playing the piano, you will know what I am talking about!! Her music is absolutely beautiful and she is very dedicated to her work. This is why when it’s time to pick a piano teacher for my daughter, Tomoko is first come to my mind. I love her, and my daughter loves her! Our whole family enjoys the music world that Tomoko brings to us SO much!! – Yi Ju Chen & Yumay Lin

I cannot recommend a better teacher than Tomoko. She is a very accomplished pianist, musician, and most importantly, a master teacher. My daughter has been studying with Tomoko for a number of years and has grown into not only an accomplished pianist, but a disciplined and sensitive human being as a direct result of Tomoko’s guidance. I have been a music educator for many years and I am still in awe of Tomoko’s balance between discipline, knowledge of the piano, and her ability to bring out the very best in McKenna. Weekly, my daughter will leave a lesson with a new and better understanding of music, a different approach to practicing, and encouragement to improve. Tomoko and McKenna consider themselves a team, always working very closely together to achieve the same goal. It is without any hesitation, that I consider Tomoko to be the very best teacher I have encountered in my thirty years in music education. – Anna Moody

Mrs. Tomoko is a great teacher because she makes me work hard and perfect  each piece.  She arranges informals and recitals which are great opportunities  and she challenges me to be great at piano.  I really enjoy my lessons with her. – Brandon, 11

Mrs. Tomoko is an amazing teacher because she has helped me learn so many pieces and helped me get ready for performances.  She has also played a few duets with me which are really fun, and she plays pieces for me to help me decide which piece I want to learn by actually listening to it.  I look forward to my lessons.  Mrs. Tomoko has also taught me to sight-read better and now I can do NYSMMA, and that’s why Mrs. Tomoko is an amazing teacher.  – Sophia, 9

Tomoko is very dedicated to her students, and puts in a lot of effort to make sure they are learning proper techniques, are challenged, and still have fun.  She provides a lot of performance opportunities by organizing recitals, play-ins, and encourages students to participate in various events such as NYSSMA and NYSMTA.  Our kids really enjoy their lessons and have made a great deal of progress in the time she has been teaching them. – Mr. and Mrs.Yazdi

 

Ms. Uchino’s artistry and technical command are beyond compare.  Her music making is bold, beautiful, brave, sweet; the music making free and unfettered, enhanced by the integrity of Ms. Uchino’s expressive palate. Collaborating with her is a most rewarding and fulfilling musical experience. Our performances together are pure music-making…Tomoko anticipates and interprets every slight nuance of style and emotion I feel and wish to communicate through the music. The result is an effortless collaboration. – Donna Elaine, flute

I had the great privilege of working with Dr. Uchino for six years at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School. Dr. Uchino is not only a fantastic pianist, but a true collaborative artist as well. Whether performing a concerto, sonata, or concert piece, I was always inspired by her ideas and sensitivity, while at the same time feeling artistic freedom in my own part. Performing with her was never of the “follow the leader” approach to music making – whether Beethoven or Debussy, Brahms or Piazzolla, performing with Dr. Uchino was always a true collaboration.

As a coach, Dr. Uchino offers a wide range of knowledge and experience to students. Her collaborations with a variety of instrumentalists are extremely beneficial to all musicians; sensitive to the style and timbre of each instrument, Dr. Uchino presents a unique approach to every individual. Such was the case when we worked on the Schumann Fantasiestücke, originally a work for clarinet and piano. Dr. Uchino, having played this original version, was able to offer suggestions that aligned with the composer’s intentions, while at the same time appropriate to cello playing. With her depth of experience as a collaborator with different instrumentalists, Dr. Uchino can offer limitless knowledge to all musicians – Issei, cellist

Tomoko Uchino is a talented pianist and a gifted teacher. We met her in her role as an accompanist for recitals by violin students at the Greenburgh String Academy two years ago. She accompanies the students in three recitals a year. Tomoko is equally capable of supporting the youngest students who sometimes lose their place and need extra cues, and of mentoring the advanced students who need pre-recital guidance with challenging rhythms. Tomoko on several occasions has helped our daughter in one-on-one lessons to master the rhythms in difficult pieces when her outstanding violin teacher had trouble getting Bella to “feel the beat.” Any student would be lucky to study with Tomoko. – Julie Bernstein & David Borhani