Dr. Chiang is the best piano teacher I've had! As an Adult student who is busy with many aspects of life, I have found her patience and persistence has advanced my playing beyond my expectations. Her understanding of music and the ability to express how to approach a piece has given me insight toward where I need to spend time in practice to achieve success at the piano faster than I ever have in the past. This confidence at the piano is something I really never had in several years of playing and now with just under two years with Doris I feel I can play the piano! I have played several pieces by memory at her various workshops/recitals. These opportunities to perform, in a safe place, has pushed my confidence and playing to a higher levels. If you are looking to learn the piano look no further... Dr. Doris Chiang has the knowledge, skills, and ability, to take your piano playing to higher levels. read more

Unlike others I choose to go with Zero star. Extremely disappointing experience. Parents should know what to expect before contacting this studio. I contacted Dr. Chiang about piano lessons for my 6-year-old son, who already has about 1.5 years of structured piano instruction. Instead of a welcoming conversation or an opportunity to meet the teacher and see whether this was a good fit for my child, the interaction quickly became about fees, scheduling, and payment. I was told there is a $75 assessment fee, followed by $295/month for weekly 45-minute lessons. The monthly tuition also continues through the teacher's scheduled vacation/holiday periods. So this is essentially a subscription-style payment arrangement, rather than simply paying for the private lessons your child actually attends. If the family has its own vacation, that doesn't necessarily mean you simply don't pay either. What really turned me off was the attitude. I was looking for a piano teacher for my child, not trying to enroll in a corporate membership program. There was very little effort to make a new family feel welcome or to let us meet the teacher and understand what the experience would actually be like before asking us for money. For a private piano teacher charging nearly $300 a month, plus a $75 assessment just to determine whether the teacher and student are a good fit, I expected a completely different level of personal interaction. Parents should know exactly what they're signing up for before paying the assessment fee read more

My daughter's piano skills have improved by leaps and bounds since she started lessons with Dr Chiang. She had taken piano lessons for years before we moved and had to find a new teacher, and the growth she has made since she began working with Dr Chiang had been truly remarkable. Dr Chiang has a way of spotting just what my daughter needs to work on to improve her technique, and her helpful explanations - and spot on metaphors to illuminate her point! - have really given my daughter the understanding she needs to continue to grow in her skill. Dr Chiang has a true gift for teaching, and the high expectations she has of her students, along with her commitment to helping them meet those expectations, make her an incredibly effective instructor. read more

My child has been a student for Ms. Doris for quite some time and with that small amount of time. My child has improved tremendously which shows the devotion she has for her students. Doris hold these events that help her students be better prepared musicians and I think that is very unique this then allows her students to be more confident. If you are looking for an amazing piano teacher, Doris is the best. read more

My daughter had been a student of Ms Doris for 7 years now, since age 8. Doris was by far the most highly qualified, the most impressive credentialed (a PhD in music), and with the most teaching experience. My daughter has improved so much in the past few years, which includes learning theory and greatly enhancing her performance ability. Doris has helped her pass the annual CM test easily. My daughter values her time with Doris, feels very encouraged and appreciates what she has learned. In addition to lessons, Doris holds workshops, mock CM session and annual recital that helps her students shine, especially at performing in front of audience. My daughter continues to enjoy the experience and for that, we are grateful to have found Doris as her piano teacher. read more

I am professional harpsichordist, a world-reknown composer, and a professor of music in the California State University system. I have rarely come across private piano teachers who stand up to local university standards and have found the vast majority of privately trained students entering the CSU system as music students extremely undertrained, unmusical, and uninspired....so I am generally a tough critic. Dr. Chiang is a diamond in the rough. She has the skills, expertise, intuition, and sheer teaching ability to teach piano at most accomplished institutions in the country and yet choses to remain here in Southern California. She has the ability to open up the talents of aspiring pianists at all levels, the insight to recognize strengths and weaknesses, and the inspiration to drive students towards success in all their endeavors. Her unique ability to use allegory as a teaching tool is uncanny and her dedication towards success is unparalleled. She teaches absolute command of tone, color, taste, and personality - traits all ignored by most private teachers. I cannot possibly recommend Dr. Chiang highly enough for serious aspiring musicians looking to explore what it really means to play music as if the "soul was screaming out to be heard." read more

You will not find a better piano teacher than Dr. Doris. She has a passion for music and a passion to share this love of music with her students. Under her teaching, my son's piano playing ability has increased fourfold. I can really tell the difference in the way he plays with so much more feeling. Dr. Doris commits 110 percent to helping her students achieve more success in their music. For example, she holds many workshops even on her days off so students can practice playing for an exam or recital. She shows so much dedication to her students and this reflects her passion for music. read more

Dr. Chiang has given my son the chance to become the piano player that he was hoping to be. He has learned so much in just over a year of working with her. He has become a much more developed pianist, including going through competitions and workshops that allow him to get a well-rounded view from other professionals. She is a professional in every way, but is also flexible enough to work with different personality types. read more

It has been a long time dream of mine to try to learn piano, but I had always been intimidated by the difficulty and the fact that I began much later in life than most. However, after a decent tax return I decided to jump in and try some lessons. A friend recommended I try Doris Chiang piano... great decision. She really broke everything down for me, was in now way overbearing or intimidating, and showed a level of patience I surely could not match. She always made me feel confident moving forward, ensured that my basic form and technique were good to support later growth, but also was firm when I started to slip into bad habits. I have a long way to go and a lot more lessons, but it doesn't matter if you have a child you want to have trained, or if your older and want to start a new life course, I strongly recommend Doris. read more

Finding the perfect match for my son has been a journey. We knew he had talent and that he enjoyed playing the piano. However, we had two not-so-good experiences in local studios and an academy that lead him to dread playing and in the first slack completely. He had lost all interest in the instrument. We were all frustrated but we didn't want to give up. We didn't want another "academy", we wanted a caring professional, and after researching credentials and reviews we found Dr. Chiang. It has been about 5 months and let me tell you, it has been a total turn around. He is progressing and playing beautifully. Dr. Chiang is a professional but that is not her biggest credential, the truth is SHE CARES, and is a gifted teacher. She loves her trade and it shows. I can't say enough and I can actually now say for certain that my son will play for a lifetime! Thank you Dr. Chiang we are grateful to have you. read more

I am currently one of Dr. Chiang's students and have been with her for several years now. Meeting and learning from her has exposed me to a new understanding and appreciation for piano and music in general. I've had piano classes elsewhere prior to coming to Dr. Chiang, but every one of her lessons is unique and personal. I felt that I have really grown as a pianist and as a person ever since taking her classes. Dr. Chiang is a talented pianist and teacher; not only is she always encouraging me to work diligently, but she is also very considerate of my schedule. As a high school student, my schedule is often packed with homework, exams, and sports. Dr. Chiang has taught me several time management techniques that allows me to still practice efficiently with a busy schedule. Her tips and tricks and personal stories make her lessons very engaging and interesting. She teaches based on her own experiences, the good and the bad, and I find that very meaningful because her willingness to share her stories shows how caring she is. She learns from her past and shares with all of her student, regardless of level, in hopes that we do not make mistakes that she has made. I wouldn't be enjoying piano as much as I do now if it weren't for Dr. Chiang. She is an admirable teacher who is always excited to share her experiences and love for piano. read more

My 14-year-old daughter has been taking lessons with Dr. Chiang for almost a year. Just this school year my daughter was accepted into a local performing arts school and needed help developing her skills. Since taking lessons with Dr. Chiang my daughters playing abilities have grown substantially. Dr. Chiang has been patient, caring, challenging and uses great analogies to help my daughter understand different techniques. Dr. Chiang also does extra group workshops before recitals and the Certificate of Merit program. This helps her students feel more comfortable playing in a friendly environment before their performances. My daughter feels very fortunate to have found such a qualified teacher. read more

I studied with Dr. Chiang a few years ago. After graduating with a bachelor's of music, I must say that I learned more in my two years studying with her than I did in my four years at college. Her thoroughness and attention to detail are a little intimidating at first, but you will certainly thank her in the long run! Her studio is professional and convenient! Plus...it's always a pleasure to play on one of her two gorgeous pianos! (One of which is a beautiful Steinway) I cannot recommend her enough!!! read more

Doris Chiang taught my kids from first grade to high school and both have benefited and enjoyed learning from her. As a piano teacher, she is patient, gentle, and humorous with the youngsters. She has a deep appreciation and love for the classics, which carried-over to my kids. If you are willing to sacrifice your time and money for your kids to learn the universal language of music from an expert, then I would refer Dr. Chiang to you. read more