>akiko sasaki

Akiko Sasaki has been teaching piano for eleven years. She began playing piano at the age of five. She attended the University of Denver Lamont School of music where she studied with Alice Rybak and earned her undergraduate degree in classical piano performance. After studying in London with Benjamin Kaplan as an Allied Arts and Bernstein Crosman scholarship winner, Akiko attended the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Jeffrey Cohen and earned her Masters degree, also in classical piano performance.

Since graduating, Akiko has continued her piano studies in New York City with esteemed teachers such as Jose Ramon Mendez, Miyoko Lotto, and Julian Martin. She performs at various venues regularly, including the Tenri Cultrural Institute and Yamaha Concert Hall, and in April 2006, she gave her solo debut concert at Carnegie Hall.

Akiko has found great fulfillment in teaching and has studied pedagogy with Carolyn Shaak, one of the leading piano teachers in the United States. In addition to maintaining the Forte>Piano Studio, she is also the founder and co-director of Musical Explorers, director of the Performing Pianists of New York, and also holds a faculty position at the Larchmont Music Academy and Lucy Moses School. In the past, she has taught at Merit Music, Mott Hall Middle School, and Florentine Yamaha School of Music. With her experience of working with diverse students of all ages, Akiko has learned to adjust to each students needs and strengths. Her lessons are creative and fun, while being focused on ear-development and proper technique.

>jesse stacken