Andrea Yau

Piano Teacher in Downtown Toronto.

Andrea Yau Piano Teacher Downtown Toronto

About Me

Hi, I’m Andrea!
I’ve been a piano teacher since 2003 and a Torontonian all my life. I love to share my excitement for piano music and to develop musical ability – which I believe everyone has innately.
I graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music with ARCT diplomas in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy. I also hold degrees in Music, Education, and Piano Pedagogy Research at the University of Toronto (B.Mus, B. Ed) and the University of Ottawa (M.A.). I’m a certified member of the Ontario College of Teachers, the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association, and the Royal Conservatory of Music for the Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced piano levels.
I enjoy a good Dad joke or musical pun (the cornier, the better!) Looking forward to meeting You.

Student Testimonials

When I was six, my mother asked me if there was anything I wanted to do going into the new school year. Immediately, I said piano. 7 years later, I couldn’t imagine the past years learning piano with anyone except Andrea. Whenever I got frustrated with a piece, Andrea never pushed me to continue playing it. She would suggest taking a break or suggest playing an old piece I felt more comfortable with. Andrea is so helpful and calming. For me, she’s more than just a piano teacher. She’s like a friend that I can share my worries to and she’ll never judge me. Sometimes, I forgot to practice because I was so focused on my homework. But Andrea never got mad. She would comfort me if I was crying or show me things that made me laugh. She will make you feel good about yourself when you are feeling down. I will always recommend Andrea for any age or level, adult or child, beginner or expert.

Mia

Teen Piano Student, Age 13

Andrea is an amazing teacher. As an adult learner, Andrea is able to adjust lessons to meet my constantly changing needs (often depending on how my day is going). She makes every lesson stress-free, fun, and yet I always learn something. With Zoom teaching, she has made it very easy. I continue to look forward to every lesson every week.

Pamela

Adult Piano Student, Age 52

I’d been playing classical piano for five years, reaching RCM Level Six, before starting lessons with Andrea in the fall of 2023. She’s consistently the most articulate, inventive and accomplished of the four teachers I’ve worked with, and has the unique ability to create a relaxed, supportive learning environment while still setting high standards of interpretation and performance. With Andrea, I learn correct technique at an appropriate pace to apply to current and past repertoire. She also provides connections to other students and other performance opportunities. Bravo!

Stephen

Adult Piano Student, Age 73

Andrea changed my perspective on learning. She has given me so much confidence in my ability to learn anything I put my mind too. I always never felt academic enough to learn music – especially reading it. She has been so kind, thoughtful and somehow magically gave me the skills to learn piano. Honestly an amazing instructor, and creates a fun non judgmental learning environment.

Nathan

Adult Piano Student, Age 27

I started taking lessons with Andrea in fall 2023, coming to her after having not played seriously for about 15 years. I had previously studied up to RCM level 10 and through a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Andrea has helped me rediscover my passion for playing piano again. She has taught me an entirely unknown level of musicality in my playing, and I have thoroughly enjoyed broadening my ability to interpret music and improve my technique under her tutelage. I really appreciate her teaching style that lets me explore pieces on my own musically, with her thoughtful and expert guidance. I really look forward to our lessons and consider her the best piano teacher I have ever had the pleasure to study with.

Kristin

Adult Piano Student, Age 35

Andrea is a superb instructor, with an excellent knowledge of the repertoire and pedagogy for her students. She puts an emphasis on living Canadian composers, showcasing the talent in this country, and knows how to motivate her students well, with a combination of choice repertoire, games, and rewards. Andrea is personable, reliable, tireless, and is quick to respond to queries and concerns. I highly recommend Andrea to anyone who is looking for the right piano teacher.

Kenarkady

Musician & Parent to a 7 yr. old Piano Student

Current Availability

(Last updated: December 4, 2024)

No availability at this time.

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About My Piano Lessons

TRIAL LESSON

All prospective students will take a $25 half hour trial lesson / meet and greet session with me prior to acceptance into my studio.

SCHEDULING

I teach Mondays-Fridays from 11:00am-9:00pm, holidays excepted. No weekend lessons.

Lessons may be scheduled Weekly, Biweekly (every other week), or on a Consultation basis (every 3 weeks plus).

PRIVATE 1:1 LESSONS IN PERSON OR ONLINE
In Person Lessons are taught at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 73 Simcoe Street. Located in the heart of the Financial District, along TTC Line 1, across from Roy Thomson Hall.  Students will learn on a 1982 refurbished Kawai UST-7 Studio Upright, tuned several times per year by a Registered Piano Technician.

Synchronous Online Lessons are taught via Skype or Facetime. 

Hybrid Lessons are taught in an alternating schedule of In Person Lessons and Synchronous Online Lessons.

STUDENTS

I accept students age 5 and up: Including elementary, middle school, high school, post-secondary school (non-music majoring) students to working professionals, parents, and retirees. 

I specialize in terrified beginners, rusty pianists, piano learning app dropouts, and anxious over-thinkers. 

I adapt to all types of learning styles and celebrate neurodiversity in my studio.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

1. Piano repertoire – the core material is music in the Western Classical Music tradition, supplemented by Contemporary Music.

2. Healthy piano technique – how to play the instrument effectively & expressively.

3. Comprehensive musicianship skills – how to listen to music, to play by ear, to read music notation, to compose, arrange and perform.

Learning programs are tailored to each student’s unique learning needs.

I loosely follow the Royal Conservatory of Music and Conservatory Canada piano certificate systems and will blend in other materials – the amount and content of which will depend on each student’s particular goals.

LESSON STRUCTURE

A typical lesson is structured as follows in a flexible and low pressure environment:

1. Warmup – mental and whole body physical exercises

2. Review – homework and previous concepts

3. New Piece(s) – new concepts, steps for practice.

4. Other – Ear training, Music theory, Improvising, Composing

Lessons for particularly wiggly children will be a mixture of off-bench and on-bench activities. I also enjoy throwing in the occasional “off-script” lesson.

Lesson Fees

All tuition is prepaid, 1-3 months at a time. A typical year of weekly piano lessons is 36 weeks long. 

Expectations

1. Students must have consistent access to an acoustic or digital instrument with 88 weighted keys, a damper pedal, and a height adjustable seat. Appropriate instrument models for learning on will be suggested at the initial lesson.

2. Students are expected to maintain short fingernails that allow for the skin of the fingertips to contact the piano keys. This is absolutely necessary to learn healthy piano technique.

Contact Me