About the Founder & Owner
About Cheryl Xiao – Professional Piano Educator & Pianist
Cheryl Xiao is a professional piano educator and pianist with over 25 years of continuous teaching experience, supported by a strong academic background and extensive performance practice.
Her work integrates scholarly research, high-level musicianship, and long-term pedagogical refinement, forming a rare and well-balanced professional profile. Cheryl’s teaching is grounded not in short-term results, but in building clear musical thinking, solid technical foundations, and refined artistic judgment that support students for years to come.
Professional Background & Academic Training
Cheryl received her master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance more than two decades ago, at a time when admission standards for advanced music degrees were highly selective and academically rigorous.
This early achievement reflects not only her professional capability at a young age, but also a long-standing commitment to serious, systematic music education. Her training emphasized analytical thinking, historical awareness, and pedagogical structure: elements that continue to shape her teaching philosophy today.
Academic Background & Scholarly Work
Cheryl was admitted to Sichuan Normal University as the top-ranked(#1-ranked) candidate in professional achievement in Sichuan Province. Owing to her outstanding academic performance and musicianship, she was directly recommended to the graduate program, where she completed her master’s degree in piano pedagogy and performance.
During her academic training, Cheryl participated in the compilation of the following nationally recognized publications:
• Chinese Music Classics Speed Reading
• Foreign Classics Speed Reading
In addition, she has published multiple academic papers in the field of music education and piano pedagogy. Several of these works have been cited in professional research contexts, demonstrating her sustained engagement with music scholarship beyond performance and teaching practice.
Stage Performance & Professional Engagement
Cheryl has extensive experience as a performing pianist and collaborative musician. She has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall and at the Silicon Valley International Film Festival Award Ceremony, among other professional venues.
She has served as a piano accompanist and artistic director for ensembles such as SVAY Chorus and A Sharp Chorus in the Bay Area and has frequently collaborated with vocalists and instrumentalists throughout her career.
Her performance experience spans concerts of varying scales and formats. This ongoing engagement with the stage informs her teaching with real-world musical standards, stylistic awareness, and a deep understanding of how repertoire functions beyond the practice room.
Teaching Experience & Student Achievements
Cheryl has accumulated over 25 years of teaching experience, working with students across a wide age range: from young beginners (as early as age four) to adult learners. She has also taught university-level piano majors during her tenure as a faculty member at the Art School of Southwest University of Technology and Science in China.
Student Results & Long-Term Outcomes
Her students have achieved a wide range of notable results, including:
• Awards in recognized international piano competitions
• ABRSM Certificates of Distinction and Merit
• Admission to professional music schools
These results are the outcome of a deliberate, structured teaching system, not chance, short-term training, or excessive repetition. Cheryl is known for her ability to identify technical and musical issues early, address them efficiently, and prevent students from developing habits that later require extensive correction.
Pedagogical Philosophy & Teaching Approach
What distinguishes Cheryl’s teaching is not only experience, but methodological depth.
Her approach emphasizes:
1. Developing Musical Taste and Aesthetic Judgment
Students are guided to cultivate musical taste through comparison, critical listening, and stylistic awareness: skills that allow them to make informed artistic decisions independently.
2. Structured Thinking Across Different Cognitive Stages
Instruction is carefully adapted to students’ age, learning style, and cognitive development, ensuring that concepts are introduced at the right time and in the right way.
3. Beyond Piano: Transferable Learning Skills
Cheryl’s teaching integrates analytical thinking, technology, and reflective practice, moving beyond the traditional “teacher demonstrates, student imitates” model. Students learn how to think, not just what to play: skills that extend well beyond piano study into broader learning habits.
Cheryl is known for her strong rapport with students, her ability to affirm progress while offering precise, constructive feedback, and her commitment to continuous professional growth through ongoing study in psychology, history, and philosophy.
Extensive parent and student feedback can be found on the Reviews page.
These reflections offer insight into Cheryl’s teaching style, communication, and the long-term development students experience under her guidance.
