Born in Taiwan, Yiyi Ku grew up in New Zealand and obtained her Master of Music degree with Distinction in Piano Performance and Composition from the University of Canterbury. Yiyi also holds a Licentiate in Piano Performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. As a teacher, Yiyi holds certification from many professional organizations. She is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) from Music Teachers National Association as well as National Guild of Piano Teachers, and is an Advanced Specialist in both Piano and Theory from Royal Conservatory of Music.
Before moving to the United States in 2005, Yiyi taught extensively at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and St Margarets College in Christchurch, New Zealand. While living on Long Island, she was on the piano faculty at East End Arts Council School of Arts in Riverhead, New York.
In 2009 Yiyi moved to California, and currently lives with her husband, their baby daughter and two dogs in Murrieta. She is an active performer and collaborative pianist, and is a member of MTAC, CAPMT, MTNA, TVMTA, as well as the National Piano Guild. She has maintained a busy private studio for many years and enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels. Her students actively participate in recitals, music festivals and exams, and have been prize winners in many competitions, including Temecula Young Artist Piano Competition, Steinway Festival Competition, Inland Empire Piano Competition, Glendale Piano Competition, Southern California Junior Bach Festival, Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition, and American Protege International Piano Competition.
Qualifications
Master of Music (Distinction), Bachelor of Music (First Class Honors)
University of Canterbury , New Zealand
LRSM, Licentiate, Piano Performance
The Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Professional Affiliations
Professional Certification:
- NCTM, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music since 2006 – Music Teachers National Association
- Certified Advanced Specialist for Piano and Theory – Royal Conservatory of Music
- Certified teacher, American College of Musicians
- National Honor Roll – National Guild of Piano Teachers since 2009
- IRMT Associate – Institute of the Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand
Membership:
- Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
- California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT)
- Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC)
- Temecula Valley Music Teachers Association (TVMTA)
- National Guild of Piano Teachers
- Steinway Society of Riverside County
Awards
Teacher Enrichment Grant, 2007 – Music Teachers National Association
Strategic Opportunity Stipend – New York Foundation for the Arts
- 2007 (private study)
- 2008 (Dalcroze Summer Institute at Juilliard School of Music, New York)
University of Canterbury , Christchurch New Zealand
- University Prize
- University Madrigal Singers Prize
- Michael Toovey Memorial Prize
- Awards in Creative Work
- Dr J.C. Bradshaw Prize in Music
- Graduates in Music Prize
Outstanding Overseas Chinese Youth – Overseas Affairs Commission, Taiwan
Irene Lassen Piano Exhibition – The Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Winner, Ruby Hay Pianoforte Scholarship – Christchurch Civic Music Council
Winner, Piano Concerto Competition – Christchurch Competitions Society
Professional Teaching Experiences
Faculty
East End Arts Council School of the Arts, Riverhead New York, 2006-2008
Piano Teacher
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, Christchurch New Zealand, 2001-2005
St Margaret’s College, Christchurch New Zealand, 2001-2005
Theory and Keyboard Tutor
University of Canterbury, Christchurch New Zealand, 1997-1998
Professional Judging Experiences
2014 – Northern San Diego Music Teachers Association Romantic Music Festival
2012 – Northern San Diego Music Teachers Association Romantic Music Festival
Certified Piano Adjudicator – New York State School Music Association
- 2008 Smithtown High School, NY
- 2008 New York University, NY
- 2009 Smithtown High School, NY
- 2009 Eastport Manorville High School, NY
Professional Performances
June 2014 – Solo Recital at The Merc – Golden Valley Music Society
May 2014 – Solo Recital at Murrieta Public Library – Friends of the Murrieta Public Library
Jan 2014 – Collaborative pianist for virtuoso piccoloist/flutist Kate Prestia-Schaub – full length recital at Kentucky Flute Festival
April 2013 – Solo Recital at The Merc – Golden Valley Music Society
2010-present – numerous solo appearances at MTAC Temecula Valley Branch Teachers Recitals and collaborative performances with musicians from Inland Valley Symphony
April 2007 – Solo Recital in Greenport, NY – Long Island Composers League
Inland Valley Symphony concerts (as Principle Pianist)
- 2011 – Carmina Burana
- 2012 – John Williams, Magic of Disney, Halloween Thriller
- 2013 – A Choral Fantasy, The Envelope Please (Broadway), Veteran’s Day Salute, A Christmas Festival
- 2014 – Fairy Tales and Fantasy, Carnival of the Animals, The Planets, Comedy at the Symphony, Veterans Concert, Christmas Fantasy
Professional Conference Experiences
2015 MTNA National Conference in Las Vegas – conference presenter
2014 MTAC Convention in Los Angeles – showcase presenter
2014 MTNA National Conference in Chicago – showcase presenter
2013 NCKP National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago
2013 MTNA National Conference in Anaheim, CA
2012 MTAC Convention in San Diego, CA
2012 MTNA National Conference in New York
2011 CAMPT Convention in Whittier, CA
2010 CAMPT Convention in Industry, CA
Student Accomplishments
2014
- Southern California Junior Bach Festival – 2 Regional Winners, 6 Branch Winners, 2 Alternates
- Hal Leonard Composition Competition (national) – Silver Medal in Junior category
- Inland Empire Piano Competition – 2 First Place Winners, 3 Honorable Mentions
- Murrieta Rotary Club Music Competition – Second Place, also selected as finalist in the last round
- MTAC Certificate of Merit – 18 students received Branch Honors
- TVMTA Young Artist Piano Competition – 1 First Place Winner, 3 Second Place Winners, 2 Third Place Winners, 1 Honorable Mention
- MTAC Sonatina/Sonata Festival – 19 Trophy Winners
- Royal Conservatory Music Development Program Video Competition – 7 Finalists
2013
- MTAC Sonata/Sonatina Festival – 13 students received Trophy for Superior Rating
- National Piano Guild Auditions – 1 International Winner, 22 National Winners, 2 District Winners
- Southern California Junior Bach Festival – 1 Regional Winner, 1 Branch Winner, 2 Alternates, 1 Honorable Mention
- Temecula Young Artist Piano Competition – 1 First Place Winner, 1 Honorable Mention
- Temecula Spring Music Festival – 12 Gold Medal Winners
2012
- Southern California Junior Bach Festival – Second Place in Complete Works (state final round)
- Temecula Young Artist Piano Competition – 2 First Place Winners
- National Piano Guild Auditions – 4 International Winner, 18 National Winners, 1 District Winner
- Steinway Festival Competition – Junior Winner
- Glendale Piano Competition – 2nd Place
- Los Angeles Young Pianist Competition – finalist
- American Protege International Competition – Honorable Mention
- MTAC Sonata/Sonatina Festival – 18 students received Trophy for Superior Rating