Pianist and Teacher

AKIKO YAMAZAKI is a pianist based in Yokohama, Japan and North Carolina, USA.

Highlights of her recent engagements include solo and chamber music performances at Carnegie Hall, North Carolina Museum of Art and Music for a Great Space concert series. As a soloist, she appeared with Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and UNCG Symphony Orchestra. She gave the world premiere of Matthew Orlovich’s Dawn Rhapsody with violinist Karen Galvin. She regularly engages in community outreach.

She holds graduate degrees (DMA, MM) from music schools in the US such as Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. She won the Raleigh Symphony Concerto Competition, UNCG School of Music Concerto Competition, 1st Prize at the American Protege International Competition, and 2nd Prize at Duxbury Music Festival Ensemble Competition.

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English-speaking Japanese bilingual piano teacher from Yokohama smiling in front of a grand piano with her piano students at a piano recital in Raleigh North Carolina USA

Classical Piano Lessons in English/Japanese

Dr. Yamazaki maintains an international piano studio online and in person (Yokohama/Tokyo/Yokosuka, Japan), combining the most effective Japanese and American pedagogical methods for serious study in a supportive environment. She has over 20 years of experience teaching students of all ages from beginner to advanced.

Dr. Yamazaki has been on the piano faculty at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC International Chamber Music Workshop, and UNCG Summer Music Camp. She is active as a presenter, master class clinician and adjudicator.

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Learn to Perform with Confidence

In our piano lessons, we focus on developing effortless technique, individual artistry, and comprehensive musicianship to play and perform confidently at any age and level. I offer practical tips for performance anxiety and injury prevention to empower students as performing pianists.

English-speaking piano teacher based in Yokohama Japan and North Carolina USAsmiling at a grand piano

A Global Piano Studio with an English-Speaking Teacher

Join our international piano studio with students from all over the world! You can access high quality piano instruction in the comfort of your home. I offer online piano lessons and in-home piano lessons in Yokohama, Japan and surrounding areas.

  • You can take online piano lessons from anywhere in the world. I offer online piano lessons in two formats: live virtual lessons and video feedback lessons.

  • You can take private piano lessons in English/Japanese in Yokohama, Japan and surrounding areas (Tokyo/Kawasaki/Kamakura/Yokosuka). You can learn in the comfort of your home or in a nearby studio with an English-speaking piano teacher. Based in Totsuka-ku, I can travel to Yokohama (Naka-ku, Nishi-ku, Kohoku-ku, etc.), Tokyo (Ota-ku, Shinagawa-ku, Shibuya-ku, Shinjuku-ku, Chuo-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Minato-ku, Meguro-ku), Kamakura, Kawasaki and Yokosuka.

  • 英語・日本語でピアノレッスンが受けられます。オンラインと対面出張レッスン（横浜・東京・川崎・鎌倉・横須賀）から選べます。

Students Love the Joy of Making Music

  • "I just want to thank you for a wonderful start to the fall. With a new teacher, both of our boys seem VERY happy studying with you. Ethan has even begun writing a new piece. You are so kind, and professional, and so enthusiastic about teaching piano, we feel fortunate to have joined your studio. Thank you so very much for sharing the joy of music!

    — Catherine D.

    Piano student from Chapel Hill North Carolina looking at the machanics of the piano hammer above a piano at a recital in Raleigh North Carolina

  • “Working with Dr. Yamazaki in online piano lessons has been an enriching experience that has made my musical life better. Working with Dr. Yamazaki has helped me to vastly improve my pianistic abilities, musicality, and technical skills. She is able to take complex and difficult piano techniques and explain and demonstrate them in a way that makes them easy to understand and accessible.”

    — Myles S.

    Online piano student from Wilmington North Carolina in a suit smiling in front of a grand piano in his home

  • レッスンでは一人ひとりの性格やレベルに合わせて教えてくださり、「どうすればもっと音がきれいに響くか」「どう弾けば気持ちが伝わるか」を具体的に示してくださいます。先生の演奏を初めて聴いたとき、ピアノが歌っているように感じ、子どもたちも“音楽を表現する楽しさ”を学ばせていただいていると実感しました。

    — 中田様

    Sibling piano students from Japan smiling at a reception after a piano recital in Chapel Hill North Carolina

Students from Yamazaki Piano Studio have performed community outreach concerts at hospitals and senior centers and fundraised for non-profit organizations.

They have won many prizes and awards at festivals and competitions including MTNA Competition, Golden Key Music Festival, Federation of Music Clubs Festival, UNCSA Piano Weekend Competition, Constance Kotis Piano Festival & Competition, NCMTA Contest-Festival, CHMTA Music Festival, DMTA Festival, American Protege Music Competition, Dr. Sharyn Edwards Piano Festival & Competition and Omega Talent Hunt.

Some of the former students have pursued music in conservatories in the US such as Peabody Institute and Berklee College of Music.

Let’s Make Music Together!

To get connected for lessons and engagements, please fill out the form.