BA Classical Piano Performance Berklee College of Music, 25 Years Experience in Teaching/Performance, Expert Lessons Classical/Pop/Composition/RCM + ABRSM Perf Exam Lessons at My Studio (NO In-Home Le

My kid is improving and moving forward with her RCM learning and performing very well in last one year
- I like the quality of extra services including formal recitals and informal every other month recitals
-professionalism of teacher - She provides makeups for missed classes, rescheduling is easy - I ma very happy with the knowledge/expertise of teacher
-My kid is enjoying herself, choice of songs and she never wants to miss any class

I have had the pleasure of taking piano lessons from Toby- Samantha for 4 months. I was drawn to Toby when I saw her experience as a piano teacher of all levels, her formal education and her experience as a professional teacher/composer.
I am 70 years old and she has helped me build an understanding of how to read notes, how to time the music and build my confidence all while playing music that I love, which is classical music.
I started piano lessons as a way to challenge my aging brain and have ended up with that and so much more.
Toby also has unique Informal Practice Performances for her students which helps build confidence, a means to understand excellent playing, and also builds community between the students. I recently attended one of these and was really pleased at how wonderful the playing and discussion was.
Toby is also very professional and always responds quickly and reschedules my lessons as needed. All in all, she is a fantastic teacher who really cares about her student's progress.

I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible impact my daughter's music teacher has
had on her journey. Before joining this class, my daughter had little interest in music. She
would attend lessons but never practice on her own. She struggled with basic music notation
for over two years, making slow progress and showing no real enthusiasm.That all changed
when we found her current teacher. After reading great reviews online, I decided to reach out
and explain my daughter's struggles. The teacher listened patiently and reassured me that
she would try to find an approach that worked for her. And she did exactly that!Instead of
following a one-size-fits-all method, she took the time to understand what would spark my
daughter's interest. She adjusted her teaching style to match her pace, making lessons
engaging and tailored just for her. The transformation has been nothing short of amazing.
Now, my daughter chooses to sit at the piano and practice every day. She not only plays long
and complex pieces but also experiments with new music on her own. Her confidence,
attention span, and love for music have all grown tremendously.What makes this teacher
even more special is her own deep connection to music. She is not just a skilled pianist but
also a gifted composer. I have had the privilege of hearing several of her original
compositions, and they are truly breathtaking. Her ability to create beautiful, moving pieces is
a testament to her talent and passion. Even more impressively, she passes on this creative
gift to her students, encouraging them to compose their own music. Under her guidance, my
daughter has started experimenting with melodies and creating her own simple
compositions-something I never imagined she would do!This teacher is more than just an
instructor-she is a true mentor, motivator, and inspiration. If you are looking for someone who
genuinely cares about their students, nurtures their creativity, and helps them unlock their full
musical potential, I wholeheartedly recommend this music class. It has been a life-changing
experience for my daughter, and I am so grateful we found her!

We have been taking group lesson (2 adult students) with Samantha for over a year. She has been absolutely amazing!

I did a little YouTube video class myself before taking classes, and was progressing very slowly. Now after one year learning with Samantha, I could play anime songs like call of silence, cruel angel and am even learning Clemanti now!

My husband took the class together and he had zero experience before and now he can play those too.

Samantha always encourages us and picks the songs that are perfect for our level as well as preferences. She also holds very regular recital for all students and adults only, which we really appreciate. I’ve never played piano in front of anyone before and Samantha always encouraged us. This turned out really helpful for boosting my confidence and learning from each other.

I enjoyed classes very much and tbh the weekly piano class is my most looking forward moment of each week.

My two kids have been taking piano lessons with Toby since they were very young. She is a calm and kind teacher with a laid-back approach to teaching, that suits my kids’ personalities perfectly. Toby is always flexible with scheduling, willing to accommodate any unexpected changes. After each lessons, she provides helpful weekly practice instructions for the kids to follow. She also gives out practice prizes to encourage them.

We regularly attend recitals with all of Toby’s students, both young and adults. She offers a variety of music for the kids to choose from and is a talented musician who composes and performs. I appreciate that Toby goes above and beyond by teaching my kids how to compose using Garage Band and letting them try out her synthesizer when they want to explore beyond just playing the piano.

I always wanted to learn how to play the piano but as a middle-aged man with no appreciable musical experience, I was nervous about how I'd fare. I opted not to self-teach as I didn't want to pick up bad habits. Last January I began looking for a piano teacher. I chose Toby primarily for her credentials and experience. Her composition work (an area I want to later explore) and selection of keyboards also influenced my decision as one day I'd love to be able to play the numerous synthesizers I've accumulated!

We began with a trial lesson, which was relaxed and enjoyable. We determined that a weekly, one hour lesson would work well. Over six months in, any initial fears I had have been allayed and I'm overjoyed with my progress. I quickly discovered that playing with two hands wasn't the insurmountable challenge I imagined it to be and that I do indeed have rhythm. I'm playing pieces from the Piano Adventures Level 3A book and am on my way to tackling some beginner/intermediate songs. A recent exercise involved improvisation around Greensleeves. Improvisation is one of Toby's great strengths and I learned a number of valuable techniques from her.

Toby encourages steady progress, offers constructive feedback and puts great emphasis on aspects such as dynamics and sight reading, often overlooked by beginners and the self-taught. Each music piece is carefully chosen to advance my learning and technique and I enjoy them immensely. Toby keeps me accountable and I have found that practicing at home for 45 minutes to an hour each day has yielded great results. Toby is responsive and she has offered flexibility when needed. 

Just three months in, I was already confident enough to play at Toby's formal recital held at Union Church of Cupertino. I performed beyond my expectations and I was amazed and delighted by the performances of both her child and adult students.

Toby also holds informal adult recitals at her home, which are a great opportunity to meet like-minded folk and share positive feedback and affirmations in a relaxed setting. Toby will also perform some of her compositions, such as Chasing Circles, which are very impressive.

Overall, I highly recommend her. Playing the piano has become my favourite hobby, which is surely a testament to her teaching abilities.

Ms. Samantha is an exceptional teacher who truly cares about her students and is very passionate. I’m an adult student and I have learnt so much about playing the piano and music in my time with her. Definitely recommend her.

My 12-year-old daughter has been taking piano lessons with Toby for a while now, and it has truly been a wonderful experience. She’s grown so much, not only in her technique and ability to read music, but also in her genuine love for playing. Toby has a gift for teaching. She’s patient, kind, and encouraging, while also keeping lessons structured so kids stay motivated and make steady progress. My daughter actually looks forward to her lessons each week!

The recitals have been such a highlight. They’ve given my daughter the chance to perform, build confidence, and feel proud of herself. It’s also inspiring for her to see other students perform, and I love how Toby celebrates every student’s achievements. You can tell how dedicated she is to helping every student grow.

On the practical side, Toby is flexible and easy to work with when it comes to scheduling, which has been a huge help with our busy school and sports calendar. That support has made it possible for us to keep lessons consistent without stress.

If you’re looking for a piano teacher who not only teaches well but also inspires kids to enjoy music, I wholeheartedly recommend Toby. She has made such a positive difference for my daughter, and I’m so grateful we found her.

I’m an adult and was trying to learn piano on my own for several years but was stuck in the beginner phase forever. I started lessons with Samantha and in the short span of 6 months I’ve started making real progress and am now playing pieces that I never would have imagined playing even a short time ago.

She chooses pieces for me, based on music that I like, which are slightly above my current level. So I’m making continuous progress, while playing pieces that I love, including simplified arrangements of much harder well known pieces. She also posts videos of her playing the chosen piece, so that I can play it over and over, to notice things that I may have missed during the lesson.

She also organizes several recitals a year (including informal recitals just for adults) which gives students plenty of opportunities to perform in front of a considerate audience.

She is very organized and at the end of each lesson she gives me a sheet with exact practice instructions so that I don’t have to wonder about what to practice. She is also quite flexible with her schedule and is very good about rescheduling in case I cannot make it to a lesson.

She has composed many wonderful pieces herself and is skilled at multiple genres of music in addition to classical. I highly recommend her.

Ms. Samantha is an excellent teacher. I am an adult student with a full time job, but in the year that I have been with her, I have gotten better with every lesson. She's kind, encouraging, and a brilliant pianist.

I highly recommend her.

My kids have been taking lessons with Toby for several years. She adjusts her teaching style to match their individual personalities and levels, which I appreciate. She encourages them to pick songs they will enjoy performing, which makes them enjoy practicing at home. We are pleased with the many recitals she organizes because it gives the kids a goal to work toward and we get to hear all the other kids play their songs too. I highly recommend her if you want your child to have a positive piano lesson experience.

We have been absolutely thrilled with the piano lessons our twin 7-year-old girls have been receiving from Samantha over the past 9 months. Samantha has a remarkable ability to engage them by incorporating their music preferences into the lessons, whether it's by letting them choose some of their songs or by introducing them to simplified versions of more complex tunes. This personalized approach has not only kept the lessons fun and exciting but also ensured that they remain highly motivated and eager to learn.
Samantha's patience and positivity shine through in every interaction. Her feedback is encouraging and supportive, which has been fantastic for building our girls' confidence and skills at the piano. She has also done the extra step of sending videos of how the songs should be played for additional help during home practice. Thanks to her guidance, we've seen significant progress in their playing abilities and musical understanding. We feel fortunate to have found such a dedicated teacher for our daughters.

I am a adult beginner and a slow learner. It has been a wonderful experience in the four months since I started with Samantha. She is very patient with me and allows me to progress at my own, slow, pace. There was one lesson when I was not able to play anything, even pieces that I had played the previous week. I was totally embarrassed. Yet Samantha offered words of encouragement. I also like the written down assignments for the week. It gives me a structured approach to learning. Another thing that helps with my positive experience is that Samantha would give me well known but simplified pieces in addition to the ones in the methods book. It certainly puts a smile on my face when I could play these famous pieces.

My son (age 9) has been learning from Toby for the past year, and we couldn't be happier. We really wanted a teacher who could help develop passion and joy around music, while maintaining a structured learning approach needed to progress. This is exactly what has happened. My son has found his own expressive musical style and Toby encourages him to play pieces that keep him engaged. At the same time, he was able to prepare for the RCM music exam, and did well with excellent preparation.

Toby herself is an excellent musician, and so all of her students learn how to perform music, whether through the multiple recitals that she organizes throughout the year, or the online contest submissions such as the RCM Festival of Lights.

Finally, I have had only positive experiences when it comes to interacting with her as a parent. She is very professional and diligent, coupled with a pleasant and empathetic approach.

Toby is an excellent piano teacher! I am an working adult and interested in piano, I don't have any prior experience and she has been very patient and encouraging. She is very professional and knows all the theory behind it and she is very passionate. I would highly recommend learning with Toby!

My children started taking lessons from Toby many 4 years ago. Her passion for music has helped revive their interest in piano again. Toby is very patient and encouraging in her teaching style and loves the art form. This motivates students to do better and improve their skills. Highly recommend Toby.

My two boys (9 and 5) have been having piano lessons with Ms. Toby since last year. Ms. Toby is an accomplished pianist and composer. My sons enjoy her friendly, encouraging and professional teaching approach very much and they enjoy practicing at home. Since Ms. Toby treats each student uniquely, her customized lessons benefits my sons a lot. She helps my sons choose the songs they like and so they are motivated to play. My older son is inspired by Ms. Toby's songs, and he plays his own arrangement on Canon which is very impressive. My younger son has very good progress since his very first piano class with Ms. Toby. She holds two recitals a year at a professional recital hall with a Steinway grand piano. I'm happy to have her as our piano teacher.

I am a working adult who always wanted to play piano. I am so glad to have found Toby. She has a great zeal and passion for piano! She is extremely talented and an amazing teacher. She is very attentive and focuses on both piano playing and the theory behind it which makes it so much easier to understand the intricacies. She gives her all to her students! She lets me learn at my own pace while at the same time pushes me to become better! She is helping me learn not only the classics but also the new pop songs that I wish to play! She is very considerate and focuses on the overall development. I have been learning for 3 months now and I have already played a small piece in the annual recital! I could not have been more happy with my progress! I am extremely thankful to her and am going to continue learning from her!

My daughter started taking piano lessons 1.5 years ago, but I couldn't find a teacher who was a good match for her. I found Ms. Toby about 4 months ago and my daughter is now very happy. My daughter wanted to have a teacher with energy, who will motivate and challenge her, and can find the space between too hard and too easy. Ms. Toby's practice routines, song selection, and teaching style has made a huge impact on my daughter's skill in just a few months. Now she is excited to practice the piano in the morning - sometimes she wants to keep practicing instead of going to school! Ms. Toby also lets my daughter have space to practice a song that my daughter wrote, and is helping to guide her and develop these skills as well. With Ms. Toby, my daughter performed in her first recital in October, along with Ms. Toby's other students. It was a great chance for her to challenge herself and play in a music hall in front of a large group of people. I am very pleased to have her as a piano teacher.

My 10yr old daughter has been doing lessons with Toby for almost 2 years. She is making great progress and she really enjoys the lessons, she is always eager to go and loves that she gets to pick out some songs to learn, she had even worked on her own compositions! Toby is really helping to foster her love of music and we are excited to continue to see her progress!

Toby has been a fantastic instructor for my eight-year-old. From the very beginning, she has always been responsive, timely and professional in all scheduling and interactions. And she is really able to figure out and focus in on a child's talents and interests. My daughter has a particular fondness for composing, which I would have NEVER figured out on my own. But Toby has brought it out and fostered it, and at our first recital recently, my daughter performed her own composition! I have been pretty stunned to see her continual growth and I credit Toby 100 percent with developing it!

My two daughters who are at intermediate level have been with Toby for half a year now, and all of us are very happy with her. When we decided to switch to her we were looking for someone with different teaching style than our previous teacher. We do want someone who not only has formal training in classical, but also is well-versed in more modern music (rock, pop, etc). I also want someone who can explain and communicate well with children, is patient, encouraging and most importantly can inspire the students. So far Toby has met my expectations. After switching to her, my children have started to actually enjoy playing after all these years. They are now learning both classical and popular. Toby always encourages them to play with passion. I can see that they're improving both technically and musically. Toby gives her student 100% during the lesson. She also likes to share some insights related to the piece of music or the composer which I appreciate. I highly recommend her.

Toby is an amazing professional and an excellent teacher. She focuses on learning the technicalities which makes it easier to understand the complex nature of piano. I have had very good experience with her through and through.

My two boys (10 and 6) have been having piano lessons with Ms. Toby since 2017. Ms. Toby is an accomplished pianist and composer. My sons enjoy her friendly, encouraging and professional teaching approach very much and they enjoy practicing at home. Since Ms. Toby treats each student uniquely, her customized lessons benefits my sons a lot. She helps my sons choose the songs they like and so they are motivated to play. My older son is inspired by Ms. Toby's songs, with her teaching he plays his own arrangement on Canon which is very impressive. My younger son has very good progress since his very first piano class with Ms. Toby. She holds recital every year at a professional recital hall with a Steinway grand piano. I'm happy to have her as our piano teacher.

I really could not recommend Samantha more highly. I am SO lucky I found her! The value for the lessons is awesome. She is extremely well-trained and well-educated. To be honest, I wondered what I would get because some teachers charged more and as a student I really couldn’t afford more. A lot of teachers don’t actually teach proper technique. I love knowing that I’m learning to play properly, and that I learn some theory along the way. She’s also really encouraging and the way she tunes into what you like is a special gift she has as a teacher. She finds what you like and what you’re good at and capitalizes on it so you’re always enjoying yourself, being challenged, and feel motivated. I’m learning as an adult and I love the book she decided to use also. Samantha is also flexible and responsive to texts. Another thing I really like that she does is write up your “homework” for the week, with specific things to work on. Again, I really just can’t believe the value I get. I will be with Samantha for a long time.