Biography
Pianist and educator, Amy Mitani is originally from Sendai, Japan. She acquired her Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma under instruction of Dr. Ann Gipson, and was a winner of OMTA Collegiate Piano Competition. After teaching for several years, she went back for her higher education at Portland State University. While there, she studied piano performance with Dr. Carol Rich, also received intensive pedagogy trainings from Professor Mary Kogen, and taught several college courses for music majors.
＜As a performer＞
Upon completion of her Master’s degree in Music, she performed in several orchestras and has been performing two-piano ensembles since 2006. Because of her passion and love for Latin music, she studied Latin-Jazz/Salsa piano with a Grammy Award winning pianist and founder of Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Christian Tumalan. After a tremendous discovery of Latin music, she started performing as a salsa pianist in the San Francisco Bay-Area. In 2012 after relocating to Dallas, she joined a local Latin band, Orquesta Cervantes and has been featured in numerous radio programs including WRR 101.1FM. She has been also performing with two-piano partners in the DFW area.
＜As an educator>
Ms. Mitani has been giving group and private instructions for over 20 years and continuing to grow as a teacher. Until 2012, she taught piano and theory classes at music schools in Oregon and California, and served as a board member and certified adjudicator for Music Teachers Association of California. In November 2012, she joined a piano faculty at Gray School of Music and has been enjoying teaching private and group classes.
Ms. Mitani is a Steinway educational partner, a member of MTNA, TMTA, and PMTA, and a teacher of ABRSM and Royal Conservatory of Music exams. She resides in Plano with her husband, Jason and maintains her music studio.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mitanimusic.pianolessons/
Steinway Teacher Directory: http://www3.steinway.com/teachers/directory/amymusica