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Matoush Melodies Piano Academy

About

ONLINE & IN-PERSON: Professional teacher (Berklee educated) with a BA in classical piano performance and over 20 years performing and teaching offering customized, enjoyable lessons. OPEN TO AUDITIONS FOR BEGINNING THROUGH ADVANCED STUDENTS IF YOU'RE TRULY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH ME (NO TRIALS).

RCM/ABRSM Professional Performance exam training as well (see below for more) as competition prep and students have multiple Performance opportunities/practice. We have competitive levels for those students who are high achievers with awards for passing levels. I teach beginner through college level.

I maintain standards of excellence with tailored technical exercises, theory, and sight-reading practice customized to each unique individual. Detailed curriculum provided as well as weekly practice instructions.

My students have 3 recitals a year at a fancy concert venue and multiple informal practice opportunities (every other month).

I customize lessons to fit each individual and also ensure they enjoy learning with a variety of teaching approaches.

If your child or you study with me, you will see clear and rapid progress, yet you or your child will really enjoy the journey. I work with many students; my students include those more skilled at playing by ear, creative students who want to learn to compose or make pop or rock covers, as well as students with disabilities. (I have a students on the spectrum currently who has been with me for a year and really improved).

My main goal is to make sure my students learn to love music as I do and to get them excited about music. I have over 30 years experience teaching both at a university as a professor and at my home studio. I have also been performing, and composing for over 10 years and am currently collaborating on several albums with other performers as well as making an EP of my own originals.

*SEE YouTube LINK BELOW for Student Performance Videos..I absolutely love teaching piano and watching my students blossom into accomplished pianists. I use a variety of innovative teaching approaches, games, and apps and also teach music literature and history. I mix classical repertoire with popular pieces.

All levels accepted; I love to work with advanced and intermediate students and help them with RCM ABRSM exams, but also enjoy working with beginners. All my RCM students passed their tests with FIRST CLASS HONORS this year. RCM and ABRSM tests provide a holistic experience for students and ensure they become skilled musicians in all fields of music (performing repertoire, sight-reading, technical ability, ear-training, and theory).

Highlights

Hired 13 times

1 employee

19 years in business

Serves San Jose, CA

Offers online services

Payment methods

Cash, Check, Paypal, Zelle

Social media

Photos and videos

Halloween 2023 Recital (Some of my students at the end)

2017 Recital Student Gracie Plays Original Composition

2017 Matthew Original Composition Piano Recital

Reviews

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philip B.

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 Id fare. I opted not to self-teach as I didnt 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 Id love to be able to play the numerous synthesizers Ive 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 Im overjoyed with my progress. I quickly discovered that playing with two hands wasnt the insurmountable challenge I imagined it to be and that I do indeed have rhythm. Im 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 Tobys 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 Tobys 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.

August 30, 2025

sasi S.

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.

August 24, 2025

debashis S.

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.

May 20, 2025

sarah M.

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. Shes kind, encouraging, and a brilliant pianist.

I highly recommend her.

March 24, 2025

narineh S.

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.

January 12, 2025

melissa Y.

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 its 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.

Samanthas 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, weve seen significant progress in their playing abilities and musical understanding. We feel fortunate to have found such a dedicated teacher for our daughters.

April 15, 2024

Frequently asked questions

What is your typical process for working with a new student?

I offer a discounted trial lesson to allow a potential student to see my light, airy studio, play my wonderful Yamaha 6'1 grand, and get to know me a bit. It's a good chance to ensure I am the best choice for the student.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

BA in Classical Piano Performance, multiple performances, over 20 years of teaching experience

Multiple piano master classes including University of the Pacific Master Class at a young age.

Berklee College of Music Training/Classes in Composition and Songwriting (Berklee is the best music college in the country for Composition and Songwriting)

Have curriculum/template for teaching songwriting and have taught songwriting and composition to gospel vocalists, EDM performers, and New Age pianists.

How did you get started teaching?

I have been teaching since I was a teenager. Helping others learning and seeing the spark that happens when one learns to love playing music is amazing. Teaching music has always been a passion of mine.

What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?

Please don't choose a teacher solely based on location. I often get students who had amateur teachers who did not teach proper hand position and theory. I have had to start over with these students and improper hand position is very hard to break. It's not worth saving 5-10 minutes of driving when your child does not learn proper playing habits and foundations such as hand position and scales. They will be hampered by that poor training and it will be difficult, though not impossible to fix. Find an experienced teacher who teaches the right foundational skills. Don't pick teachers solely based on location and price.

What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?

1) What is your teaching experience? 2) How do you customize teaching to each unique individual? 3) What kind of training did you have prior to teaching? 4) What levels do you teach and do you teach RCM and ABRSM which requires the teacher to be at an advanced level of playing?

Services offered

Music Theory

Piano

Synthesizer