Yufen Chou
About
Dr. Yufen Chou, originally from Taipei, Taiwan, started teaching piano and violin since her undergraduate freshman year. As a teacher, Dr. Chou enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels with various different interests and goals, whether just for recreation or seeking a music career. In recent few years, many of her students’ performances were rated as “superior” in the Spring Festival held by Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association.
As a piano accompanist, Dr. Chou has accompanied numerous opera or musical theater rehearsals in DC metro area. She also performs and records with singers and instrumentalists frequently.
Yufen Chou earned Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Accompanying from The Catholic University of America and Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University. She also has 14 years of classical violin training and served as concert master in her high school and undergraduate orchestras. Dr. Chou is currently an adjunct piano professor in Trinity Washington University and Prince George's Community College.
Dr. Chou lives with her husband, two young daughters, and their dog in Old Town Alexandria. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her family, creating crafts with the kids, doing yoga, and going to art performances.
My Style:
Laid-back but firm on making sure students building up healthy technique, develop good sense of rhythm and pitches, and gain necessary knowledge in music theory so they can truly enjoy playing instruments.
My Philosophy:
I teach music to help students to cultivate their self-esteem, understand the moral and reward of hard work, and to further develop their brain power to reach their real potential. However, the most important reason I teach is to share the beauty and love of music. Understanding and appreciation of music, and enjoy making music, is more important than playing an instrument perfectly. May we all have a beautifully musical life!
Current Position: Adjunct Piano Professor in Prince George's Community College, Largo, Maryland
Past Position: Adjunct Piano Professor in Trinity Washington University
Education and Training:
Piano & Collaborative Arts
Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Accompanying: The Catholic University of America
Master of Music in Piano Performance: Stephen F. Austin State University
Violin:
14 years of classical training
I tailor make lesson plans depends on students' age, level, mental maturity level, and interests.
For Piano Beginner: I use different series of Faber Piano Adventures Lesson and Theory books for learning the basic along with other music appropriate to students' level and personal interests.
6-9 years old -- Faber Basic Piano Adventures
9-15 years old -- Accelerated Piano Adventures
15 years and up -- Adult Piano Adventures
Beginner Violinists:
Strictly Strings and Suzuki Violin Method.