Sarah Teo

Hi! I’m a professional piano teacher with nearly 20 years of teaching experience. I started teaching piano at the age of 18, and teaching students has always been something that brings me great joy and a sense of fulfillment.

I studied Music at UCLA, with piano as my primary instrument. During my studies, I also focused on film scoring, big band jazz arranging, and songwriting, which has given me a broad musical background and a creative approach to teaching.

I also completed a program in Piano Teaching Pedagogy, and I believe that every student learns differently. My goal is to help each student build solid fundamentals while making music enjoyable and meaningful.

In addition to classical and traditional piano training, I have experience playing keyboard on a worship team for 20 + years and currently serving in a worship team as a keyboardist at a megachurch in Irvine, California. I especially enjoy helping students who want to learn worship piano, including:

Chord reading and understanding chord progressions

How to start playing worship songs from the very basics

Playing from chord charts

Improvisation techniques and fills

Creating different accompaniment patterns

Learning how to play by ear

Developing the skills needed to confidently play with a worship band

Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced player looking to expand your skills, I can tailor lessons to your level, goals, and pace.

Want to learn your favorite K-pop, New Age, pop, or other songs? Just tell me the songs you want to play, and I’ll create lessons around your interests and teach them at a pace that works for you.

I teach piano in both English and Korean, and I love helping students discover the joy of making music!

I’d love to help you reach your musical goals. 🎹

*Attached video is my own Jazz Big Band composition played by my classmates at UCLA featuring myself conducting :)

*ColorMeHappy was also one of my compositions used in short film that was created by Sara Lysen at UCLA Film department

I always begin with music theory to help students understand the fundamentals of music. From there, I build a strong foundation in ear training and sight-reading, so students can develop both their musical understanding and practical skills.

Once these foundations are established, we move on to the main lesson song, applying what we’ve learned in a fun and practical way.

For worship piano, I start with the basics of chords and chord progressions, making sure students understand what they are playing rather than simply memorizing songs. I place a strong emphasis on improvisation, teaching students how to create fills, transitions, and different accompaniment patterns so they can play more freely and confidently in a worship setting.