Dr. Hanyin Chen is an active teacher, concert artist, church pianist, and accompanist in the metropolitan DC area. 
After earning a Doctorate degree in Piano Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, I founded my piano teaching studio in Gaithersburg, MD, where I have guided many pianists along their musical paths. I am a member of the piano faculty at the Montgomery College and perform regularly through the Friday Morning Music Club.
A native of Taiwan, I started my music training at age 4 with the Yamaha method. At age 8 and continuously till 18, I participated in an intensive music training program sponsored by the national government that was offered exclusively to certified “exceptionally gifted” students. I won top prizes in various young artist competitions and appeared in solo concerts and with orchestras. I continued my music training in the United States, starting at the prestigious Indiana University School of Music, where I was a featured soloist in the Mozart Festival commemorating the bicentennial of Mozart’s death. At Indiana I received both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Piano Performance in only five years, with the Highest Distinction.
My experience during these years of music training ultimately shaped my teaching philosophy. To be sure, I received a well-rounded and rigorous music training throughout my formative years. However, a remarkable event at age 16 dramatically broadened my musical horizon and enlightened me with a vision. It was an attendance at a profoundly moving opera performance that ignited my passion for music and led me to discover my own authentic musical “voice”.
I was truly fortunate to have already been equipped with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge when this epiphany ultimately propelled me to a life dedicated to music. Thanks to my parents’ and teachers’ foresight, tenacity, and years of patient guidance, I was ready to continue, finally in my own determination, my musical quest in the United States. Having realized my dream, I am passionate about helping my students fulfill their desires and make music a source of their joy and pleasure. (Read about their thoughts on piano lessons and more.)