Recognition

About

The most transformative moment in my life was when my parents decided to send me to the epicenter of classical music, Vienna, Austria to pursue my piano studies, right after I finished elementary school.

Relocating to a foreign land as a young teenager and navigating a new language and culture without the support of family was challenging, but my parents knew, and I came to understand, that sacrifices needed to be made to pursue a dream.

During my time in Vienna, I had the honor of studying under some of the most esteemed pianists of the day.

I made it a priority to spend a few weeks each summer in Germany, where I attended masterclasses taught by even more world-renowned teachers. These classes not only provided me with valuable learning experiences from the faculty but also allowed me to witness the skill and talent of other pianists from around the world who also were participating. 


Being a part of such a wonderful community was truly enriching for us all,
and it was always a bittersweet moment when the incredible learning opportunities with master pianists would come to an end, and everyone would return to their respective countries.

I always wished that those moments could last forever, as I yearned to soak up their immense talent and wisdom. However, back then, video-conferencing platforms weren't as widely available as they are now, and the pandemic had not yet taught us how we could rely on technology to keep us connected.

Thankfully, the world has changed drastically since then, and we can now enjoy world-class piano instruction from the comfort of our homes. With a piano and a computer or tablet, you can engage in a group piano course and experience the same kind of community that I had to travel to another continent to find.

It's amazing to think that I could study with an exceptional piano instructor without leaving my hometown. If someone had told my younger self about this opportunity, I would have said yes without hesitation!

My success as a student has translated into my effectiveness as an educator. Teaching piano is a passion for me, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see numerous students of mine excel in local and international piano competitions across Asia, Europe, and America.

In the past two years alone, three of my students have had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Additionally, I've guided many students through successful university auditions globally. I take great pride in my ability to impart my extensive experience, ensuring that the valuable lessons I've learned are passed on to each of my students.

In 2024, I will have the great honor of being included in Marquis Who’s Who.

As a result of my successes, my piano studio has expanded to the extent that I've had to decline students. I've been seeking a way to accommodate them and establish a supportive community similar to the one that aided me.

To meet these needs, I've created a method for online group piano training!

In Vienna, I realized that when I was younger no one had ever taught me to listen to my sound when practicing. With this method, we will focus on knowing what to listen for. Was it good or bad, or do you think that it just didn’t sound right? I feel you!

That’s why I made it my life mission to help students to develop trained hearing. It is very rewarding when students, or even their parents, tell me that they now know what to listen for, so they can practice like a pro!

To quote one of my teachers, Vitaly Margulis, “A good pianist differs from a bad one, not because he or she hears well and the other doesn’t, but because he or she knows what’s good and bad sound. The bad pianist does not know.”


My teaching standard is consistent regardless of age, but I adapt my communication style to suit each student's needs and level. Even young children, as young as six years old, need to learn about dynamics, articulations, and pedal markings to progress in their piano learning journey.

Without these details, they may struggle with technical or sound difficulties, and it's not uncommon for children to lose interest in playing the piano. I have witnessed many cases like this, but with this program, we can avoid such scenarios and help students achieve their musical goals.


I will help you learn to diagnose technical problems and apply targeted solutions, so you can move on to the next challenge. I love to teach pianists to practice mindfully, rather than monotonously, so players can experience a far greater return on their investment.


I enjoy dissecting music and helping other pianists learn how to analyze for themselves.

I've noticed that when I only give specific instructions without explaining the rationale behind them, students may only apply those actions to one piece or situation. However, when I take the time to explain the reasoning behind those actions, my students are more likely to understand the concept and apply it to different scenarios.

That's why I believe in the saying, "Give someone a fish, and you feed them for a day; teach someone to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”

Book a free call with me today. We can discuss how I can help you improve your piano skills and take your piano ability to the next level!

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Biography

Yuking Chou Brandenburgh is the winner of several international piano competitions, including 2nd prize at the International Kimiko-Sato-Music Competition in Vienna, Austria (1998), 3rd prize as well as the award for the best interpretation of works of the contemporary Italian composer Alois Vechiato (Chou was the first Taiwanese to win this award) at the International 'Finale Ligure' Piano Competition in Italy (1994), and 3rd prize at the International "Maria Canals' Jeunesse Piano Competition in Barcelona, Spain (1991).

Yuking was born in Taiwan, had her first piano lesson at age 4 and made her first public appearance at age 8. She blossomed very early as a pianist and by age 10 she was already the winner of a national talent show and performed live on a national television show in Taiwan. As a young teen, she moved to Vienna, Austria to study in the city known as the heart of classical music, where Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, and many others -made their homes.

When her career began to take off, she quickly moved to performing internationally, giving concerts in Taiwan. Austria, Germany, haly, Belgium, and the United States, She has graced audiences on such prestigious stages as the Vienna Konzerthaus, Bösendorfer Hall, and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan In 2010, she performed at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Vineyand Community Church Cincinnati in the Cintas Center. where she played for nearly 8000 people. She has performed with an incredibly divine array of ensembles, including the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, numerous chamber music and band concerts, as well as countless solo performances.

Chou received her Bachelor's (Erste Diplom) and Master's (magistra artium) degrees in piano performance from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, and her Doctorate of Musical Arts and Artist Diploma from the College-Conservatory of Music a University of Cincinnati, where she worked as a graduate assistant in the Instrumental Accompaniment Department and the Secondary Piano Department She was selected to present her rosearch at the Musse Teachers National Association 2009 National Conference in Atlanta, GA. She has sodied with world-renowned pianists and pedagogues, such as Alexander Jenner, Vitaly Margulis, Andrej Jamki, Serpe Dorensky, Dr Michelle Conda, and Elizabeth and Eugene Pridonoff.

While dearly enjoying performing, she is also passionate about teaching piano and started her first teaching jobs in Vienna when she was still a teenager. Because of her Asian, European, and now American musical backgrounds, she has educated many successful young pianists that are spread over three continents, many of whom are prize winners at competitions and who perform around the world as well.

Chou was a faculty member at the Communiversity in Vienna, the Music School in Steyr, Austria, and the Tainan Woman's University of Arts and Technology, Taiwan. Dr. Brandenburgh has directed and taught master classes in Austria, and Taiwan, and America. She is currently a member of the piano faculty at Mount St. Joseph University. Cincinnati, Ohio, and the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and she has been invited to adjudicate in many national and local competitions and anditions on three continents.

In 2015, she published a new arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition for Early Advanced Piano Solo. In 2015 she and her husband, William Brandenburgh published Rhapsody of Amazing Grace & Beethoven's 9th for piano solo. Both are available at Amazon.com