The Music Studios' Teachers

Dr. Khoo Hui Ling

FOUNDER, THE MUSIC STUDIOS
PEDAGOGY CONSULTANT, TEACHING SUPPORT PROGRAMME
PIANO TEACHER, ADVANCED PIANO PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
​WEBSITE: WWW.KHOOHUILING-PIANO.COM
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A pianist, music educator, researcher and entrepreneur, Dr. Khoo Hui Ling seeks and maintains diverse interests in life which nourish her artistic soul. She believes that good music is sincere and vulnerable, ideals she infuses into her artistic endeavours.


Hui Ling is currently Lecturer at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), where she teaches modules in professional development, contextual studies, pedagogy and community engagement. Having a strong conviction to positively impact the music teaching community, she has served on the executive committees of the Singapore Music Teachers’ Association and the Southeast Asian Directors of Music (SEADOM). Prior to her current teaching appointments, she has taught in various capacities at Nanyang Girls' High School in Singapore, the University of Oregon and the preparatory division of the Peabody Conservatory of Music.


In 2018, Hui Ling founded The Music Studios, a collective of private music teachers in Singapore with a mission to help every music learner build a lifelong friendship with music. Her sensitivity to detail and ability to elicit the strengths of every student have helped students gain entry into and recognition at prestigious music programmes, festivals and competitions. The Music Studios has since grown with her creations of innovative programmes for both students and teachers, and she has been invited to share her research in piano pedagogy at the International Society for Music Education World Conference, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Music Teacher Conferences, and the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference.


Constant musing on the interconnectivity between art and the world around us has inspired Hui Ling’s eclectic array of musical projects. Her artistry at the piano has been heard in creatively programmed recitals in the United States, Europe and Singapore and forays into multidisciplinary performances. In 2016, she produced short documentaries on the confluence of Chinese traditional music and painting in Tan Dun’s 8 Memories in Watercolour as part of her doctoral research, culminating in a multimedia performance that premiered in the United States and Singapore.

Hui Ling graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Oregon in 2016 under the tutelage of Dean Kramer. She previously studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music with Brian Ganz, and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of music with Thomas Hecht. In her childhood and teenage years, her love for music was cultivated by Julie Tan who taught her piano, and Xu Wen Jing who taught her erhu. The musical journey of an artist is a lifelong one. Since 2017, Hui Ling has been based back in Singapore, her birth country. She continues to find inspiration in music and has made it her lifelong mission to likewise inspire others through her diverse artistic pursuits.

Ms. Arlene Chng

ADMINISTRATION LEAD, THE MUSIC STUDIOS
PIANO TEACHER, KINDERBOOGIE AND PIANO PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
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​Arlene Chng attained her Licentiate diploma LRSM (Instrumental teaching), DipABRSM and CTABRSM from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. An experienced teacher with 15 years of teaching, her students range from ages 4 to 20 years old, as well as adult beginner learners. Arlene is gifted at helping young learners taking their first steps into piano playing, those keen to develop their love for music through piano playing, as well as students interested in taking the graded exam track.
 
A strong believer in lifelong learning, she constantly looks to upgrade her skills by attending workshops on music education and exploring piano performance and pedagogy under the tutelage of Dr Khoo Hui Ling. She has great interest in the Dalcroze approach of music education as well and has been learning about the method since 2014. She has attended numerous Dalcroze workshops in Singapore and summer courses with Dalcroze Australia and is on the Dalcroze Australia Teacher Training Track.​
 
Arlene's positive outlook to life is often transmitted to those around her. Her studio was recently featured at the Library@Esplanade Young Musicians' Festival 2018 and the joy she brings to learning could be heard in the sincere performances of her students.​

Ms. Gracia Teow

PIANO TEACHER, PIANO PERFORMANCE, ADVANCED PIANO PERFORMANCE
​AND MUSIC APPRECIATION PROGRAMME
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A passionate pianist and music educator, Gracia Teow hopes to instil in her students a genuine love for music. Gracia is an experienced music educator and piano teacher who has been actively teaching music and piano since the beginning of 2018, in both one-to-one and classroom settings. She is a member of the music collective - The Music Studios - where she actively conducts piano masterclasses and music workshops. She also has experience conducting music and movement classes for children ranging from 18 months to 6 years old. 

Gracia is also an accompanist who has had experience playing with choir, church band, vocalists and instrumentalists. A diverse and versatile pianist, she has also collaborated with other musicians for performances and production of original music.

Gracia attained her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music, at the School of Contemporary Music, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. In 2021, she clinched the 2nd Prize at the International Grand Music Festival 2021 and the Gold Award at the Ars Nova International Music Competition 2021. She has also had the privilege of performing at masterclasses, for international concert pianists such as Richard Ormrod and Nicholas Loh.​

Ms. Fu Jin Xia

PIANO TEACHER, PIANO PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
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An avid educator and pianist, Fu Jinxia has been joyously contributing to the music scene with the vision of empowering others through music. 

Affectionately known as Lauren to her students, Jinxia has been teaching a wide range of students (both individual and group) from 4 to 60 years old since 2018. She believes in a holistic learning approach, integrating various aspects of music-making (practical, theory, aural, history, musicianship) into lessons. These enable her students to develop a strong foundation, and a deeper appreciation and love for music in the long haul. 

Jinxia graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts with a Bachelors of Music (Hons), under the tutelage of Ms Lena Ching. Her participation in masterclasses with Prof. Andreas Weber, Claudius Tanski, Nigel Clayton, Ilya Kondratiev, and Philip Smith have greatly broadened her understanding and appreciation of Western Classical Music. Her pursuit of excellence has led her to enter several competitions such as the Nanyang International Music Competition (2021: Bronze, 2019: Silver), and the Nanyang International Piano Academy Competition (2019, 2021: Gold). 

Besides developing her skills as a soloist, Jinxia has grown as a chamber musician by being an accompanist for choirs, vocalists and instrumentalists, happy to share the stage with them for performances and competitions. Jinxia has also taken interest in other music genres, singing in community choirs and playing in wind bands as a percussionist. Her latest exploration involves composing music for theatre, of which her sound design was selected to premiere at Centre 42's Black Box.

Ms. Kristy Man

PIANO TEACHER, PIANO PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
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​For Ms. Kristy Man, music education is her true calling as it combines her two passions in life – children and music. Kristy has a master degree in Music Education, holds an ABRSM Diploma in Instrumental Teaching (Piano) as well as the Australian Kodaly Certificate (Early Childhood and Primary level). 

Ms Kristy is the co-founder and director of Nimbletunes Pte Ltd, a music education company specialising in providing early childhood music curriculum to preschools and kindergartens in Singapore.
 
She is also a choir conductor and choir accompanist working with various primary school choirs in Singapore.

A proud mother of two teenagers, she understands the precious individuality that each child brings to the world and is therefore able to recognize the talent in each child and plan her lessons accordingly. She has never given up on any one of her students, and her persistence has opened many hearts.​

Ms. Low Zhi Min

PIANO TEACHER, PIANO PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME
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An ardent music educator, teaching piano sparks joy when Zhi Min witnesses her students' progress in their musical journeys. With patience and passion, she is able to realize the artistic potential within every student. Her unique pedagogical approaches enable her students to appreciate beauty in music whilst developing a strong foundation. She specializes in teaching young children and adults, and has taught students ranging from 4 to 60 years old for both leisure and graded exams.

Complementing her calling as a music teacher, Zhi Min is also an education researcher and has advocated programmes promoting child and mental wellness. These experiences have led to a greater exploration in topics such as motivation and music psychology in recent years. They have also shaped her belief in instilling important values such as grit and a growth mindset in students through music education. 
 
Zhi Min holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from National University of Singapore. Apart from numerous certifications in piano performance, Zhi Min is currently undertaking the ABRSM Diploma in Piano Teaching, studying under Dr. Khoo Hui Ling.

Ms. Yee Yun Ying

PIANO TEACHER, PIANO PERFORMANCE, ADVANCED PIANO PERFORMANCE
​AND ENSEMBLE PROGRAMME
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Yee Yun Ying is enthusiastic and has a great passion for music. She teaches beginning to advanced students, and she works with all styles of music including classical, and contemporary music. A teacher with more than 20 years experience, her goal is to instil a sense of music appreciation, while at the same time ground students with a strong foundation. She has been teaching young children and adults  from 3 to 86 years old for both graded examinations and leisure, tailoring each piano lesson to the student's unique level and individual interests.

Yun Ying obtained Masters in Piano Performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama under a scholarship, graduating with distinction under the tutelage of Richard Mcmahon. Prior to this, she received her Bachelor's degree in Piano at the Universiti of Malaya with First Class Honours. Her performances have earned her invitations to perform in the Trinity Guildhall Awards and Concert, and the very same year, was selected to receive the Certificate of Excellence in Piano Performance by Trinity Guildhall. Yun Ying studied with Richard McMahon, Loo Bang Hean and Lim U-Jin. She has been coached by Stephen Hough, Nicholas Ong, Dennis Lee, Ian Brown, Foo Mei Yi, Graham Caskie, James Kirby, Roger Owens, Llyr Williams and Imogen Cooper.

After graduation, Yun Ying taught and performed in the UK for two years before returning to Malaysia. Her natural musicality won her the Most Promising Pianist Award from Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. During her time at RWCMD, Yun Ying was actively performing solo, chamber, and orchestra work with the Royal Welsh Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed in the Dora Stoutzker Hall, the foyer of RWCMD, Cardiff Castle, Plas Bryn, Cardiff Chinese Church and St. David’s Lutheran Church in the UK. 

As a diverse musician, Yun Ying has performed extensively as a soloist, chamber musician, collaborative pianist and accompanist. She has been an accompanist for various musical performances such as choirs, vocalists, ensembles, and instrumental performers. 

As a teacher, Yun Ying loves to assist students in strengthening their technique, expanding their creativity, and thinking critically about the music they play- and, most of all, discovering new music to love. Her students have excelled in recitals, exams, and competitions while still creating a dedicated to having a fun learning and motivational environment at lessons.​

Dr. Chow Jun Yan

TEACHER, THEORY PROGRAMME
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Dr. Chow Jun Yan embarked on his musical journey under the guidance of Mr. Yii Kah Hoe, initiating his composition studies. Graduating with First Class Honours from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YSTCM) in Singapore, Jun Yan was privileged to study under the tutelage of Professor Ho Chee Kong in composition and Professor Steven Miller in Computer Music. His passion for musical exploration led him to a student exchange program at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he honed his skills under the mentorship of Dr. Oscar Bettison. During this enriching period, Jun Yan attended master classes by prominent figures such as Chaya Czernowin, Liza Lim, Hans Thomalla, Mark Andre, Manos Tsangaris, and Yuval Shaked.

In 2018, Jun Yan successfully completed his Ph.D. studies at the National University of Singapore under the guidance of Professor Lonce Wyse. His doctoral thesis, titled "Communication Between Sound and Visual Artists in Improvisatory Performance," reflects his deep exploration of the interdisciplinary nature of artistic expression.

​Simultaneously, Jun Yan is refining his craft as an Erhu musician under the mentorship of renowned artist Mr. Zhang Yu Ming. His expertise extends to being an Erhu improviser, with notable performances in concerts like "Hearing Visual Looking Sound" (Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok), UITM Spectra 2016 (Kuala Lumpur), The 3rd RSU Electronic Music Concert: Melt (Rangsit University, Bangkok), and RAW Art Space (Kuala Lumpur). Jun Yan's multifaceted roles as a Max Creator (Computer Music), Composer, Music Educator, and Improviser showcase his dedication to pushing the boundaries of musical creativity and fostering a unique blend of traditional and contemporary artistic expressions.