My 6-year-old son took private piano lessons with this teacher for about three months. During that time, he was always polite, tried his best, and became very excited about piano. He built a routine around the lessons and frequently asked when he would be going back. After one class, the teacher told me that my son was not focused enough. Shortly afterward, she abruptly canceled all future private lessons and suggested he switch to group classes instead. There was no prior discussion, warning, or attempt to adjust teaching strategies for his age. I understand that not every teacher is a good fit for every student. However, I found the sudden termination and lack of communication very upsetting, especially given my son's age and emotional attachment to the lessons and teacher. I'm sharing this so other parents of young children are aware of her approach and can decide if it aligns with what they're looking for in a teacher. read more

Ms. Chang has been the piano teacher for our two children since they were each 5 years old. She has incredible patience with teaching young children and the children always looked forward to their piano lessons with her. Her piano studio is very clean, well decorated, comfortable, and has good acoustics. The kids loved how she often would play the duet with them during their lessons and also for recitals. She is an extremely accomplished pianist herself and it shows when she plays even the simplest of songs. We appreciated her emphasis on the importance of theory in addition to playing music. During the height of the pandemic, her ability to transition to virtual learning and keep the kids engaged was truly impressive and when they went back in person for lessons, we appreciated her flexibility with scheduling and diligence with ensuring they were returning to a learning environment that was comfortable and safe. When she conducted her recitals online, they were well organized and her preparation of the kids for the event gave them confidence. Now that the recitals are in person, the experience is even better. The recital piano studio is professional with a beautiful grand piano and has a spacious area for the audience/families to sit. Ms. Chang has a nicely designed program that serves as a wonderful keepsake of the event as well. We highly recommend Ms. Chang. We are thrilled to have found her and consider ourselves fortunate to have had such an accomplished, kind and patient teacher be our children's first piano instructor. read more

We began taking classes with Li in October of 2021. We were very hopeful and invested in her, the materials and piano. She often asked to reschedule, or pause due to her recital/holiday/vacation schedule. We were patient. After the last pause (her asking), we reached out asking when we could start back up. She informed us she no longer had time for my son, and that he wasn't worth teaching because of his progression. It's hard to progress with the stop and start of her requests. If you want a true professional that encourages your new piano player, I'd find someone that is more stable and consistent. read more

I started taking piano lessons from Li-Ying as an beginner adult student almost 1.5 years ago, first in-person and then virtually due to COVID. In that time, I've grown so much and learned sight-reading, scales, and theory. Li-Ying is a wonderful teacher who is great at patiently explaining concepts and demonstrating pieces. Even over Zoom, she has made each lesson valuable and provides recordings of new pieces for reference when practicing. We have even had two virtual recitals with all of her students, which is so fun because family and friends from all over can attend. If you're an adult student and want to learn the piano, I highly recommend enrolling with Li-Ying. I'm willing to bet it'll be one of the best investments you make. read more

My daughter started taking piano lessons from Li-Ying about a year ago. She is an incredible teacher, very professional and extremely organized. My daughter immediately bonded with her and I was amazed at how much my daughter learned in such a short period of time. Unfortunately, we relocated to Charleston and my daughter was devastated she would no longer be able to take lessons from Li-Ying. Li-Ying not only helped us find a new instructor, but she also continued to teach my daughter via Zoom until we found someone. Li-Ying is truly an incredible pianist, teacher and role model to children. read more

I was only in Chicago for a couple months for an internship, so I was only able to attend 6 weekly lessons. Despite this, Ms. Chang was more than happy to adapt an accelerated lesson plan that fit both my limited stay and my prior experience (which was not easy to judge, because most of my musical experience was on the trumpet, and even then she was able to use this to tie into my lessons). She's a great teacher because she's not only a phenomenal pianist, but she has been trained in *teaching* it, which is a whole other animal. She teaches a variety of ages (I'm 20, but she teaches 4-5 year olds as well as much older adults). She's a great choice no matter what your skill level is. She teaches out of her home, which is just a few min walk from Paulina on the Brown Line, and is a very comfortable space. She's also had a lot of students, so she is by no means a rookie. Lastly, she's fairly flexible and will do her best to work with your schedule. read more

I started playing piano as a child and stopped in college. In adulthood, I decided to resume playing and tried learning on my own for a few months before realizing I needed the guidance of a skilled teacher. I reached out to Li-Ying who has helped me recover what I thought I had lost in a short period of time. In our first couple of lessons, she was able to establish the correct repertoire for me which has made a huge difference in my learning. Her lessons are very well-structured and her teaching is thorough. She has indeed mastered the piano and it's inspiring to learn from her. read more

An AMAZING teacher, I cannot emphasize enough how thorough and competent Li-Ying is. I recently saw her in concert too, she performed Beethoven and Kapustin to critical acclaim. If you can get her to take you on as a student you will not regret it. read more

Li-Ying Chang Piano Studio - From concert at St. Hilary Church Chicago, 11/16/2014 - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me

Ms. Li has been coaching my son for over a year now; She is very knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. She has such outstanding credentials and capable of teaching all ages. She knows how to assess and ensure my son to have the needed knowledge and skills to succeed. She also creates an environment that is motivating and inspiring. During the peak of Covid, she made sure that the transition to virtual class will emerge smoothly, leading my son to be more independent and more inclined with greater talent in music rather than just seeking a formal piano qualification. She is very organized and also personable. read more

Ms. Chang is an EXCEPTIONAL piano teacher. Not only she's an accomplished pianist, she's a natural teacher. When my son just turned five, I wanted to introduce him to music. I was in search of a good mentor/teacher, and one of our friends introduced Ms. Chang to us! My son has developed a love for music since the beginning and he enjoys every lesson. Music is difficult to teach, especially if the student is a tiny little person. Ms. Chang is extremely patient and she comes up with very creative ways to deliver complex concepts. She has very high expectations, but instead of pushes her students the traditional way, she inspires/challenges them according to their ability. I highly recommend Ms. Chang to students of all ages!!! read more

My daughter initially started piano lessons in a group setting with Li-Yang Chang at Old Town School of Music. Soon after, we transitioned to private lessons in her home. It has been a wonderful experience and even during this challenging time as we had to pivot to virtual lessons. Ms. Chang has a warm and welcoming approach and her love for teaching piano and students learning shines! She is also organized and has great communication and follow up. read more

Li-Ying is both an exceptional piano educator and an accomplished and virtuosic piano performer. I have been an adult student of Li-Ying for four years and I have grown tremendously as a pianist during this period. She will help you learn realistic and pedagogically appropriate piano repertoire, set realistic goals, and hold you accountable to accomplishing them. She has a compassionate and friendly teaching style, and I cannot recommend her highly enough for all students, regardless of age or experience level. read more