FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
$50 for one hour, $37 for half an hour, payments are made right before lessons via Zelle/Venmo, other methods I am open to!
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
On our first lesson, we will discuss what kind of pieces/songs/repertoire you'd like to play and your long term goals. We will discuss your learning philosophy, music background, and talk about some method books or pieces that would be best suited for you.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am a Pre-Candidate of the Doctoral of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at University of Michigan in the fall. Currently, I recieved my master's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Michigan, studying with Dr. Logan Skelton and Pedagogy with Dr. John Ellis. I received my Bachelor’s degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Yoshikazu Nagai at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. I have also worked with Bernadene Blaha and performed in many masterclasses for renowned pianists such as John Perry, Gary Graffman, Leon Fleisher, and Jerome Lowenthal from the Juilliard School and Curtis Institute of Music. I began piano studies with her mother, Michelle Santoso. Bio: Hillary Santoso has captured prizes in numerous competitions. She was recipient of the “Judges’ Award” for the American Protégé International Concerto Competition and was subsequently invited to perform in Carnegie Hall for the Gala Winners’ Concert. She was also a finalist of the National YoungArts Foundation and International Washington D.C. Competition. She received second prize in the 14th Biennial Los Angeles International Liszt Competition and a cash award, which led to a performance in the 2017 American Liszt Society Festival. She has starred as a soloist with numerous orchestras in the United States and Europe. Her most notable concerto performance was with the Glendale Youth Orchestra, which led to a debut at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, after an audition with the LA Phil Youth Orchestra Mentorship Partners. Hillary has presented a solo benefit recital performing piano and violin to raise a total of $3,500 in funds to benefit the American Red Cross and Tzu Chi Foundation for the Tsunami Relief Effort. Additionally, she has provided voluntary piano lessons to children with various forms of autism. She is a passionate and active teacher, with teaching experience ranging from toddler group classes to university classes, to teaching private students. She has presented her research topics at the 2019 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) conferences at the national and collegiate level. Additionally, her students have achieved high marks at the Royal Conservatory of Music exams.