Kie Kitagawa began studying piano at the age of four under her mother’s guidance in her home country of Japan. Having developed a sense of pedagogy early while listening to her mother teach piano at home, she first began teaching in high school.

Kie holds an M.A. and a B.M. in piano performance from San Jose State University. She has performed as a soloist and a piano accompanist, and has been teaching piano for over 30 years. Her philosophy, depth of experience, and ability to nurture a student’s unique strength in an open and flexible way sets her apart and enables her to skillfully teach students of all ages—from beginner to advanced.

Kie currently resides in Santa Clara with her partner and two teenagers.