TONALEA
Quynh Nguyen, pianist
www.quynhpiano.com
Where tone meets possibility
TONALEA is an online music education platform dedicated to thoughtful, high-level instruction rooted in artistic integrity, academic excellence, and meaningful mentorship.
Founded and led by internationally acclaimed pianist and educator Dr. Quynh Nguyen, Tonalea offers personalized online lessons designed for students of all ages and levels. Our approach combines strong technical foundation, musical expression, and disciplined artistry, while nurturing confidence, creativity, and long-term growth.
With a focus on quality over quantity, Tonalea provides a supportive and structured learning environment where students receive individual attention, clear guidance, and professional feedback. As the platform grows, Tonalea will welcome distinguished faculty and expand its offerings to serve a broader community of learners worldwide.
Whether preparing for auditions, competitions, or personal artistic development, Tonalea is committed to helping each student reach their full musical potential.
“Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other in the integration of the human being because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated truly graceful.”
– Plato
ABOUT ME
Quynh Nguyen is an internationally acclaimed pianist recognized for her expressive artistry and musical depth. She has performed at major venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall and Berlin Konzerthause, and has appeared on international radio and television.
Her recordings on Naxos, Arabesque, Music & Arts labels as well as her performances as soloist with leading orchestras, including the Seattle Symphony, London Symphony, Springfield Symphony and Vietnam National Symphony Orchestras have received critical acclaim. She holds advanced degrees from The Juilliard School, Mannes College and the Graduate Center of City University of New York, and was a Fulbright fellow to France to study music with Yvonne Loriod Messiaen, piano professor at the Paris Conservatoire de Musique et Danse. Dr. Nguyen currently serves on the music faculty at Hunter College (CUNY).
www.quynhpiano.com
Concert Performances
Professional piano performances, recitals, solos with orchestras, chamber music, and special events.
Solo recitals and concerto performances with orchestras and symphonies in major venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia, including cultural, diplomatic, and commemorative events.
Masterclasses & Workshops
Educational masterclasses combining technique, artistry, and interpretation.
Piano masterclasses and workshops for students, universities, festivals, and institutions, focusing on performance practice, repertoire, and building confidence on stage.
Piano Lessons
Private, high-level piano instruction shaped by international performance experience.
Personalized lessons for children, teens, and adults at beginner to advanced levels, focusing on technique, musical expression, interpretation, and artistic growth for study, performance, or personal development.
Recording Artist
Internationally recognized classical piano recordings.
Professional recordings released on major labels such as Naxos American Classics, Music and Arts, Arabesque, with orchestras and renowned composers, broadcast internationally on radio and television, and praised by Gramophone, Fanfare, Musical America, American Records Guide, International Piano Magazine music publications.
Academic & Institutional Teaching
University-level piano teaching rooted in elite musical training.
Academic instruction and faculty roles at respected music institutions, supporting advanced musical study, mentorship, and professional artistic development.
Piano Competition Adjudication And Jury
At the Paris Conservatoire for Music and Dance, serving as President of the Jury for the 2026 French American Piano Society Young Scholarship Debut
Academic and Institutional teaching
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Real experiences from students and families.
Quynh Nguyen is a very good professor who helped me a lot when I was applying to college in high school.
When I was applying for universities, I was very confused. I attended a regular high school with a general curriculum, and none of my classmates were planning to apply to art colleges. So I had no idea what the standards of music colleges were like, nor did I know the application process. During this period, I also met other piano teachers, but the playing methods they taught me caused me some problems when I submitted the first-round video. Because those previous teachers had said my playing was perfect, but the result was that I was rejected by several universities, which made me very anxious. Therefore, I had the idea of changing my professor at that time.
Later, by chance, I was fortunate enough to meet Professor Quynh Nguyen! What moved me most about her was that even though she was very busy with her own work, once she learned about my situation, she would try her best to add extra lessons for me based on my schedule to go over the details of the musical pieces.
If she had not been willing to give me extra lessons at that time, I would definitely not have been able to correct these mistakes in playing techniques and musical expression before the audition date. Because from my understanding to my being able to do it and then to my performing on stage, there would never be any mistakes in this process, and it takes time. And she would give me a certain amount of time to correct some of my problems instead of forcing me to do everything immediately. She could understand me.
I'm very grateful that she didn't impose her own concerns and such emotional issues on me despite knowing that my audition date was very tight. My mental state was actually quite exhausted at that time, and I really needed encouragement. She would always encourage me, but at the same time, she would give me pressure and motivation to complete what I should do. In the professional field, she would never allow me to get by carelessly.
On my birthday that year, she gave me a three-hour professional lesson without wasting a single minute, all about the issues in handling musical works. Even a few days before the audition, she was still sending me messages to emphasize the details I needed to pay attention to. I was also very happy that I managed to get into my ideal music college. I think the result I got is also a worthy return for her cultivation and efforts for me.
Her professionalism is beyond reproach. I have absolute trust in her. Because after I finished the audition, my offer still hadn't arrived, but I did receive an email from my school professor. The gist of it was that my pre-selected video showed a significant difference from my actual performance, and I had made a lot of progress compared to before.
My family and I are always very grateful to Professor Quynh Nguyen. We hope her career will get better and better in the future!
Jiayi Shen
Contact us
Reach out with any questions about lessons, scheduling, or getting started—we’d love to hear from you.
