Teachers | Vivace Piano Studio

Emily Zheng

Dr. Zheng maintains an active career as both a teacher and a pianist. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she is a dedicated music educator passionate about helping students reach their full potential. Dr. Zheng is committed to creating a supportive, engaging, and inspiring learning environment for every student.

In her piano teaching, Dr. Zheng tailors her approach to each student’s individual needs and learning style. She believes that learning the piano should be an enjoyable and creative journey—one that nurtures self-listening, imagination, and effective practice habits from the very beginning. Viewing music as a special language that evokes emotion and imagination, she encourages students to express their unique artistic voices through performance.

Dr. Zheng also emphasizes the development of well-rounded musicians by introducing music theory early and integrating technical training to establish a solid foundation. She has extensive experience teaching students of all ages and levels. Her students have received awards in numerous local competitions, including the PNW Piano Competition, the Russian Chamber Music Competition, PAPF, and SIPF Bach/Classical/Romantic Festivals, among others. Several of her students have also been prizewinners in international competitions, with some performing at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, many of her students have earned distinctions in ABRSM and RCM piano examinations and built strong portfolios for college applications under her guidance.

Dr. Zheng earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Washington and a Master of Music degree from Bowling Green State University, where she was awarded a full scholarship and served as a teaching assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education (Piano) from China. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in a research project titled “How Music Affects Early Childhood Development” and taught in local schools. Over the years, she has performed in cities across China, as well as in Chicago, Toledo, and Seattle, and has participated in various music festivals. Her principal teachers include Robin McCabe, Robert Satterlee, Logan Skelton, and Haewon Song.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Zheng enjoys spending time with her family, exploring different coffee spots, hiking, and traveling.

Benjamin Markin

Ben Markin is a life-long musician, and classically trained pianist/composer. He earned his degree with a focus in composition from Cornish College of the Arts, where he studied under Jarrad Powell and Dr. Peter Mack. In addition, he has earned both local and national awards in music composition through the organizations Joyful Noise and The Choral Project.

He has extensive experience writing, teaching, and performing classical and jazz styles, and specializes in piano and choral composition. He believes in developing a versatile and multi-faceted performer, integrating music theory, analysis, and refining a deeply expressive skill set. His goal is to aid young artists in developing self-sufficiency and a comprehensive understanding of the language that is music. In this, he hopes to inspire an ever-present commitment to and a life-long relationship with music.

Ben believes in helping students discover what speaks to them, writing custom arrangements of their favorite pieces suited to their skill level. These are used to further technical proficiency and apply learned concepts to songs that students are genuinely interested in. His experience in teaching extends to all ages. He believes that we are all artists and that we are all capable of finding both an expressive voice and a sense of self through music.

Boheng Wang

Boheng Wang is a pianist and music educator born in Jinan, China, whose musical inspiration is deeply shaped by her exploration of the world. Passionate about sharing music through collaborating, teaching, and lifelong learning, she is known for her engaging teaching and performing style. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano at the University of Washington under the guidance of Dr. Robin McCabe.

She holds a Master’s degree in piano performance from the University of Houston, where she studied under Dr. Tali Morgulis. In 2023, her performance and presentation, “Femmes de Légende,” won first prize in the inaugural Creative Pianist Competition at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. She was an active performer in the Houston area and has given performances at the Steinway Selection Center, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Methodist Hospital, and various churches and private events. As a dedicated teacher, she has presented at the MTNA Forum chapter led by Nancy Weems and served as an active member.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in piano performance with honors from the University of Colorado Boulder, studying with Dr. Andrew Cooperstock. During her undergraduate studies at CU Boulder, she also pursued harpsichord and voice as secondary instruments, actively participated in the CU Boulder Early Music Ensemble, and served as treasurer for the Collegiate Chapter of MTNA at CU Boulder. Her contributions to the “Hidden Voices Project” led by Dr. Alejandro Cremaschi included recording pieces by African American female composers and writing essays on the pedagogical value of these compositions. She also premiered works by CU Boulder composers at the Pendulum New Music concert.

Boheng believes that listening to and understanding each student’s needs is essential to providing meaningful and effective guidance. Recognizing the diversity of cultural backgrounds and learning styles, she offers flexible learning paces tailored to each student. She is committed to adapting her curriculum and teaching methods to create the most effective and personalized learning path for every individual.