Piano Lessons with Emiko Ohara-Walsh 

Emiko Ohara-Walsh is a classically trained jazz pianist and educator. Born in Japan, Emiko started piano lesson at the age of five. In addition to traditional piano lessons, she took Suzuki Method lessons, with the philosophy that every child can learn to play music and appreciate beauty of music by listening to and experiencing it daily. As a child she also played clarinet and started exploring different styles of music while performing with a pop/rock band. She then began studies with Professor Shigeru Hisamoto at Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo, studying classical piano. She later studied Dalcroze Eurhythmics at Kunitachi College of Music to foster her interest in different styles of music and expanding musical horizons. Dalcroze’s method is to listen to and appreciate music using the mind and body to understand and develop freely in one’s own musical ideas. This experience led her to then study jazz improvisation, composing and arranging music, and then become a ballet pianist. She received her Bachelors degree in Eurhythmics and Music Education, and received teaching certification in Tokyo. She visited New York and immediately inspired by New York City jazz scene. She decided to stay in New York City and started to study jazz piano with Phil Marcowitz and Doug Weiss at Mannes School of Music/The New School. She then studied with legendary jazz pianist Sir. Roland Hanna at Queens College (CUNY) where she received her Masters degree in Jazz Performance. She currently performs as a jazz musician, and can be heard with her husband Saxophonist Danny Walsh. The Danny Walsh band performs jazz classics, contemporary jazz, R&B classics and original material throughout New York City. She has been teaching piano in NYC for 18 years and also she is a skilled piano accompanist for ballet classes.