Experienced, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music

A PIANO TEACHER WITH EXPERIENCE

Since relocating to central Illinois in 2015, Kozue has been operating a large piano studio and actively serving communities by adjudicating music festivals and piano/theory exams, while continuing to teach remotely to students across multiple states and countries. Prior to her and her family’s relocation to Illinois, Kozue spent six years teaching piano lessons in Maple Grove and Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She also was an active member of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA), adjudicating piano competitions and serving on a committee for the MMTA annual convention.

Earlier in her career, Kozue taught undergraduate piano courses at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Music.  During her time in Las Vegas, she also taught private piano lessons and led theory and piano master classes at Music & Arts of Las Vegas, and New York Music Academy.  

Kozue has prepared over 200 students who successfully passed theory/performance examinations administered by Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA), the Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA), and the Nevada Music Teachers Association (NMTA). Her students have received numerous awards in state piano competitions and festivals in Illinois, Minnesota, and Nevada, as well as in Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams and the Upper Midwest Music Festival.

She has also guided students in preparing for college entrance auditions and strengthening their college applications, with acceptances to institutions including Harvard University, Brown University, Northwestern University, Purdue University, University of California Los Angeles, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Minnesota, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Winona State University.

A PIANO TEACHER WITH TWO MASTERS DEGREES

Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree in Japan, Kozue pursued advanced music study at three universities in the United States, earning two Master’s degrees and a Piano Pedagogy Certificate that reflect an integrated focus on performance and pedagogy.

She earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she studied with internationally recognized pianists Dr. Mykola Suk and Dr. Enrico Elisi and served as a piano instructor for undergraduate piano courses. Her graduate work emphasized advanced performance training alongside pedagogical studies.

Prior to this, she completed a Master of Arts in Music at Eastern Illinois University (EIU), where she was awarded a graduate assistantship in piano accompanying. At EIU, she received first prize in piano and second prize overall in the 2006 Peck Music Competition, and studied classical piano with Dr. Susan Teicher and jazz piano with Prof. Paul Johnston, strengthening both her performance versatility and collaborative musicianship.

She also earned a Piano Pedagogy Certificate at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she studied and researched various piano teaching methods.

A PIANO TEACHER WITH A DIVERSE BACKGROUND

Having studied under pianists from Japan, Italy, Ukraine and the United States, Kozue has developed a diverse musical background and an appreciation for cultural and individual differences. She also has experience working with neurodivergent learners, including autistic students, students with ADHD, dyspraxia, down syndrome, dyslexia, and giftedness. Kozue has presented her session "Wired Differently: Teaching Strategies in Music for Supporting Neurodiversity" at the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) annual conference, as well as at PAMTA and BNMTA professional development events. Her teaching emphasizes responsive, student-centered approach that supports diverse neurotypes and identities. She has developed a strong understanding of gifted learners through extensive research, as well as instructional and personal experience supporting their development.

Kozue holds her permanent certificate as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), and she is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA), the Peoria Area Music Teachers Association (PAMTA), and the Bloomington-Normal Music Teachers Association (BNMTA). She has also served as a judge for the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) Festivals, ACT-SO Competition, ISMTA piano and theory exams. 

Contact Kozue Pepper and take piano lessons from an award-winning teacher with years of experience and extensive training, a broad education, and a diverse background.