I live and teach in San Francisco. My students range from 5 to 81 years of age. I love teaching them all. Though I've had many students major in piano and attend conservatories like the Juilliard School, my real love is teaching quirky, bright kids who will probably not make their living as musicians. Instead, music will become a healthy, wonderful part of their lives forever.
I also enjoy teaching adults. Currently my adult students include total beginners, avocational pianists who play at an advanced level, and piano teachers who want to improve their own playing. Most of the avocational students have advanced degrees in other fields: Medicine, Chemical Engineering, and Education, for example. These students have opportunities to perform for each other four times at year in a low-key, friendly atmosphere.
I made my Carnegie Hall debut in 1991. I was the first woman to become a Fellow of the American Pianist Association and in 1982 I won the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist Competition. I attended the Julliard School and earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California where I studied with John Perry. I also earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music where I was a student of Leon Fleisher. I have more than 40 recordings of standard piano teaching repertoire. I co-wrote the series, Piano Town, a 20 volume series for beginning piano students ages 7 - 10.
I write a Facebook page, Diane Hidy's Piano Teaching Tips where I share my experience with other teachers.
Sometimes I perform with the Bay Area Theater Sports Company (BATS) at Fort Mason where I improvise entire musicals on the spur of the moment. Occasionally I play for musical theater, most recently collaborating with Tony award winner Bebe Neuwirth in her show Here Lies Jenny.