photo by Zhaoyin Wang
teaching Philosophy
I am deeply fascinated by the human voice and believe in its potential as the ultimate instrument. As a voice teacher, I view singing as a lifelong process of learning and exploration. With a strong awareness of the importance of proper guidance, I teach with clear intention. I help students understand the basic physiology of singing, cultivate awareness of the mind and body as an integrated instrument, and develop habits that support long-term vocal health.
Equally central to my teaching is supporting students in discovering their unique musical identity. As a jazz educator, I prioritize ear training and deep listening over memorizing licks or abstract theory that lacks practical application. By focusing on the most fundamental elements of music, I aim to teach students the language of music itself—so they can express their ideas freely, honestly, and with confidence.
Rather than following a fixed agenda, I tailor my teaching to the individual needs, goals, and learning pace of each student. I guide them in identifying their immediate next steps and setting achievable milestones at every stage of their development. Regardless of a student’s aspirations, my goal is to foster self-motivation, curiosity, and a sustainable practice rooted in self-awareness and self-care.
study with me
I am a current faculty member at The New School of Jazz and New York Jazz Workshop. I have limited availability for private students too, just reach out!
I work with students from beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels. Teaching topics include:
Functional vocal techniques
Song-styling/song interpretations
Stage presence
Jazz repertoire
Jazz music theory
Ear training/Solfège
Composition/Songwriting
Vocal improvisation
Basic piano skills for vocalists
Band-leading techniques for vocalists
Sibelius
and more
Lessons are available both in English and Mandarin Chinese.
FROM MY STUDENTS
“You have shown me a world of music that I’ve never seen before. You’re not only a teacher to me, but also a dear friend that I can discuss music with. We have covered so many interesting topics including music theory, musical styles, as well as vocal techniques. It always makes me happy to talk about music with you and exchange thoughts with you.”
— Hana Q. (Singer-Songwriter)“Before I met you, I always felt insecure about playing music and a bit stuck in the learning progress. When we first started working together, I was so eager to see some instant improvements. Yet after studying with you for some time, my mindset has changed and I was finally able to put my ego aside and focus on learning the fundamentals of music. I believe in your approach because I can see your love, passion, and respect for music, and on top of that - your genuine care about my progress. Lessons with you are not just learning the basics. Much more importantly, you taught me to think independently and approach music in my own way. It humbles me and motivates me at the same time.”
— Katie Wang (Singer-Songwriter)“I've been taking vocal lessons with Chenxi for 3 months now. At first I went to her because of a voice strain and was feeling frustrated and stuck. Leading a band and teaching music, I depend a lot on my voice, which felt fragile and unreliable to me at the time.
Chenxi introduced me to voice therapy techniques that were helpful for warming up and reducing tension. She also encouraged me to trust my own body to tell me my limits instead of setting limits for myself. I have a note she wrote for me on my mirror as a daily reminder.
Chenxi is a skilled teacher who uses creative and imaginative exercises in class to help students feel comfortable and loose. She's not afraid to let herself go, which enables her students to let go of themselves and explore sound-making freely. Over the past 3 months, I learned how to manage my voice strain and how to actively prevent it, I'm more comfortable with my mixed voice, and I've developed a more reliable vibrato, which has always been a dream of mine.
Beyond teaching, Chenxi inspires me with her love for music and self-expression. She has shown me the importance of self-compassion and the permission to just be who I am, imperfections and all.”
— Yuexi Wei (Singer-Songwriter, Music Teacher)
“Something you taught me in our very first lesson has fundamentally changed the way I listen to music. You pointed out to me the importance of getting inside the lyrics and the story of the song, and everything suddenly made sense. That was a lesson I will never forget.”
— Erin Mahai (Jazz Vocalist)“Chenxi is uniquely intuitive in creating individualized learning journeys, tailored to a student’s specific needs and style. From my experience as her student, she’s designed effective coaching systems for me that go far beyond simple knowledge delivery.
When we met in 2025, I had been a jazz vocalist for three years but was struggling with pitch accuracy, chord recognition, music theory integration, and more. Previous learning experiences couldn’t help me break through; these fundamentals are often the hardest to teach/to learn, and I felt desperately stuck.
I first heard Chenxi at JZ Huanglou, one of China’s most renowned jazz clubs. Her accurate, artistic singing immediately revealed her solid foundation in music theory and deep aesthetic explorations. After one private lesson, we began weekly ear-training virtual sessions soon after she went back to NYC. Thanks to her professional methodology, strict criteria, and unparalleled patience, my pitch improved significantly during performances, and I myself enjoyed what I heard a lot more. I also began visualizing a keyboard in my mind, forming a clear auditory-visual sense of intervals and scales. The progress was gradual, but the changes were profoundly real.
Chenxi shares the kind of super detailed "know-how"s only an unreserved educator can provide. Being a young and aspiring musician herself, she offers advice as a talented peer who truly empathizes with the student. She understands the psychology of learning, transforming her own experiences into effective problem-solving tools. She has become not just a great teacher to me, but also a good friend and comrade in the long journey of music.
And I have to add one more thing. Chenxi is a true artist with a pure, passionate heart. I believe this is the most captivating influence a teacher can offer. She is also an adorable person who loves a good laugh; our routine ear training sessions became the highlight of my week.
Filled with gratitude, I wholeheartedly recommend Chenxi to anyone wishing to learn jazz and master music from its very core. And I cherish the prospect of continuing my journey under her guidance for a long time.”
— Emilie Siran Gao (Jazz Vocalist)