Tomoko Shimizu

Program Coordinator

Tomoko Shimizu, a pianist and program coordinator from Japan, values pedagogy and tailors programs to motivate students by understanding their individuality. She offers human-centered, creative, and positive musical experiences that stem from her expertise in piano performance and music therapy collaboration.

She started learning the piano at the age of five and solfège at six. She then went to Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, Japan, to focus on piano performance. It was during this time that she became interested in music therapy, inspired by her late mother who loved music. Choosing to pursue this field, she studied Music Therapy at Kurashiki Sakuyo University in Okayama. To enhance her knowledge, she took part in a Neurologic Music Therapy Clinical Workshop at Colorado State University, emphasizing evidence-based scientific research. After graduating, she became a full-time certified music therapist at a nursing home in Japan, specializing in memory care for elderly residents to enhance their quality of life.
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In 2009, she enrolled in Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, to further her passion for music therapy in the United States. During her time there, she was honored with The MIE International Exchange Award from Japan. Following a six-month clinical internship at a nursing home in Connecticut, she earned her B.M. in Music Therapy. In 2014, she relocated to New York, where she discovered music lessons integrated with music therapy to benefit children of all abilities. Music therapy, being an evidence-based therapeutic and educational intervention, involves extensive work with individuals of various backgrounds to help them achieve personal goals. Transitioning smoothly, she began teaching piano, drawing from her expertise in music therapy and piano performance to nurture students' passion and skills.