Meet Our Certified Online Piano Teachers
Our Teaching Philosophy
At Encore Piano Academy, our faculty share a unified approach to piano education grounded in the traditions of Western classical training. Lessons focus on developing strong technical foundations, musical interpretation, and long term artistic growth.
Teachers follow a structured curriculum designed by the Founder, ensuring that students progress through clearly defined stages of learning while maintaining consistency in technique, repertoire selection, and theoretical understanding.
In addition to preparing students for internationally recognised examinations such as those conducted by Trinity College London and ABRSM, our faculty emphasise broader musicianship skills including sight reading, listening, musical expression, and confident performance.
Siddharth
Founder & Director
Teaching Qualifications: Associate of Trinity College London (ATCL) Piano • Grade 8 Rock & Pop Guitar (TCL)
Siddharth is the founder of Encore Piano Academy and has nearly two decades of experience in music education and performance. His mission is to introduce students to the depth and beauty of Western classical music through a structured and thoughtful learning approach.
His musical journey began with the guitar during his college years, where he actively performed as part of a college band and won several inter-collegiate competitions. Alongside these experiences, he developed a growing appreciation for Western classical music, which eventually led him to pursue formal training and earn the Associate Diploma (ATCL) in Piano from Trinity College London.
Before founding Encore Piano Academy, Siddharth spent eight years working in the corporate sector after completing his MBA. During this time, he continued his musical studies and teaching, eventually choosing to dedicate himself fully to music education. Encore was established with the vision of creating a structured, high-quality online learning environment where students can experience serious musical training regardless of their location.
In addition to teaching and curriculum development, Siddharth is also active as a composer, drawing inspiration from composers such as Bach, Chopin, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich. His work blends classical traditions with contemporary influences, reflecting his broader interest in musical exploration and creativity.
He is currently pursuing the Licentiate Diploma in Piano and continues to develop Encore’s curriculum to help students progress from beginner levels to advanced performance standards.
Our Faculty Selection Process
Encore Piano Academy deliberately maintains a small, carefully curated team of piano educators. Teachers undergo a rigorous evaluation process that assesses their musical qualifications, teaching ability, and alignment with our structured curriculum approach. Only a small percentage of applicants are invited to join the Encore faculty.
Beyond the selection stage, teaching quality is continuously reviewed through lesson monitoring, student progress reports, and regular academic oversight from the Lead Teacher & Founder. This ensures that every student receives consistently high standards of instruction across the academy.
Riaz
Lead Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Grade 8 Piano (TCL)
Riaz is an accredited and highly motivating music teacher who has over the span of a decade guided numerous students across the globe and of all age groups from 6 to 60+. As a creative composer, songwriter and music producer, he records original songs, instrumental music and commercial jingles at his studio. He also has been associated with Yamaha Music India as a trainer and demonstrator for their digital piano category.
Sonal
Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Grade 8 Piano (TCL)
Sonal is a classically trained pianist with over a decade of experience in performance and music education. An alumna of Delhi University and Trinity College London, she specialises in solo piano and music theory, and is currently pursuing the ATCL Recital in Classical Piano.
Since 2009, she has been a held senior positions in leading music schools of Delhi, teaching and mentoring hundreds of students. Her performance career includes appearances across India and abroad – at venues like The Oberoi, The Lodhi, and the Echo Summer Academy in Budapest. She has collaborated with leading institutions such as the British School, Vasant Valley, and the American Embassy School, and regularly accompanies vocalists and instrumentalists.
Notable performances include appearances for YES Bank’s Mr. Rana Kapoor, fashion designer Manish Malhotra, and as lead pianist at the Hindustan Times Delhi’s Most Stylish Awards and SURKHAAB, a Dubai-based couture event.
Joel
Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Grade 8 Piano (TCL)
Teaching music is Joel’s passion. He delights in guiding students on their musical journeys, helping them uncover their talents. Immersed in music from a young age, he has refined his skills under experienced mentors in classical and contemporary music. With a deep appreciation for diverse musical styles, he advocates for a holistic approach to education, encouraging exploration across genres. He is currently working towards his diploma while also delving in new musical styles, believing that ongoing learning is essential for both as a musician and teacher.
Sreyanshi
Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Grade 8 Piano (ABRSM) • Grade 5 Music Theory (ABRSM)
Born in a family with deeply rooted Hindustani Classical traditions, her introduction to the piano began at the age of 8, largely due to the push from her parents who were both Western classical pianists. What started as an extra curricular activity slowly became the focal point in Sreyanshi’s career when she gave up her corporate job after five years and took to teaching music full time. Having passed ABRSM Grade 8 as a young school student in 2001, Sreyanshi started teaching piano from 2006 while still in college. With over 18 years of piano teaching experience, Sreyanshi is currently engaged as a piano and vocal music teacher at various reputed institutions in the musically rich city of Kolkata.
Meenal
Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Grade 7 Piano (TCL) • Grade 8 Piano [exp. 2026]
Meenal’s earliest connection with music has always been through singing, a passion she has nurtured since childhood. Trained in both Hindustani and Western vocals, she later found a profound connection with the piano and is now a classically trained pianist.
Her journey with the instrument began after earning a Foundation degree in Music from KM Conservatory, Chennai, where she felt inspired to take up piano performance as her major after witnessing a heartfelt performance by one of her professors. She also holds a Master’s degree in Psychology, which deepens her ability to interpret, express, and evoke the emotional landscapes within music.
Over the past 1.5 years, she has guided young musicians as a dedicated piano teacher, while continuing to earn distinctions in her own studies. A former member of a professional choir; She has also performed at an international summer concert in Budapest, Hungary.
Sriram
Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Licentiate in Music Theory (LMusTCL) • Associate of Trinity College London Piano(ATCL)
Being a dedicated music theorist and pianist, Sriram shares a bond with Western art music, which is something beyond emotional; one that is rather philosophical. With a primary focus on building repertoire with underexplored works of well-known composers, he is also deeply invested in understanding form theory and learning counterpoint, fugue writing & orchestration. He aims to share his knowledge of the piano literature through creative pedagogical approaches.
Saineeta
Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Grade 6 in Piano (TCL) • Grade 7 Piano (TCL) [Exp. 2026]
Saineeta began her musical journey with the electronic keyboard and completed keyboard examinations up to Grade 6 before pursuing piano with a strong focus on Western classical music. She has trained under multiple tutors and has taught several students, shaping a teaching approach that draws on the best of her diverse learning experiences. She also holds a Master’s degree in Design, during which she developed skills in music composition and music production for visual media, and she has won multiple instrumental competitions at the college level. Alongside piano teaching, she continues to compose and produce music, with the aim of inspiring and positively impacting students through music.
Goutham
Piano Faculty
Teaching Qualifications: Grade 5 in Piano (TCL) • Grade 5 in Music Theory (TCL) • Grade 8 Piano (TCL) [Exp. 2027]
Teaching is where Goutham’s heart truly resides; he thrives on captivating students and igniting inspiration within them. While he possesses a strong foundation in Western Classical music, he has also comes experience in the music industry. He has contributed as an assistant music composer for Tamil and Telugu films, including the recent Tamil film “FIR”. His passion lies in folk music, particularly within the Tamil folk genre.
TCL = Trinity College London
ABRSM = Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music