Student Achievements:

Students have been winning concerto competitions and perform with various orchestras

throughout the years —

William Sallomi, Weber Concerto op.75, mvmt ll and lll

Sonny Young, Rossini Concerto, mvmt l

Gregor Dairaghi and Allen Zhou, Vanhal Double Concerto, mvmt l

Samuel Troxell and Sean Martin, Vanhal Double Concerto, mvmt l and lll

Isaac Lee, Hummel Concerto, mvmt lll

Theo Clarke, Weber Concerto, mvmt lll

Kimoon Bae, Weber Andante and Rondo, op.35

Students have been consistently taking one third to one fourth of the Bassoon chairs in All-State Honor Band in California.

Reviews About My Teachings:

“Yueh has been a fantastic teacher throughout the seven years I’ve studied with her. I’ve always looked up to her for her guidance and dedication. She helped connect me with local youth orchestras, summer programs, and other valuable opportunities that shaped my growth as a musician. Her reeds are consistently reliable, easy to play on, and affordable. Most importantly, she is incredibly welcoming and always committed to helping her students reach their full potential. I couldn’t recommend her more highly.”

-Adam Erlebacher, student

“I have been a student of Dr. Chou since July 2019. I didn’t know anything about the bassoon when I first started. Since then, I have grown to be a proficient bassoon player thanks to Dr. Chou. She has been with me every step of the way in my bassoon journey. I wouldn’t have been able to get into the California All-State ensembles or California Youth Symphony without her teaching and coaching. She does an excellent job at helping me refine the details in my playing, and giving constructive feedback in what I can improve. She brings out the passion of music in me, holds me accountable, and motivates me to continue learning and playing the bassoon, which I will be doing as I will be going off to college soon."

-Omkar Perinkulam, student

“We’re so grateful to have found the best bassoon teacher in the Bay Area. She has helped our son reach his full potential and discover a true love for the bassoon. When he first started, he couldn’t even make a sound no matter how hard he tried, but through her patience and encouragement, everything changed. Now he plays with confidence and joy, and was even selected to perform with the 2025 California All-State Ensembles. We can’t thank her enough for inspiring him and helping him grow, both as a musician and as a person.”

-Christine Lee, student’s parent

"While it is easy to recognize the talent of a teacher when a student is thriving, I firmly believe a teacher’s true skill becomes most visible when a student is struggling and searching for someone to guide them through the lows. My daughter has been a student of Dr. Chou since 2021. As an 11-year-old with no prior musical training, she made remarkable early progress, earning first chair at the all-state band in her second year and gaining acceptance into the pre-college program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. However, in 2024 my daughter reached a difficult point. Her focus wavered, her confidence dipped, and she was, at one stage, ready to walk away from her bassoon entirely. It was during this period that Dr. Chou’s exceptional presence as a teacher truly shined. With calmness, patience, and unwavering steadiness, she helped my daughter reset, reminding her that meaningful progress comes through structured practice and a grounded mindset. Her guidance not only brought my daughter back but helped her rebuild her confidence, to the point where she earned a position in the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.Throughout her journey, Dr. Chou has been far more than a teacher; she has been a mentor, a role model, and a steady influence. She has helped my daughter develop not only musical skill but disciplined learning habits, resilience, and a healthy relationship with practice. Her ability to create a supportive, non-competitive, and low-pressure environment has allowed my daughter to learn, improve, and genuinely enjoy her musical path.We are deeply grateful for the consistency, care, and thoughtful guidance Dr. Chou brings to every lesson. Her impact on my daughter’s musical and personal growth has been profound, and we hold her contributions in the highest regard."

-Malyadri Jaladanki, student parent

“Dr. Yueh Chou's annual Bassoon Academy West studio recital is by far the most well-organized and the most beautiful studio recital that I have ever attended, including all of the studio recitals of my daughter's piano and violin groups when she was a pre-college student at SFCM.  Although my daughter graduated in 2017, we have never missed the bassoon studio recital since 2014 and we look forward to this musical feast every year. Dr. Chou's usual attention to detail shows in every aspect of this annual showcase of her students' talents,  from the preparation of the students, to the nicely designed program and even the after-recital reception. It really is wonderful to see how the students grow musically every year. For her very lucky students, Dr. Chou is an excellent teacher and a friend for life.”

-Prof. Gundes, UC Davis

“Dr. Chou is undoubtedly the best private bassoon teacher in Northern and Central California. Her students consistently win 25% or more of available positions in the highly competitive California All-State ensembles and have for several consecutive years. She is a sought-after master teacher because of her high standards, rigor, and devotion. Her students occupy most of the positions in SF Bay Area youth orchestras where they also win solo young artist competitions. Dr. Chou was by far the best bassoon professor I worked with in my 34.5-year tenure at San Jose State University. She was the ONLY instructor who actually cultivated and built a studio that drew students from all over California.  I witnessed her remarkable ability to mold mature musicians out of all levels of entering students. The studio had a wonderfully collaborative “esprit de corps” due to her encouragement and example as well as her development of a bassoon ensemble. Look out for her new weeklong bassoon summer day camp, which was a resounding success in its first year in Woodside, California!”

-Dr. Janet Averett, Professor Emerita San Jose State University

“Yueh is an outstanding musician and high-quality educator. She is organized, responsive, and creative. In lessons, she has inspired me to improve and apply constructive and thoughtful strategies to practice. In performance, she is a true collaborator who plays with expressive beauty and technical prowess.”

-Dr. Troy Davis,  West Valley College Director