Our Staff

Philip “Jay Jay” Lim
Teacher and School Manager

Jay Jay Lim received his B.S. from the University of Arizona, his B.M. in Music Therapy from Berklee College of Music, and his M.M. in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University. He has been with Greene Music since 1999.

In addition to teaching for the Greene Music Education Center, he has represented Greene music as a music therapist, facilitating music therapy groups at various residential and assisted living centers throughout San Diego County. He also participated as a research team member in the Yamaha-sponsored Music Making and Wellness project of 2002-2003.

You may find him performing as a jazz pianist at various venues throughout San Diego, including Croce’s, Cafe Libertalia, and Cafe La Maze (National City, CA). He teaches Piano I at Grossmont College, and he is the music director at Park Hill United Methodist Church (Chula Vista, CA). Jay Jay is also a staff member at the Music Therapy Center of California.

Elise Cho

Elise Cho received her B.M. degree from Wheaton College and M.M. degree from Arizona State University with focus on various keyboard instruments including piano, harpsichord, and organ. She has been a certified Yamaha instructor since 1998 and has taught at schools in Arizona, Michigan, and San Diego. She is an active member of Music Teachers’ Association of California and her students have enrolled in the Certificate of Merit. She has been with Greene Music since 2001. As a mother of two young children who have studied in the Yamaha program, she is a strong believer in the system not only as a teacher but also as a parent. One of her passions is choral singing, and she performs regularly at a local church.

Mihoko Nemoto

Mihoko Nemoto received her B.A. from Kunitachi Music College. She has been with Greene Music for over 10 years.

Tanya Djangirov

Mrs. Tanya Djangirov joined Greene Music in 2003. She holds a B.A. and M.M. in Musicology from the Institute of Arts, Bishkek, USSR where she graduated with highest honors.

Before becoming a certified Yamaha instructor, she has served as a professor of music history at Music College in Bishkek (USSR) and as a music director at the Charter School in Kansas City, MO. She is a member of the Music Teachers' Association of California with 25 years of teaching experience.

As a music teacher and the mother of a world renowned jazz pianist, Mrs. Djangirov strongly believes that music is a crucial part of childrens', and for that matter all people's, general education.

Harley Magsino

Harley Magsino is Greene Music’s first guitar instructor and first studied as a child under the Yamaha Education System in the Philippines. He has since completed his B.M. in jazz studies from San Diego State University and finished his M.M. there as well. He is experienced in teaching classical guitar, electric guitar, electric bass guitar, cello, drums, and acoustic bass. You will also find him performing around town in various venues.

Elyse Reed

Elyse Reed has been playing the piano since the age of 3. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Point Loma Nazarene University where she was awarded a Music Department Scholarship, Willow-May Beresford Scholarship for piano, Dean’s Academic Scholarship, and MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Scholarship. She also won first place for her classical piano performance at "MusicFest", South West CAPMT District I.

Elyse has studied with Larry Wagner at Wagner’s World of Music, Ruby Styler, Eula Clark, Myrna Gowing, and Brenda Martin.

Elyse has accompanied for many ensembles, including numerous musical theater productions, musical theater class, gospel choir, concert choir, vocal jazz ensemble, orchestra (harpsichord and piano), ballet, opera workshops, vocal classes, and solo vocalists and instrumentalists.

Elyse comes to Greene Music with a background in teaching both private piano and group lessons, including beginning piano classes at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is pursuing a Masters of Piano Pedagogy at San Diego State University while continuing to accompany and teach.

Yuko Tanigami

Yuko Tanigami has been teaching piano (including both private instruction and Yamaha Music School group courses as a Yamaha Music Education System Certified teacher in the U.S.A. from 1998 until 2008) music composition, music theory, and music history for all ages and levels. She has over 25 years of teaching experience and has taught in both San Diego in California and Tokyo in Japan. She has also taught Yamaha Music Education at public elementary schools in San Diego.

She enjoys teaching children and adults and sees music as a universal language and a tool for expressing and sharing feeling of joy and pain.

Many of her students have won numerous piano competitions and have been invited to perform, including performing their own compositions.

She holds a B.M. degree in piano performance from Tokyo College of Music in Japan and an M.M. degree in piano performance from San Diego State University. She is a member of Music Teachers’ Association of California, Music Teachers National Association, California Association of Professional Teachers, and Musical Merit Foundation of Greater San Diego.

Helena Wei

Helena Wei has toured extensively throughout North America and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician and lecturer. She holds post-graduate degrees in Piano Performance from the University of British Columbia (Canada) and University of Southern California (USA), and A.R.C.T. from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Canada. Prior to her recent move to San Diego, she was a professor of music from the University of the Pacific (USA), and Tunghai University (Taiwan).

Her active performing experiences include staff accompanist at the University of Western Ontario, Stockton Symphony, Cantabella Children’s Chorus, Sycamore Strings, Musical Performance and Communications (sponsored by Arts Council Canada). She also serves on the board of Del Valle Fine Arts’ selection committee.

Ms. Wei has over 25 years of teaching and coaching experience from beginner to advanced performing artist.

Helena Wei is currently available only on weekday mornings.

Julia Oh

Julia Oh completed both a B.S. in Biomedical Science and an equivalency program in Music Therapy at the University of Alabama. It was there that Julia also studied Piano Performance under Dr. Yakov Kasman and received a scholarship in piano performance.

In 2000 and 2001, Julia was the state winner of Alabama Music Teachers Association music competition, and has also won several other regional piano competitions.

Julia completed her Music Therapy Internship at MusicWorx Inc. in San Diego, CA.

Julia has taught in both individual and group settings at the University of Alabama’s Community Music School, Tuscaloosa Magnet School, and Dawson Music Academy.

Kathryn Cheng

Kathryn Cheng is proficient in both piano and cello. Since 2005, she has been giving both private and group lessons in piano performance, repertoire, music theory, technique, musicianship, and sight-reading. She has also taught at the San Diego Music Studio and at Cobb Elementary School, and has served as a music leader, teacher, and coordinator at various churches.

Kathryn received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, Berkley and her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is a member of the Music Teachers’ National Association, and she currently serves on the North San Diego Board of the Music Teachers’ Association of California.

Alice Liu

Alice Liu has been playing the piano since she was 3 years old, starting with the Yamaha Junior Music Course in Taipei, Taiwan. She earned her Master’s degree in Education at the University of San Diego and has received music pedagogy training from the Longy School of Music, has earned certifications from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and has taken undergraduate music courses from Harvard University Extension School. She has taught piano privately to students ranging in age from 4 to adult. While residing in the greater Boston area, Alice hosted five seasons of annual Alice and Friends Collaborative Concerts.

Alice has volunteered much of her time giving performances at nursing homes and performing in various church choirs as well as with the San Diego San Rafael Church Festival Choir.

She is a co-founding member of the Greater San Diego Music Coterie, and currently sings with the Holy Family Parish Choir.

Alina Cheng

Alina Cheng received her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from National Taipei University. She earned her Master of Music in Voice Performance from Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where she was awarded a Music Department Graduate Scholarship. She has also performed in numerous operas. Roles performed by Alina include: “Madame Herz” in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor, “Gilda” in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and “1st Sister” in Puccini’s Suor Angelica.

Alina has been playing the piano since the age of 4 and the violin since the age of 9. During college, she completed an elementary education program and taught music lessons at elementary schools in Taiwan.

Alina is a member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California. She strives to teach and inspire students of all ages and levels.