Danni Zhang, 18 – Operational Business
Dr. Mi
Malden, Massachusetts

"I am confident that I can make Dr. Mi a nationally recognized company, famous for teaching classical instruments with the newest technology."

Danni Zhang is the owner and CEO of Dr. Mi, a service which teaches piano lessons with technology as well as traditional in-person instruction. Danni complements her piano lessons with MP3 recordings that her students can take home. The students listen to Danni’s rendition of the music and then to their own, tuning their ear to the sound of the music. They can also access upcoming lessons on Danni’s website.

Danni participated in the NFTE program at Charlestown High School in Boston. Her business plan for Dr. Mi won first place in the NFTE New England regional business plan competition, and Danni competed in the NFTE/Smith Barney National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

“My mission is simple—to cure your piano fear and make it fun!” she says. Danni was inspired by her early experiences in piano lessons, especially by the famous teacher in Beijing who “hit me with fly swatters and chopsticks,” she says. She wondered why piano lessons couldn’t be more fun. In researching her business she interviewed Edward Perkins, a piano teacher who studied at Julliard. Mr. Perkins told her he used to tape record his lessons and listen to them. “His idea got me to think about using additional tools to teach music,” Danni says.

Danni plans to expand her business by hiring her brother. She currently donates 40 lessons per year and a percentage of her profits to the YWCA, as well as paying 10% of her profit as rent to her parents. She has received a number of academic awards including an Abigail Adams Scholarship, and hopes to attend Babson College.