Tian Tian began her piano training at the age of four in her native China. Upon arriving in the United States, she studied with Logan Skelton and quickly began amassing top prizes at national and international competitions. These included 2nd prize at the MTNA Baldwin Junior High school Piano Competition, 2nd prize at the Cooper International Piano Competition (Oberlin), 1st prize at the Idyllwild Arts Academy Young Artist Competition, 2nd prize at the Missouri Southern International Competition, and 3rd place at the Eastman Young Artists International Piano Competition.

Tian continued her training at the Juilliard School, where she received B.M. and M.M. degrees under the tutelage of Robert McDonald. In Fall 2011, Tian completed a D.M.A. in Piano Performance and Literature with a minor in Chamber Music and Accompanying at the Eastman School of Music where she was a student of (and served as teaching assistant to) Nelita True. Tian maintains a busy performance schedule in the U.S and abroad. She has been a guest artist at music festivals such as the 2024 Sicily Orbifold Musica Festival, Brancaleoni International Music Festival and Garth Newel Music Center. She has also appeared as a soloist with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony and the Idyllwild Chamber Orchestra and performed with the Studzinsky Trio in the US, China and Korea. Recently, Tian has been invited to read, edit and test perform Gershwin Song arrangements by Logan Skelton. Tian is an Associate Professor of Piano and the area coordinator at Oakland University. Prior to that, she was on the faculty of the University of Central Missouri. Her students have repeatedly performed well in competitions and festivals. Since 2008, she has returned to China annually to present concerts, lectures and masterclasses, which have earned her the title of Honorary Professor at Shandong Normal University and Yunnan Institute for the Arts (in 2008), Shaoxing Academy of the Arts (2009), Weifang Academy, Mudanjiang Teacher’s University, Ludong University, Qufu University (2010), Qingdao University (2012), and Shandong University of Technology (2015).