Gerard - Violin

Gerard began playing the violin when he was 10. He started out learning from his dad, who was a famous cellist in the South Indian Film Industry. Gerard turned professional at the age of 15. Before moving to Australia in 1990, Gerard had a 9-year stint in the South Indian Film Industry, collaborating with renowned music directors like MS Visvanathan and Illayaraja. He was also part of the Madras Chamber Orchestra for a few years.

Studying the violin and later the viola here in Sydney, Australia, under Roslyn Streckfus's tutelage. Gerard completed his A Mus A in both instruments. He's had lots of experience playing in community and chamber orchestras in Sydney over the years.

Gerard is a devout Christian and has been part of several churches, both in India and here in Sydney. He has featured in many Hillsong albums over the years, including the 2018 Grammy Award winning lead song, What A Beautiful Name, from the album "Let There Be Light". Gerard is a teacher who deeply cares about inspiring his students through music. Through positive reinforcement, Gerard supports the development of a young student. He uses the Bible and its teachings as the underlying basis to create an enjoyable environment that fosters a genuine interest and positive attitude towards learning music.

Abhishek - Piano, Guitar

Abhishek's been playing guitar and piano for over 10 years and has 5 years of music production experience. He's almost done with his Bachelor's degree in Music Production and composition from the Australian Institute of Music.

He has arranged and performed music for ensembles and has extensive experience working with church choir teams. Abhishek's been teaching guitar and piano for over 5 years, working with students of all ages. He possesses a sound knowledge of music production and sound engineering, having recorded and scored music for songs, advertisements, and short films. Known for his unique teaching approach, Abhishek ensures every student enjoys a fun and engaging learning journey.

Eric - Piano

With over 16 years of experience as a classically trained pianist, Eric has been teaching at Sydney Music School Toongabbie since 2020. Eric's exceptional talent and dedication to his instrument and its art were evident as he attained a tie for first place in his HSC music 1 cohort, achieving a remarkable HSC mark of 96/100.

Eric possesses extensive teaching experience, catering to students of various ages and proficiency levels, ranging from young beginners to Y12 students preparing for their HSC exams. Several previous students have embarked on careers as piano instructors.

His teaching philosophy centers on instilling a passion for music in his students, using a flexible approach that incorporates an array of musical skills, including theory, composition, and improvisation. Eric guides students to empower themselves, maximize their abilities, and cultivate a holistic view of music.

Kelly - Piano

Kelly is from Indonesia, a country where diverse cultures and music come together. Music has played a significant role in shaping her life. From a young age, she was constantly surrounded by it.

Kelly was involved in several piano recitals and competitions specifically for solo piano. She maintains the opinion that playing music in a group is the most enjoyable and intriguing. She conducted a choir of around 15 people for a high school competition, singing "Manuk Dadali" (The Mighty Eagle/Garuda), a folk song from West Java, Indonesia.

She has successfully passed her ABRSM Piano grade exams. Being familiar with the classical repertoire, she pays meticulous attention to detail and dedicates significant time to technical training. In the end, Kelly believes that music should still be enjoyable.

Rachel - Piano

Rachel is a dedicated and patient piano teacher, who began playing the piano from a young age, with over 13 years of experience. Having completed numerous AMEB examinations, Rachel is well-versed in both performance and theory, ensuring a comprehensive musical education for all students.

Rachel also achieved a Band 6 in HSC Music 1, which equipped her with an in-depth understanding of musical concepts and knowledge on how to apply them in practice. Despite being classically trained, Rachel plays a wide range of music at her church, consistently expanding her musical repertoire.

Whether teaching the basics or preparing students for exams, she cultivates a love for music and tailors lessons to meet each student's individual needs. Rachel shares her joy of music by fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment for students of all levels.

Joshua - Violin

Joshua started learning the violin at the age of 9 in India as an after school activity. When he moved to Australia, he restarted his learning journey at the age of 11 and has been persistently learning it ever since.

He successfully passed his 8th grade AMEB repertoire exam and has been playing for over 10 years. He is well-versed in classical music and often performs in church. In addition, he has had the opportunity to play with the Strathfield and Penrith Symphony Orchestra. Joshua, an enthusiastic and patient teacher, aims to impart his knowledge to the next generation of violinists, encouraging them to pursue different avenues with their abilities.

Kaitlin - Piano, Guitar

Kaitlin has been teaching piano and guitar for 11 years. Her musical journey began at the age of 8 with piano, followed by guitar at 13. She has earned AMEB Piano for Leisure Grade 8 and AMEB Classical Guitar Grade 5. Additionally; she has earned a Bachelor's degree in Music and a Master's degree in Teaching.

Kaitlin's music education background drives her efforts to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of music among all students, fostering their confidence as they advance in their musical pursuits. The emphasis of her teaching approach lies in fostering a sense of ease and comfort among students, achieved through her patient and encouraging disposition. By harnessing her deep passion for music, Kaitlin endeavours to exhibit to students the delightful and enriching experience of learning music.

Steffina - Piano

Steffina's passion for music began at a young age, as she grew up in a household filled with music played by her father and elder siblings. Her father, Gerard recognized her natural talent and became her first piano teacher. Steffina's dedication and hard work allowed her to progress quickly, and by the time she was a teenager, she was already performing at local events and at school functions.

As Steffina continued her musical journey, she realized her love for sharing her knowledge with others. At the age of 14, she started teaching. Her warm and joyful approach to teaching quickly made her a favorite among her students and their parents. Steffina believes that music should be a source of joy and expression, and she strives to create a positive and encouraging environment for her students.

Currently, Steffina is actively preparing for her AMEB Grade 8 exam, a significant milestone in her musical education. She is determined to excel in this exam and further enhance her skills as a pianist. She plans to complete a Bachelor of Music degree once she finishes her HSC in 2026. Steffina's goal is to expand her knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of music theory and performance, allowing her to become an even better teacher.

Peter – Guitar, Bass and Piano

Peter is an accomplished contemporary guitarist and gifted songwriter, as well as a talented sound engineer and teacher.

Having recorded, produced and co-written with Jay Parrino (Channel 7's "All Together Now" judge) and performed with Tara Browne ("The Voice" Ireland) he is also a versatile performer. His versatility extends to other instruments having begun the Suzuki method of piano at the age of 4, played bass guitar in the musical HMS Pinafore and he also studied singing and the drums.

Peter bolstered his Steinberg Certificate in Cubase with a Diploma of Sound Production from Ultimo Tafe learning from contemporary industry greats such as Herm Kovac ("Ted Mulray Gang" drummer and "Divinyls" producer) and Mitchell Hart ("Metallica" PA designer). He loves songwriting and recording in his home studio.

Peter won the prize for music in his HSC at St Aloysius College before going onto a BMus at UNSW in Performance and Composition graduating in 2000 where he topped his course in the final year for composition. His expertise in contemporary guitar performance techniques led him to write a thesis on this topic at UNSW. Peter is passionate about passing his enthusiasm for music onto his students and hopes music will enrich their lives as it's done for him.