WHO WE ARE
Our Teachers
GUITAR TEACHERS
Gianni Michelini
Instruments: Guitar, Voice, Artist Mentoring, Songwriting, Music Theory
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Classical Guitar Performance), Masters of Audio Engineering & Production, AMEB AmusA in Classical Guitar
Gianni already has many accolades to his name, including Best Artist at the ABC Music Awards, Best male Vocalist (ABC Music awards), Broadcasters Choice (ABC Music Awards), APRA Songwriter of the Year, and Best Instrumental Artist In Australia at the MusicOz Awards.
ABC/ Universal Music Recording contract led to his acclaimed album "feel the music"
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Gian’s unique mixture of soul fuelled pop vocals streaked with virtuosic Spanish influenced guitar playing is what has made him stand out and given him the chance to share the stage with legendary artists Sheila E, Grammy nominated songwriter and producer Paul Pederson (Prince, The Corrs, George Benson), Ricky Pederson (John Mayer, George Benson), blues legend Eric Bibb, recently with Academy Award winner Russell Crowe and Australian music legend Marcia Hines in their music video Remedy.
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Gianni was a partner in the education arm of Abbey Road Studios and acted as Australian CEO for the Abbey Road Institute. Gianni has also been director of the largest recording studio in the Southern Hemisphere Studios 301
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Gianni has also founded and is CEO of National Music Academy Pakistan as part of his philanthropic endeavour to spread quality music education.
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Specialisations: Classical, flamenco, fingerstyle, singer-songwriter, RnB, Pop, Artist Mentoring and Music Industry Specialist
Availability: Monday - Friday Newcastle Campus - Available Mon- Fri at the Newcastle Campus.
Thursday NEPS
Mitchell Cordingley
Instruments: Guitar
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music Majoring in guitar performance, Currently studying Masters of Secondary Education, Band 6 in HSC Music 1
Specialisations: Acoustic looping, Fingerstyle, Rock, Blues, Pop, Country and Jazz
Availability: Tuesdays & Wednesdays Newcastle Campus - Spots Available!
Adam Osmanovic
Instruments: Guitar, Ukulele
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music, Over 10 years teaching experience
Specialisations: Blues, Rock
Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Macquarie College
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Newcastle (Full)
Wednesday HSPA
Damien 'DJ' Cotton
Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Saxophone, Clarinet, Music Production, Music Theory
Experience/Qualifications: Over a decade performance experience as a soloist, band member and band leader on guitar, vocals, clarinet and saxophone.
Owner and manager of Billy Hyde Music Retail and Recording studio in Newcastle (Now Tommirock Studios)
8 Years in Music & Music Technology Education Specialisation.
Specialisations: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Woodwind Tuition
Availability: Thursday Rutherford - Currently accepting Woodwind Students or Advanced Guitarists only.
Tuesdays Newcastle (Full)
Aaron White
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Songwriting, Artist Mentoring, Music Theory
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Bass Performance)
Singer-songwriter and original performing artist as well as bass player for covers and originals bands.
Specialisations: Jazz, Funk, Pop, Blues, Rock
Availability: Monday & Tuesday Newastle Campus - Spots Available!
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Donovan Taylor
Instruments: Guitar, Music Theory
Experience/Qualifications: Currently studying Bachelor of Music – Classical Guitar Performance at Newcastle University
2016 Acacia String Quartet Composition Winner
Tesseract Classical Guitar Quartet Member
Member of Obsolution (Death Metal Band)
Specialisations: Classical, Heavy Metal
Availability: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday Macquarie College
Tuesday & Thursday Newcastle (Full)
PIANO TEACHERS
Rachel Cox
Instruments: Voice, Piano, Songwriting, Artist Mentoring, Music Theory, HSC Music
Experience/Qualifications:
- AMEB Grades in Classical Piano, Musicianship and Voice.
- Currently Studying a Certificate Teacher Of Music through AMEB, as well as continued lessons in voice and piano. Rachel also continually attends workshops, webinars and conferences for professional development and has been a speaker at Bigsound Music Conference in Brisbane and Fast Forward Music Conference in Sydney.
- Rachel is a proud member of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS) & the Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia (KMEIA).
- 8th Grade AMEB Rockschool Popular Music Theory - Pass with Merit.
- National Live Music Awards – Live Pop Act of the Year (Nominated)
- 2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Prize (Shortlisted)
- 2018 Women in Music Awards – Diversity Award (Nominated)
- American Express Music Backers Grant Recipient
Specialisations:
Voice - Musical Theatre, Rock, Indie, Pop, Classical, Singer-Songwriter, Teaching young children, AMEB Exam preparation
Piano - Teaching young children, AMEB exam preparation, classical & pop piano.
Availability: Macquarie College Mondays & Tuesdays - Spots Available!
Newcastle Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (Full from 3pm, Limited Daytime availabilities)
Rutherford Friday (Limited Availability)
Newcastle Saturday Mornings (Limited Availability)
New
Christine Andison
Instruments: Piano
Experience/Qualifications:
ATCL (Teaching), Trinity College of Music, London
8th Grade Piano and Musicianship, AMEB
Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Charles Sturt University
Over 10 years teaching experience
Taught by Joyce Blewitt, BA (Newcastle), LRSM, OAM
Specialisations: Classical, theory, musicianship, HSC music, exam preparation
Availability: Tuesdays Online Only
Video Coming Soon
Dean Selem
Instruments: Piano
Experience/Qualifications: 8th Grade AMEB Classical Piano, 5th Grade AMEB Theory
Specialisations: Classical, Pop & Rock
Availability: Wednesdays Newcastle Campus - Spots Available!
Instruments: Voice, Piano, Songwriting, Artist Mentoring, Music Theory, HSC Music
Experience/Qualifications:
-AMEB Grades in Classical Piano, Musicianship and Voice.
Currently working towards AMusA Musical Theatre and CTMusA.
-Rachel is a proud member of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing.
- 8th Grade AMEB Rockschool Popular Music Theory - Pass with Merit.
-National Live Music Awards – Live Pop Act of the Year (Nominated)
-2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Prize (Shortlisted)
-2018 Women in Music Awards – Diversity Award (Nominated)
-American Express Music Backers Grant Recipient
Specialisations: Rock, Indie, Pop, Musical Theatre, Classical, Singer-Songwriter
Availability: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday Newcastle Campus
Tuesday Macquarie College
Isaac Walker
Instruments: Piano
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Piano Performance), University of Newcastle (Current, on full scholarship)
Specialisations: Jazz, Contemporary
Availability: Monday & Thursday Newcastle Campus - Spots Available!
Kurt Taylor
Instruments: Piano
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Piano Performance). Masters of Education (current). AMEB 8th Grade Piano.
Specialisations: Classical, Contemporary
Availability: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Newcastle Campus - Limited Times Remaining
Wednesday & Friday Macquarie College - Spots Available!
Bridget Harper
Instruments: Voice, Piano, Songwriting
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Songwriting Major), Masters of Speech Pathology (Current)
Currently Performing in Covers Duo
Specialisations: Singer-Songwriter/Indie, Pop, Jazz
Availability: Monday & Wednesday Newcastle Campus - Limited Spots Available
Tuesday Rutherford Campus (Full)
Drum Teachers
Liam Tooth
Instruments: Drums
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Percussion), University of Newcastle. Master of Music, University of Sydney.
Specialisations: Jazz, funk
Availability: Tuesdays & Wednesdays Macquarie College - Spots Available!
Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays (Full)
Thursdays & Fridays Rutherford (Full)
Bailey Tipper-Graef
Instruments: Drums
Experience/Qualifications: Drums Bachelor of Music (Major in Productions). Performed in original bands.
Specialisations: Rock and Metal
Availability: Mondays & Thursdays Newcastle - Spots Available!
Wednesdays Rutherford - Spots Available!
Vocal Teachers
Gianni Michelini
Instruments: Guitar, Voice, Artist Mentoring, Songwriting, Music Theory
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Classical Guitar Performance), Masters of Audio Engineering & Production, AMEB AmusA in Classical Guitar
Gianni already has many accolades to his name, including Best Artist at the ABC Music Awards, Best male Vocalist (ABC Music awards), Broadcasters Choice (ABC Music Awards), APRA Songwriter of the Year, and Best Instrumental Artist In Australia at the MusicOz Awards.
ABC/ Universal Music Recording contract led to his acclaimed album "feel the music"
​
Gian’s unique mixture of soul fuelled pop vocals streaked with virtuosic Spanish influenced guitar playing is what has made him stand out and given him the chance to share the stage with legendary artists Sheila E, Grammy nominated songwriter and producer Paul Pederson (Prince, The Corrs, George Benson), Ricky Pederson (John Mayer, George Benson), blues legend Eric Bibb, recently with Academy Award winner Russell Crowe and Australian music legend Marcia Hines in their music video Remedy.
​
Gianni was a partner in the education arm of Abbey Road Studios and acted as Australian CEO for the Abbey Road Institute. Gianni has also been director of the largest recording studio in the Southern Hemisphere Studios 301
​
Gianni has also founded and is CEO of National Music Academy Pakistan as part of his philanthropic endeavour to spread quality music education.
​
Specialisations: Classical, flamenco, fingerstyle, singer-songwriter, RnB, Pop, Artist Mentoring and Music Industry Specialist
Availability: Monday - Friday Newcastle Campus - Available Mon- Fri at the Newcastle Campus.
Thursday NEPS
Ella Moulder
Instruments: Voice
Experience/Qualifications: 9 years Vocal Teaching Experience
Bachelor of Music (Current) Majoring in Contemporary Voice, Performer in Theatre on Brunker's Production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. Ella also has many years of experience working with students with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
Specialisations: Pop, Rock, RnB/Soul, Blues, Musical Theatre
Availability: Monday, Tuesday & Friday Newcastle Campus - Spots Available!
Wednesday & Thursday Rutherford Campus - Spots Available!
Rachel Cox
Instruments: Voice, Piano, Songwriting, Artist Mentoring, Music Theory, HSC Music
Experience/Qualifications:
-AMEB Grades in Classical Piano, Musicianship and Voice.
- Currently Studying a Certificate Teacher Of Music through AMEB, as well as continued lessons in voice and piano. Rachel also continually attends workshops, webinars and conferences for professional development and has been a speaker at Bigsound Music Conference in Brisbane and Fast Forward Music Conference in Sydney.
-Rachel is a proud member of the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS) & the Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia (KMEIA).
- 8th Grade AMEB Rockschool Popular Music Theory - Pass with Merit.
-National Live Music Awards – Live Pop Act of the Year (Nominated)
-2016 Vanda & Young Songwriting Prize (Shortlisted)
-2018 Women in Music Awards – Diversity Award (Nominated)
-American Express Music Backers Grant Recipient
Specialisations:
Voice - Musical Theatre, Rock, Indie, Pop, Classical, Singer-Songwriter, Teaching young children, AMEB Exam preparation
Piano - Teaching young children, AMEB exam preparation, classical & pop piano.
Availability:
Macquarie College Mondays & Tuesdays - Spots Available!
Newcastle Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (Full from 3pm, Limited Daytime availabilities)
Rutherford Friday (Limited Availability)
Newcastle Saturday Mornings (Limited Availability)
Megan Galloway
Instruments: Voice
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Current)
Specialisations: Jazz, RnB, Soul
Availability: Wednesday & Thursday Newcastle Campus - Spots Available!
Bridget Harper
Instruments: Voice, Piano, Songwriting
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Songwriting Major), Masters of Speech Pathology (Current)
Currently Performing in Covers Duo
Specialisations: Singer-Songwriter/Indie, Pop, Jazz
Availability: Monday & Wednesday Newcastle Campus - Limited Spots Remaining!
Tuesday Rutherford Campus (Full)
Bass Guitar Teachers
Aaron White
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Songwriting, Artist Mentoring, Music Theory
Experience/Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Bass Performance)
Singer-songwriter and original performing artist as well as bass player for covers and originals bands.
Specialisations: Jazz, Funk, Pop, Blues, Rock
Availability: Monday & Tuesday Newastle Campus - Spots Available!
DJ'ing Teachers
Peter Bird
Instruments: DJing, Electronic Music Production, Brass, Vocals
Experience/Qualifications: Music Teacher & Band Leader at Redhead Public School, Adamstown Public School, Biraban Public School,
Bachelor Of Music In Music Technology, Bachelor of Music Education (BMUS/BTEACH),
Certificate IV Information Technology,
11+ years as an events DJ & MC with Dynamic DJs
Specialisations: House, Nu-Disco, Deep House, Tech-House & Vibes, Production.
Availability: Tuesday Newcastle Campus - Spots Available!
Timmy Coffey
Instruments: DJing
Experience/Qualifications: 17+ years as a club, festival and events DJ performing at events and venues such as:
Vital Beats, The Mercury, Nutshell, The Cambridge Hotel, Wharf Life at Queens Wharf Hotel, Groovin The Moo.
Specialisations: Breakbeat, Vibe
Availability: Monday Newcastle Campus - Limited Spots Remaining!
Wednesday Maitland Campus - Spots Available!
Band Network
Grace Aberhart
Instruments: Bass, Vocals, Songwriting Experience/Qualifications: 6 years of solo performances in the Hunter.
4 years of experience playing and leading various bands and ensembles.
Participant in the talent development project Sydney (2016/2017)
Winner of Bandwidth band competition 2017
Finalist of UON band competition 2019
Finalist in Unisounds band competition 2019
Studied bachelor of music at Newcastle Conservatorium
Currently playing bass/singing in 2 bands that gig frequently in Newcastle, (Luna Menta and Bleu Collective)
Specialisations: Band mentoring, Songwriting, Bass
Availability: Band Development and Mentoring Upon Request
