Jake McDougall
Guitar, Bass, Drum and Rock School Teacher

Jake is an experienced guitar, drum and bass teacher with experience playing in live bands from a variety of genres, such as rock, reggae, jazz, and experimental.
With a vast knowledge of the musical vocabulary and history of multiple instruments, the creative mind of a cutting edge session musician and a fun friendly attitude, music lessons with Jake will be a great addition to ones educational endeavours

Alex Black
Guitar and Drum Teacher

Aliza Xie
Piano Teacher

Aliza started learning to play the piano when she was six year old.

She has since completed AMEB Grade 8 Piano with Honours as well as AMEB Grade 5 Musicianship.

Aliza has gained extensive experience of playing piano in eisteddfods and concerts as an award winning solo performer and been a accompanist, as a pianist and harpsichordist, for various string and chamber ensembles. Aliza has further earned music scholarships at both conservatoriums and school.

Her musical talents are not limited to just the piano, however, as she has been an enthusiastic member of several choirs and bands, with her ability to sing and play the flute, respectively.

Additionally,Aliza has used her love of music for volunteer work, from performing for residents at retirement homes to even trying her hand at the drums for a charity event.

As of now, she plays piano for leisure and is currently enrolled in a vocal studies elective at university, in her pursuit to improve her singing skills whilst completing her Bachelor of Arts with Bachelor of Laws degree.

Curtis Newbitt-Hill
Drums Teacher

Curtis has been playing drums and percussion for 15 years, studying music throughout primary school and high school.

After playing orchestral drums and percussion in school based bands Curtis then moved onto rock, punk and later funk drumming styles.

His musical inspirations include: Nate Smith, Tony Royster, Chad Smith – Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Nick Mason – Pink Floyd

Whilst teaching all styles of drums, his favourite styles to teach are Rock, Pop, Indie and Funk

Curtis currently play in “Letters to Lions” an Indie Rock band, and a cover group “Great Southern Band”. He have toured the East Coast of Australia extensively and Canada twice with Letters to Lions.

Curtis has played iconic venues such as Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, Oxford Art Factory – Sydney, The Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto

James Squier
Guitar / Bass / Rock School Teacher

James is a highly skilled and highly experienced guitarist and bass player who is always seeking to expand his musical knowledge and abilities. Having played almost all styles of music for many years, and being featured in many different bands in that time, he’s developed a knack for learning new songs, styles and techniques quickly and being able to explain how best to approach music to students and other musicians.

James first picked up a guitar during high school, and quickly started teaching himself classic hard rock and metal songs from bands in the vein of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Rainbow and Queen. His style took a slight change when he was asked to join his first bands, playing faster and more aggressive thrash metal.

After high school he studied music performance at TAFE achieving certificates II and III and a Diploma. Here he developed an extensive understanding of music theory, began learning about music education, as well as gaining experience in almost of styles of music, from Jazz, pop, classical, country to rock. It was during this time that he also refined his live performance skills, having shared the stage many different musicians.

Busking became a test to put all the different elements of what James had learnt together. Looking at it as ‘practicing guitar in public’, he very quickly learnt how to use the music theory  he’d spent so long studying practically, and how to draw influences from all the different styles of music he’d played.

James’ experience with the bass guitar began by being asked to play for a band which would later become GYPSY. Having never played the instrument or any of the songs before, he not only set about learning them quickly, but was playing on stage with the band less than a week later! Now with years of experience on the instrument, and countless shows performed with GYPSY up and down the country, James is just as comfortable on bass as he is guitar.

After joining Learn 2 Play Music during 2015, James has learnt how to offer great learning experiences to his students, how to draw on his knowledge, and how to make lessons both fun and productive.

Jenny Lewis-Roche
Piano / Singing and Kindy Beat Teacher

Jenny has been playing piano since the age of 7 and was selected from a young age to study under Elizabeth Green, an examiner for the AMEB. She has completed her AMusA with the AMEB and received a Distinction from the Trinity College of London. She has also performed in city recitals and has studied songwriting at the Conservatory of Music.

Jenny also enjoys playing Latin and folk music on the accordeon and has performed with the Australian Accordeon Orchestra.

As an Early Childhood Educator, Jenny enjoys making learning fun for her young students, while at the same time ensuring that they are achieving their goals. She also enjoys teaching adults.

Jenny’s musical influences range from Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy to Latin American music, Elton John and Billy Joel, but she loves nothing more than relaxing to Bob Marley or rocking to ACDC.

Leigh Elphick
Guitar / Bass / Rock School Teacher

Leigh has been playing guitar for more than 15 years, he attended Newington College where he studied guitar for 5 years. 

Now with over 10 years teaching experience at various schools; Learn2Play Music, Village Guitar, St Aloysius Primary & The Montessori School.

Leigh has played in several bands over the years with varying styles from punk rock to folk/country touring up and down the east coast of the country multiple times. He currently plays in The Daphne Rawling Band.

 Leigh is influenced by artists such as The Beatles, Wilco, Ryan Adams & The Rolling Stones.

 Leigh enjoys teaching students of all ages and likes to keep lessons professional but fun.

 His favourite styles to teach include- rock,pop, folk, punk, indie & country.

Lucinda Malone
Piano / Vocals / Kindy Beat Teacher

Lucinda, or ‘Lucy’, graduated from the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) in 2015, where she received her Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre.

Lucy has been playing the piano since the age of six, Violin from the age of eight, and has been singing since she first learnt how to speak.

She has studied various styles of singing, including Opera, Pop, Jazz, and Music Theatre.

In 2016 she toured as a member of the Ten Sopranos during their South Australia tour.

Lucy has also appeared in several different Musicals, the most recent being Heathers: The Musical where she played the role of Martha Dunnstock.

Lucy has been a Piano, Violin, and Vocal coach since graduating AIM, and has also helped run various ensemble groups featuring Ukuleles, Guitars, and Choral work

Marcus Grounds
Guitar / Bass Teacher

Marcus started playing guitar at the age of 10, since then he has participated in several different bands which formed due to school based opportunities and social influence.

Marcus preferred guitar style falls under percussive melodic finger-styles and classical musics. He was inspired by a Korean musician called Sungah Jung and his style is the foundation to Marcus’ way with the guitar. Further inspirations include Peter Gergely and Andrew Foy. His preferred guitar artists and bands were formed during the 60’s and 70’s

Marcus is fluent in his understanding of the pentatonic, major, and minor scales and understands the incorporation of scales and chords within keys and their respective positions in music

Marcus has the ability to play a vast variety of music from Heavy metal to classical pieces. Marcus see improvisation as a very important when it comes to understanding music. Marcus encourages his students to be more creative and have more freedom when playing their desired instrument

Monica Moawad
Piano / Singing / Violin Teacher

Monica is a professional musician and teacher, with 20 years experience. Throughout her life she has been involved with various choirs and orchestras, Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, Wesley Institute Choir and Sydney Philharmonia, to name a few.

In 2010, she travelled to Asia to tour with the Wesley Institute Choir, performing in various master classes, universities, and concert halls across Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan.

In 2011, another tour, this time to Europe took place over 3 weeks, again performing in various music halls, universities, and churches. The main event was the Summa Cum Laude Festival, held at the Musikverein, one of the world’s top concert halls, in Vienna, Austria, and winning in the Choir category.

She graduated from AIM with a BMus in Classical Performance, and has over 4 years experience teaching various styles including: Classical, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, and Music Theatre, across Piano, Violin and Vocals

Patrick Rogers
Drums Teacher

Patrick has been playing drums and percussion for more than 10 years and is currently studying jazz drumming and theory at the University of New South Wales.

He is a member of a variety of bands across Sydney ranging from rock bands and funk groups all the way to the UNSW Jazz Orchestra and Balinese Gamelan ensemble.

Patrick has a wealth of performance experience including performances at the ARIA Awards and X Factor grand final with Guy Sebastian, the Oxford Art Factory, ‘Jazz at the Pav’ at the Bondi Pavillion and various performances across Indonesia whilst travelling on a UNSW Music Scholarship

Rachael Halpin
Piano Teacher

Rachael has been interested in music from a young age.

Rachael has successfully completed various music examinations and has been working at Learn to Play Music for a number of years.

She has taught children from as young as four years old, through to adulthood. Rachael is currently completing her Primary Education degree.

Rose Valeri
Piano / Singing Teacher

Rose has completed 7th grade piano and is currently studying Music Education and Music Production

Rose is inspired by all music in different ways but classical music stands out to her. One of her favourite composers is Tchaikovsky.

She has always wanted to teach piano from a very early age and believes music is something very strong that everyone should learn something about it during their lives