Meet the teachers
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You are welcome to contact any of our teachers directly.
(Alphabetical order)
Camila de Oliveira
Location : North Shore (Beach Haven)
Qualifications : BMus (Hons) at Faculdade de Artes Alcântara Machado, Postgrad Diploma in Music at The University of Auckland and currently undertaking MMus.
Experience : Collaborative pianist and piano teacher. Currently teaching at Albany School of Music and Remuera Music Academy. Collaborative pianist with experience in strings, brass, Opera Music Theatre, and choir repertoire.
Who I teach : All levels from beginners to diploma.
What I teach : Piano, aural, theory
Methods : Piano adventures/ABRSM/Fit4piano
Availability : Saturday and Wednesday.
Interesting fact : I started to learn music with the E flat clarinet.
Gabrielle Peake
Location : Remuera and Kingsland.
Qualifications : MMus in Performance First Class Honours, ATCL & LTCL Diploma in Piano Recital.
Experience : Piano teacher for 10+ years.
Who I teach : 7+ yrs — adults.
What I teach : Solo (Classical & Pop) /Accompaniment / Aural / Theory / Chamber music.
Methods : Piano Adventures and Hal Leonard, ABRSM/Trinity/NZMEB grade/diploma exams, NCEA Level 1-3 Music assessment prep and performances.
Availability : Remuera 7-9am (Mon-Fri), Kingsland 3-7pm (Mon-Fri).
Interesting fact : If not found on a road bike or the piano, you’ll find Gabrielle squandering away in her kitchen cooking and baking for a crowd. Easily influenced by the kitchens of Josh Emmett, Kelly Gibney & The Caker.
Rachel Song
Location : North Shore (Albany) and Epsom.
Qualifications : MMus in Performance & Bachelors of Arts Psychology Major, ATCL Diploma in Piano Recital (Trinity Guildhall).
Experience : Privately teaching since 2009. Previously taught in Lewis Eady, Albany School of Music, Remuera Music Academy, Westlake Girls High School and currently teaching in Epsom School of Music. Professional accompanist for 10+ years closely working with North Shore Youth Music and Westlake Girls High School.
Who I teach : All ages, especially young beginners and young adults.
What I teach : Solo (Classical & Pop) /Accompaniment / Aural / Theory / Chamber music coaching.
Methods : ABRSM/Trinity/NZMEB grade/diploma exams, university audition prep, Piano Adventures, NCEA Level 1-3 Music assessment prep and performances.
Availability :
Adults: Weekdays 9am - 2pm (Albany)
Students: Mon, Tue 3-8pm (Epsom)Thurs - Fri 3-8pm (Albany)
Interesting fact : My last name is a typical Korean last name but turned out to be a musical name in English.
Catherine Bennett
Location : North Shore (Birkenhead)
Qualifications : BMus (Hons) in Performance, LRSM, LTCL (in flute and piano)
Experience : Privately teaching in NZ since 2005. Previously worked as an itinerant piano teacher in Borough of Bromley, England. Current itinerant piano teacher in St. Cuthbert’s College and Kristin College. Professional accompanist since 2005 working closely with University of Auckland School of Music, NZ Singing School, Westlake Girls and Boys High School choirs, and St. Cuthbert’s College choir.
Who I teach : All levels between beginners through to diploma level.
What I teach : Piano and theory.
Methods : ABRSM/Trinity grade/diploma exams, Suzuki repertoire.
Availability : Weekdays 3pm - 8pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm
Interesting fact : My entire family work as professional musicians; my husband is a violinist and teacher, my daughter is a violinist and my son is a singer.
Gemma Lee
Location : Epsom/Remuera
Qualifications : MMus in Performance First Class Honours (UoA), LTCL Diploma in Piano Recital (Trinity Guildhall).
Experience : Privately teaching piano, aural, and music theory since 2013. Professional accompanist for 10+ years, working with a number of high schools across Auckland, notably Takapuna Grammar School and Westlake Girls’ High School, community groups such as the Auckland Girls’ Choir and the NZ Double Reed Society, and professional arts organisations including the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO Connecting - Education Department).
Who I teach : Intermediate-aged (i.e. Year 7) and above.
What I teach : Solo /Accompaniment /Aural / Theory / Chamber music coaching / Concert programming & coordination.
Methods : ABRSM/Trinity/NZMEB grade/diploma exams, university audition prep, exam/audition recordings, NCEA Level 1-3 Music assessment prep and performances.
Availability : Monday after 3:30pm, Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays flexible.
Interesting fact : I provide events, marketing and communications support to a number of arts organisations, most recently the New Zealand String Quartet.
Flavio Villani
Location : Kingsland, St Heliers
Qualifications : MMus in Performance First Class Honours (University of Auckland). Currently undertaking a DMA (Waikato University)
Experience : Soloist, chamber musician and piano teacher for 10+ years. Currently director of L’Accademia music school based in St Heliers.
Who I teach : All levels to university entries.
What I teach : Solo, chamber, technique
Methods : ABRSM/Trinity, grade/diploma exams, auditions, Fit4Piano, body awareness approach stemmed from Feldenkrais
Availability : Schedule may vary.
Interesting fact : The first time I performed with an orchestra in 2014 was recorded and featured in a short documentary : “Crossing Rachmaninoff”.
Linda Lin
Location : Albany (weekdays) and Epsom (weekends)
Qualifications : MMus in Performance First Class Honours
Experience : Soloist, accompanist and piano teacher for 10+ years. Previously worked with Lewis Eady, Remuera Music Academy and Albany School of Music.
Who I teach : 8 years and above. Specialise in academically strengthening the essential foundation of musicianship and technique.
Methods : ABRSM/ Trinity / NZMEB exams / University audition prep, exam/audition recordings
For younger students : different material according to individual's personality. Familiar with Hal Leonard, Piano Adventures, John Thompson, Alfred, Bastien, Burgmuller and Kabalevsky etc.
Availability :
Albany (weekdays TBC)
Epsom (weekends only. flexible hours)