Piano Lessons with Dr Brieley Cutting

Being part of my Studio means

having one-to-one practical lessons on a grand piano
receiving musical general knowledge, theory and aural training, as well as career/study advice
enjoying regular Studio Newsletters which provide updates and information
taking part in Student Concerts each year, and
being part of a boutique Studio of interested learners.

In my lessons I focus on assisting my piano students to

develop a solid technical and musical foundation
read music scores
play with appropriate sound production and a strong sense of rhythm
study music theory and texts to support music understanding
think critically and independently
prepare for upcoming performances
grow skills in collaborative playing, and
gain technical skill so as to be able to play advanced repertoire.

Please Note: Developing students gradually become more responsible and independent with their daily practice, but this takes guidance, training, and time. Therefore, a parent or guardian is required to assist young students, often up to the age of 12 years.

Young children need guidance from a parent or guardian with their daily practice as they are working towards and are aided by the weekly lessons with me. Parents/guardians of young children are encouraged to attend the lessons to be able to better supervise students' daily practice. I also welcome that some parents/guardians will draw on assistance from a practice supervisor who might visit their home weekly to assist with the practising of items I have set the student for the week - this practice supervisor can be, for example, a piano student enrolled at university or an online teacher.

Beginner to AMEB Grade 7

$120/hr. 30min/45min/1hr lessons

Packages of 9 Lessons, invoiced by the School Term.

AMEB Grade 8, Tertiary and Professional

$130/hr. 45min/1hr lessons

Packages of 9 Lessons, invoiced by the School Term, or lessons can be held fortnightly.

Student Concerts & Performances

Two Student Concerts are organised each year for students in my Studio. Often, a teacher of another instrument will be invited to join with several of their students (eg, flute, cello etc). Concerts are usually scheduled on Sundays at 11am in a local venue.

My students are also encouraged to also perform in local eisteddfods, school concerts, online competitions, national competitions and local concert events.

Advanced Preparation & Recordings

For audition recordings and to assist with the preparation for an advanced examination or performance, larger venues with a concert Steinway or Fazioli piano are arranged for my students. I am happy to attend to offer additional assistance and guidance.

Cancelling Lessons

A maximum of two lessons can be missed per School Term by the student with expectation of retaining their lesson time on my teaching schedule. If appropriate notice is given (at least 24hr), up to two lesson/s can be re-scheduled or the missed lesson/s might be rolled over into the next Term.

On occasion, I may need to cancel or reschedule a lesson due to illness or an unavoidable professional obligation.

Formal Qualifications:

Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) - Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane (graduated aged 18 years)
Performance Program - Australian National Academy of Music, Melbourne (4 years)
Master of Music (Performance) - Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane
Postgraduate Diploma in Performance (Distinction) - Royal College of Music, London
Doctorate of Musical Arts (Teaching and Learning) - Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane (The Chamber Music Pianist: An exploration of the skills required by pianists working in small ensembles)

My main teachers have included Pamela Page, Max Olding, Oleg Stepanov, Natasha Vlassenko, Rita Reichman, Timothy Young and Ruth Nye.

Further Educational Experience:

AMusA - Australian Music Examinations Board (aged 11 years)
International Festival Musici Artis in Brussels, 2002 (intensive lessons, masterclasses and performances)
Summer Festival in Salzburg, 2003 (intensive lessons, masterclasses and performances)
Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, 2013 (London, Amsterdam and New York, researching aspects including collaborative piano, historically informed performance, academic research, new music performance, artistic directorship and leading concert venues)

Selected Piano Competition Success:

National Keyboard Winner of the 2006 ABC Young Performers Awards, for the Grand Final performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.3 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Hamer Hall for ABC television and live ABC radio
Second Placing in the 2010 Kerikeri National Piano Competition in New Zealand in the first year this competition was international
Finalist in the 2002 Kawai Australasian Youth Piano Concerto Competition in Melbourne, performing with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra at the Melbourne Town Hall
Twice a winner in the Australian National Academy of Music's in-house concerto competition, performing with the Melbourne Symphony and Nizhny-Novgorod Philharmonic, 2002 and 2005
Twice a semi-finalist in the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition in Brisbane, 2001 and 2007

Teaching Experience:

Successfully guided students through AMEB piano practical exams for over 20 years
Lecturer in Classical Piano at the Australian Institute of Music for nearly 5 years (2020-24)
Adjudicator for the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and Sydney Eisteddfod
Accompanist and PhD Examiner at the University of Queensland School of Music
Lecturer at the University of New England (Armidale, NSW)
Head of Piano at the New England Conservatorium (Armidale, NSW)
Piano Teacher at St Joseph's College (Gregory Terrace) in Brisbane
Masterclasses from the QLD Gold Coast to regional NSW conservatories and in Sydney

BRIELEY CUTTING

Piano Lessons with Dr Brieley Cutting