A Nurturing Environment for Young Musicians
With more than 10 years of experience in teaching piano as well as owning and operating a music school in Mount Waverley, I have always been passionate about music education and music pedagogy.
Today, I teach from my own home studio in Vermont South, offering small-group keyboard and piano lessons for children aged 4 and above, from beginners through to more advanced students.
The smaller setting allows for a warm, personal and family-oriented environment where children can learn, participate and grow at their own pace.
We want our studio to be a place where children feel comfortable asking questions, experimenting with music, making mistakes, trying again — and discovering what they are capable of.
Discover the Joy of Making Music — Not Just Learning the Notes
Small-group piano and keyboard lessons for children aged 4+, where music learning is engaging, creative and meaningful.
At Pik’s Piano Studio, we help children develop genuine musicianship — learning to play, listen, sing, create and understand music with confidence.
Through singing, movement, games, storytelling, improvisation, composition and playing a diverse range of repertoire, children learn music as something to experience and express, not simply something to practise.
What If Your Child Could Actually Enjoy Learning Music?
Many parents start music lessons with the best intentions. But over time, practising can become a daily struggle.
You may find yourself:
reminding your child to practise again and again;
negotiating over when they will sit at the piano;
hearing the same pieces being played mechanically without much understanding;
watching their initial enthusiasm gradually disappear;
wondering whether music lessons are becoming another chore rather than something they genuinely enjoy.
Learning an instrument certainly requires commitment. But music education should be more than practising notes until a piece is ready for an exam or performance.
We believe children are much more likely to stay engaged when they understand, enjoy and actively participate in the music they are learning.
A Different Way to Learn Music
At Pik’s Piano Studio, we take a broader approach to piano and keyboard education.
Rather than focusing solely on reading notes and reproducing what is on the page, we encourage children to listen, sing, move, explore, create and perform.
Building Skills That Last Beyond the Lesson
We believe music education can contribute far more to a child's development than the ability to play an instrument.
A musically rich learning environment can nurture:
Confidence — having the courage to perform and express ideas.
Creativity — discovering that there can be different ways to approach and create music.
Listening skills — learning to hear, recognise and respond to musical ideas.
Discipline & perseverance — experiencing the satisfaction that comes from developing a skill over time.
Musical understanding — connecting what children see, hear, play and sing.
Independence — gradually developing the ability to make musical decisions for themselves.
Most importantly, we hope children develop a lasting relationship with music — one that continues well beyond their formal lessons.
Our lessons incorporate:
Singing & Movement
Children experience rhythm, melody and musical patterns physically and aurally, helping musical concepts become more natural and intuitive.
Playing & Performing
Students develop sound keyboard and piano skills while learning a diverse repertoire that exposes them to different musical styles, cultures and traditions.
Creativity
Improvisation and composition encourage children to experiment, make musical decisions and discover that they can create music of their own.
Musical Understanding
Through storytelling and discussion, we explore the context and character behind the music — helping children understand what they are playing, hearing and expressing.
Games & Off-Bench Activities
Age-appropriate games and activities make learning active and engaging rather than requiring children to remain at the keyboard for the entire lesson.
Discover the Joy of Music with Encore Music Education
At our studio, we believe that learning music should be an enjoyable, engaging and rewarding journey. As a Certified Encore Teacher, I use the Encore Music Education system to help students develop musical skills, confidence and a genuine understanding of music.
Encore is more than a collection of method books. Its distinctive SMART Teaching approach combines listening, singing, movement, rhythm, reading, playing by ear and creative musical activities. Students learn to understand the music they play, rather than simply memorising notes on a page.
Through carefully structured lessons, students develop coordination, aural awareness, music-reading skills, technique and musical expression. They are encouraged to explore different musical styles, play with confidence and discover the satisfaction of making music.
Encore offers progressive learning pathways for young children, school-age beginners and teenagers. Lessons are designed to meet students at their stage of development, helping them build a strong musical foundation while enjoying the learning process.
Our aim is simple: to nurture capable, confident and creative musicians, one step at a time.
Summary of Encore courses
1. Kinder Beat
Early childhood · Approximately 2–5 years
A progressive introduction to music through play, movement, rhythm, singing and musical exploration.
Music Box Magic: introduces very young children to music through songs, movement and listening.
Percussion Play: develops rhythm, pulse, coordination and fundamental musical concepts.
Piano Prep: introduces early keyboard skills and prepares children for formal piano learning.
Best suited to: young children beginning their musical journey.
2. Encore on Keys — Junior Piano
Beginner piano · Approximately 5–7 years
A structured piano programme designed for young beginners. Students develop keyboard familiarity, note-reading, rhythm, coordination and technique while learning enjoyable repertoire.
The approach introduces hands-together playing from the early stages and integrates listening, singing, playing by ear and musical patterns.
Best suited to: younger school-age children starting piano.
3. Encore on Keys — Primary Piano
Beginner piano · Approximately 8–12 years
Designed for older children who are new to piano, this programme builds a strong foundation in technique, music reading, rhythm, harmony and aural skills.
Students explore a variety of musical styles, develop hands-together coordination, learn chord patterns and are encouraged to play by ear and improvise.
Best suited to: primary-school children who are beginning piano.
4. Encore on Keys — Accent Piano
Teenage
A piano learning pathway designed for teenagers who wish to start learning piano. It provides a structured introduction to keyboard skills and musical understanding, without assuming previous experience.
Best suited to: teenagers who want to learn piano from the beginning.
5. Encore on Keys — Achiever Piano
Progressive piano · Preliminary to Grade 4
The next stage for students developing beyond their initial piano studies. The series progressively builds technical proficiency, reading, musical interpretation and repertoire.
The published levels correspond to Preliminary, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grades 3–4, providing a pathway towards more advanced playing and examination preparation.
Best suited to: students ready to progress beyond beginner piano studies.
6. Theory Wiz — Theory Fundamentals
Beginner to Grade 1 theory
A music theory programme that helps students understand the language behind music. The workbooks develop knowledge of notation, rhythm and other essential theoretical concepts.
The three levels are Beginner, Preliminary and Grade 1. Theory learning can complement practical instrumental lessons and help students build a more complete musical foundation.
Best suited to: students who want to strengthen their music theory knowledge alongside practical learning.
Visit www.encoremusiceducation.com.au for more information on Encore Music Education
Hear it from the Parents - Part 1
“Both my children started their music journey with Pik at the age of 4. Now aged 8 and 10, Lucas and Marcus have successfully progressed to Encore Music AP1/Prelim and AMEB Grade 2, respectively.
When we first met Pik for a trial lesson, she carefully explained the benefits of early group learning and the structured curriculum that would guide their musical growth. She emphasized that while collaborative classroom practice introduces new pieces, real progress comes from consistent home habits, even just 10 to 20 minutes a day. Those words resonated instantly, and the past six years have been nothing short of fun, engaging, and deeply educational.
Pik fosters a remarkably positive and supportive learning environment. The boys genuinely look forward to their lessons, eagerly sitting down to practice at home and taking great pride in what they learn. What they enjoy most is the interactive approach, the excitement of mastering new pieces, and the wonderful balance of discipline and play. Beyond musical proficiency, Pik’s guidance has had a profound impact on their personal growth, instilling the self-confidence to perform openly both on and off the stage.
Pik’s vast musical knowledge and boundless passion inspire her students to strive forexcellence. Her unwavering teaching philosophy and values create an uplifting culture that continues to shape confident, joyful young musicians.”
Max
“Roman can easily get bored when lessons feel too slow or repetitive, but Pik has a wonderful ability to keep him challenged, curious and genuinely excited about music.
Rather than simply teaching him to play pieces as written, Pik has encouraged Roman to explore music creatively by improvising, transposing sheet music into different keys and learning to play by ear. She is incredibly patient and always encourages Roman and all her students with positivity and care. She also consistently reinforces the importance of correct body and hand posture, helping them build good habits from the beginning.
The biggest testament to Pik’s teaching is how much Roman now loves playing the piano. He can spend hours taking one piece of music and experimenting with it in different ways such as playing it as written, creating his own improvised version, or transposing it into different keys. Yes, we actually have to force him to get off the piano!
What an incredible difference these three terms with Pik have made. She has helped Roman develop not only his piano skills, but also a genuine love, curiosity and confidence in music. We are so grateful for the encouragement, patience and creativity she brings to every lesson, and we couldn’t be happier to see Roman enjoying his piano journey so much.”
MD
Hear it from the Parents - Part 2
“When Max first started with Pik, he was very shy and didn’t want to leave my side. He has gained so much confidence over the years through playing the keyboard and singing with the other children in the class, and now confidently attends the classes on his own.
Pik has selected fun pieces of music that Max enjoys practising at home along to a backing track, as well as completing music theory worksheets. Pik sends us a practice plan each week, so I can help Max stay on track with his practice. Kids are guided to learn each piece progressively, first through listening and singing, playing each hand separately, then playing with hands together at slower speeds, before playing the piece at concert speed.
Through regularly performing short pieces in front of the other parents and children Max has grown comfortable with performing in front of others. I especially love seeing Max playing ensemble pieces with the other children at the mid and end-of-year concerts.
Pik also encourages the kids to be creative and compose their own music, and it’s amazing to see Max write some first simple pieces of his own.”
Lindsay
“Pik's Piano Studio has been a wonderful musical learning environment for our sons, Daniel and Edward. We have attended Pik’s music classes for many years.
Pik is an incredibly patient, creative, and encouraging teacher. Her cosy, small-group classes make learning feel both personal and supportive.
The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to make music fun and engaging, and the use of the Encore Music Wiz platform on digital devices adds a fantastic modern dimension to lessons, as it helps to keep our boys motivated and excited to practise. The Flash Cards are another brilliant feature, helping to reinforce music theory and note recognition in a fun and interactive way.
Even though Pik is such a sought-after teacher, she always finds the time to provide timely, tailored feedback to each student, ensuring their learning journey is always supported.
Our boys thoroughly enjoy their lessons and have grown so much in their skill and confidence. We couldn't recommend Pik highly enough!
David
We are very grateful to have Pik as Edith’s piano teacher. Edith receives plenty of individual attention while also enjoying the interaction and encouragement that comes from learning alongside another child.
Edith genuinely looks forward to her piano class every week and has become increasingly enthusiastic about practising at home. Pik has created a wonderful learning environment that makes music enjoyable rather than feeling like a chore. Her lessons are thoughtfully structured and highly interactive, incorporating singing, movement, music theory and learning to read music sheets in a way that keeps the children engaged and interested.
What we particularly appreciate is Pik’s emphasis on improvisation. She encourages the children to experiment and discover that there isn’t always just one “correct” way to play music. This has helped Edith become more confident and creative, while also developing a deeper understanding and enjoyment of music.
Pik is patient, encouraging and clearly passionate about teaching. We have seen Edith grow in both her musical skills and confidence, and we couldn’t be happier with her progress and experience in the class.
Sam
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Get in Touch
Interested in music lessons for your child? Complete the form below to request a call back or an email response.
Prefer WhatsApp or email?
You can also send us your details directly via
WhatsApp at 04-50561878 or
email to information@pikspianostudio.com
Please include your name, contact number, email address, your child’s age and the course you are interested in.
We look forward to hearing from you!