Blue Mountains Grammar School is home to an outstanding music program featuring numerous peripatetic music tutors to enhance any student’s musical progress.
The tutors below currently teach on-site at Blue Mountains Grammar School and can be contacted directly to arrange lessons.
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and Saxophone
BMus (Hons), AMusA, MBBS
Also known as Mrs Dugdale.
A lifelong musician and experienced school parent, Rachel has been tutoring single reed instruments at BMGS for seven years. Learning an instrument promotes both personal advancement and community connection. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Music Honours and an Associate Diploma in Performance (clarinet). She plays clarinet and bass clarinet for Penrith Symphony Orchestra and Blue Mountains Concert Band. Rachel’s teaching philosophy accommodates the aims and interests of the student, including progression through examination, playing for personal enjoyment, and music group participation.
0406 593 345
Violin, Viola
BMus/BA, AMusA
Elizabeth began violin studies at the age of four and has benefited from a depth of musical input and collaboration with teachers including Gordon Bennett, Maria Lindsay and Shuti Huang. Elizabeth completed a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts at the University of New South Wales graduating in 2010. Elizabeth has a wealth of orchestral experience including Concert Master of the Eastern Sydney Chamber Orchestra from 2007 – 2011, member of The Metropolitan Orchestra from 2009 – 2016, Cologne Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra 2014 and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra from 2016. Elizabeth enjoys contributing musically to the Blue Mountains community through collaboration with local musicians, choirs, BMMS and leading local string orchestra Orpheus Strings. Elizabeth is a member of the Kanimbla Quartet who perform regularly in the Blue Mountains and greater Sydney area and are featured on the album The Lightness of Dark.
Elizabeth has been teaching the violin for fifteen years and is passionate about providing individualised lessons for each student. She strives to encourage and motivate her students to achieve and instill in them a life-long love of music. Elizabeth is an experienced AMEB teacher from preliminary to AMusA.
0412 786 381
Trumpet, Cornet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba, Eb Tenor Horn and just about anything made of brass
Dr Martin Dawes hails from Winnipeg in Canada and studied tuba with Michael Eastep (Calgary Symphony Orchestra) and Dennis Miller (Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal), before earning a PhD from McGill University. Martin performs on sousaphone, trumpet, violin, piano and voice in Blue Mountains cabaret duo Threepenny Moon, and once played tuba with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve band in Vancouver. Teaching times at BMGS are Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
“Blessed with a wonderful sense of style and expression, Martin is one of the most gifted musicians I have ever had the pleasure of working with” – Dennis Miller, Principal Tuba, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal.
0450 269249
Piano – Springwood Campus
BMus, L.Mus.A, A.Mus.A., ASCM (Chamber Music), Grad.Dip.Ed.
Saadet is a pianist and music teacher with over 35 years of music teaching experience in both a classroom and private tuition setting for all ages and experience levels. She has extensive experience in performing and accompanying students for AMEB and HSC exams, school concerts and scholarship auditions/concerts. Saadet is a previous director of school music, concert and choir programs. She seeks to encourage and enhance the love of music and performing as well as the desire to develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of musical style and piano through encouraging, supporting and providing a caring and stimulating environment for students and parents alike. Saadet also teaches at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith Conservatorium.
0403 178 157
Flute, Piccolo, Musicianship
BMusEd (Syd Con)
Robyn has been playing the flute and piccolo for 45 years. She began playing in the primary school band and has loved it ever since! She has a BMusEd from Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Robyn has been teaching flute/piccolo for over 20 years, from beginner to advanced students. Many of her flute, piccolo and musicianship students have been awarded Honours in their AMEB exams and she has had a student nominated for ENCORE, the prestigious showcase of HSC music performances. Robyn also taught classroom music from K – Year 12 for 15 years.
Robyn is a talented performer, having given a recital at the Conservatorium and performed as a soloist at the Sydney Town Hall. But most importantly, Robyn loves playing and teaching the flute, and looks forward to encouraging students in their musical journey too. Whether students want to do exams or just want to improve their playing, Robyn wants to help them have fun playing the flute because that is what is most important!
0438 401 088
Violin, Viola
BMus (Hons)
Bridget grew up learning the violin in Newcastle, NSW and has previously studied under Errol Collins, Susan Collins, Marina Robinson and Rachael Beesley.
Since 2010, she has specialised in the performance of Baroque and Historical violin styles, and has performed with Pinchgut Opera, Ironwood Ensemble, Salut! Baroque, St James Baroque and St Andrew’s Cathedral Baroque Orchestra. Bridget has also performed with many symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles, including The Metropolitan Orchestra, Christ Church Camerata in Newcastle and as the Concert Master of Newcastle’s Orchestra Nova from 2007-2010.
Bridget has been teaching violin and viola since 2006, and conducting school orchestras in Sydney and surrounding areas since 2011. She is passionate about music education and aims to provide an inclusive and encouraging environment for all of her students, and help them to experience the joy in studying and creating music together.
0421 657 781
Cello
Arran is a passionate baroque and modern cellist, holding a Bachelor of Music (Hons) from the University of Newcastle, as well as a Masters of Music Performance from Sydney Conservatorium of Music from which he graduated in 2014. He has taught cello in Sydney Inner West primary schools since 2011, and in schools in Newcastle and Melbourne prior to this. Arran has performed with many ensembles in Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne, including Ironwood Chamber Ensemble, ACO2, Opera at Vic Markets, Newcastle Festival Opera and in concerts for Musica Viva and Canberra International Music Festival. Arran has experience tutoring individual students, groups and school orchestras, and enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities.
0421 546 151
Guitar, Lute – Springwood Campus
B.Mus.Hons, A.Dip.Mus.T
Jason graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Honours in 1999. His guitar tutors included Gregory Pikler & Peter Andrews, (Classical Guitar); Tommie Andersson (Lute & Early Music); Guy Strazzulo (Jazz & Electric Guitar) and Gareth Koch (Flamenco Guitar). Jason has also performed in master classes with international guitarists such as Carlos Bonell (England), Marco Schmidt (Germany), Claudio Maccari and Paulo Pugliesie (Italy), Timothy Kain (Australia), Johnathan Paget (England) and Gareth Koch (Austria & Australia). In 2005 Jason studied privately with the internationally renowned guitar composer Phillip Houghton.
Jason has performed with the flautist Diana McIntosh in concerts, weddings and corporate functions. He has also performed with Peter Christie Band, Candy Rock, Joe Cocker Tribute Show and East Coast Horns.
Jason currently teaches at Penrith Anglican College, St Paul’s Grammar School, Blue Mountains Grammar School, Nepean Christian School and Blake’s Music Tuition in Windsor.
“My mission as a teacher is to provide students of all ages with the skills necessary to enjoy music for a lifetime. To develop the musical ability of each student by providing quality music education through private and group instrument instruction.”
Performances can be viewed on:
http://www.youtube.com/user/jasonrhill71
http://www.facebook.com/jasonhillguitarist
0419 214 736
Piano and Vocal – 2022 Currently on Leave
CMusA Piano, Certificate of Performance Singing, Kodaly Certificate of Early Childhood Music
Catherine’s passion for music began at the age of 11 years, initially playing the organ. It was this introduction that began her lifelong passion for music and performance.
Catherine has been teaching piano for 25 years and more recently singing. She is able to pass on her experience gained by performance at weddings, restaurants and cafes to her passionate music students. Catherine teaches all ages and abilities, and has taught from her private studio, at Blue Mountains Grammar School and The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre.
Catherine is qualified in the Hungarian Kodaly method of music teaching for infants up to 5 years of age. This enables her students who begin music as infants to develop their abilities to then move on to learning an instrument.
0438 816875
Piano, Musicianship, Improvisation
BMus (ANU), Associate Diploma Performance
Robbie grew up in the Blue Mountains and began playing piano when he was 14. He went on to study classical piano at the Australian National University with a particular interest in contemporary and modern idioms, obscure composers as well as classical era improvisation. After completing a bachelor of music he thereafter focused his attention on early jazz piano styles. He has also worked as musical director for several amateur musicals, played in big bands and within the Canberra Symphony Orchestra as well as performing in a myriad of bands from salsa to swing to classical ensembles and cabaret.
Robbie has been teaching piano and music generally for over 10 years. He favours an individualistic approach that fosters interest in music while establishing solid foundations with a broader musical understanding and appreciation as paramount. Robbie teaches for enjoyment as well as training for examinations and tertiary education, including piano technique, theory, harmony, musicianship, both classical and jazz improvisation, popular songs, movie themes and self-accompaniment skills for singers. He regularly performs around the Blue Mountains, Sydney and Australia as a jazz pianist and clarinetist.
0414 528 601
Guitar, Bass Guitar
Associate Diploma in Music
“It’s a very ancient saying, but a true and honest thought, that if you become a teacher, by your pupils you’ll be taught” from the film “The King and I”
Through teaching countless students over the past 20 years Raman has learnt so much about patience, dedication, fun, creativity and life in general. As a result, despite having played guitar for over 30 years, he is more passionate about music than ever. Every student that has walked through his door has enriched his life and made him the artist he is today. As a musician who is dedicated to constantly evolving and improving he feels he has the best job in the world. He likes to spend as much time as is necessary to get to know what really excites each student about music. He loves the process of helping someone follow their own musical path and hearing their own personality come through the instrument.
In addition to BMGS, Raman teaches at Leura, North Katoomba and Blackheath Public Schools, Katoomba High School and from his home studio. When he is not teaching, he performs and records albums with his band earprojector.
Raman would consider it a privilege to be a part of your musical journey, and would be grateful for you to be a part of his.
0439 645 755
Vocal, Musicianship, Piano
L. Mus. A. , A. Mus. A. ,Perf Cert
Lyn is a singing, piano and musicianship teacher who shares a birthday with Beethoven (minus a few years!). She moved to the Blue Mountains in 2009 after many years on the NSW Far North Coast, having previously worked at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium (Grafton) and as a private teacher in Yamba. Lyn has a keen interest in Baroque sacred vocal music, as well as art song, music theatre, gospel, jazz and folk. She has directed adult, junior and community choirs and a capella groups, arranges choral music and piano pieces and accompanies at exams, eisteddfods and other performances. Lyn is a regular vocal soloist in the Blue Mountains and is actively involved in church music, choral direction (Leura Singers) and private and school music tuition. Lyn combines skill, humour and kindness to teach others how to love music for life.
0428 125002
Drums, Percussion
An alumnus of BMGS, Cameron graduated in 2016 with a Band 6 in Music 1. Originally pursuing a career in IT, he returned to studying music completing a Bachelor of Music in 2021, specialising in Contemporary Performance. Cameron has studied with industry professionals including Rick Grossman from ‘Hoodoo Gurus’ and performed with members of the ‘Wolfmother’ Band. In 2020 Cameron established the BMGS Rock band which rehearses Monday afternoons. Having played drums for the last 13 years, Cameron also tutors drums and percussion privately.
0456 619 325
Voice
Dallas specialises in HSC Voice preparation. He teaches at BMGS and runs a busy city studio in Haymarket. Dallas has had 16 singers nominated for Encore Music performance since 2000, including 9 in the last 6 years. His HSC average mark for the last 8 girls is 95.1, and the last 20 boys, 93.3. From his 6 HSC students in 2020, 5 have begun courses in Musical Theatre, Voice or Creative Arts in 2021, successfully auditioning for VCA, NIDA, Brent Street, Griffith University (Qld) and Wollongong.
Dallas is also Adjunct Lecturer in Voice at UNSW where he teaches voice, runs masterclasses and a theatre vocal ensemble. Dallas has particular strengths in teaching classical voice and musical theatre, and is a creative curator of very contrasting HSC vocal programs.
Dallas has had an extensive performance career in opera and oratorio, including singing 36 operas with Opera Australia.
0409 307 727
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