Piano Teacher

Steve Barry (PhD, BMUS Hons First Class)

Jazz/Classical Piano, Improvisation & Music Theory Teacher

I’m a jazz pianist, composer, improviser and current PhD researcher in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

I’m passionate about creativity, and I use improvisation as a fun way to learn music theory while developing piano technique and fostering critical thinking skills – whether that comes via jazz, classical or contemporary music styles.

I develop a personalised syllabus for each student that harnesses their innate curiosity about music. For jazz players, I also use the ABRSM’s (UK examination board) excellent Jazz Piano syllabus which I went through as a teenager.

Steve Barry (PhD, BMUS Hons First Class)

I won the Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year and placed 2nd in the National Jazz Awards in 2013.

As a performer, I’ve worked extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand with various ensembles, and my trio and quartet have appeared at major jazz festivals in Wangaratta, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. I’ve performed around the world in New York City, Berlin, India, Italy, France, New Caledonia and Samoa.

In 2014 I co-founded Orbiturtle, a not-for-profit arts organisation that seeks to foster cross-cultural and inter-arts dialogue between artists and musicians from across the Asia-Pacific region. As a result I’ve collaborated extensively with Japanese musicians in recent years both in a jazz, traditional and improvised music setting, and worked with koto player Michiyo Yagi and bassist Yoshio Suzuki (nephew of the founder of the Suzuki method).

I graduated from the Conservatorium with First Class Honours in Jazz Performance in 2011.

Qualifications -

• Bachelor of Music (Hons First Class)

---