“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
- Fredrich Nietzsche
“Where words fail music speaks.”
- Hans Christian Anderson
“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
- Victor Hugo
“After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”
- Aldous Husley
“If you look deep enough you will see music; the heart of nature being everywhere music.”
- Thomas Carlyle
“Music exists to elevate us as far as possible above everyday life.”
- Gabriel Faure
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
- Plato
“Music exists to elevate us as far as possible above everyday life.”
- Gabriel Faure
“Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.”
- Plato
“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
- Bertold Auerbach
“Music is the mediation between the spiritual and the sensual life.”
- Ludwig van Beethoven
Goal: To acquaint students with the European musical legacy, helping them to discern and appreciate the art of music while developing presentation and performance skills and enhancing personal qualities such as determination and self-esteem.

Our Teachers

Mr Sergei Suetin

I

After graduating from the State Leningrad Conservatory of Music (Russia) as a Pianist and Musicologist, I worked as a piano teacher at the Leningrad Music School for ten years. Whilst there, I taught students of varying ages and skills. Besides tuition, I coordinated musical programs, directed examinations and performed in concerts.

In 1991 I was invited to give lectures and performances in the University of Oklahoma (US). Since April 1993, I performed in concerts as a pianist and organist (Australia). I accompanied students of St. Michael's Grammar School for their exams. My work also involved the accompaniment of choirs and individual students during their examinations. In 1996-1998, as a piano teacher at the Australian Catholic University I taught students who took Bachelor of Music, conducted Master Classes and accompanied students in examinations. During my work as an accompanist I performed with vocalists and instrumentalists.

Since 1997, I have been conducting piano classes at the North Melbourne Primary School. There, I also accompanied the school choir. Since 2000, I instructed several senior students in Music Performance at a VCE level in Donvale Christian Collage covering Units 1 to 4.

I have over 30 years of experience as a private Piano Teacher. In 1994, I established a private music studio - the "St. Petersburg Music Studio" where I instruct children and adults in piano. My students complete ‘Piano’ and ‘Piano for Leisure’ from Preliminary to A. Mus. levels for examination purposes. A number of my students were awarded music scholarships to Scotch Collage, MLC, Fintona Girls’ School and Victorian Collage of the Arts.

Sergei will not be taking any new students.

Education

Ministry of Culture - Leningrad

Post-graduate course in Methodology of Piano Teaching; Post-graduate Certificate of Education.

Leningrad State Conservatory of Music - Leningrad, five-year course

Qualifications awarded - Musicologist, Music Teacher, Lecturer, Concert Performer and Soloist of a Chamber Ensemble; Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Education, Graduate Diploma in Musicology.

Mussorgsky College of Music - Leningrad, four-year course

Qualification awarded - Teacher of Theoretical Music Subjects and General Piano Course; Diploma with distinction.

Professional Standing

State School Music Teachers Registration (Victorian Board)

Reg. No. T02457446

Certificate of Registration as a Teacher for Non-government and Religious Schools;
secondary — year 12. (Registered Schools Board)

Reg. No. R105754

Member of the Australian Music Teachers Register

Mr Dobbs Franks

Since earning my Masters degree in Piano at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, I have enjoyed a busy and successful performing and teaching career. My performances have taken me around the world as a chamber musician with occasional diversions into performing my favourite piano concertos. My wife and I were a sonata team, and for over 35 years we performed a vast repertoire all over the world. I love playing the piano when I am not teaching or conducting.

With over 50 years' teaching experience, I am keen to share my incredible musical experiences with aspiring musicians. I feel it is a way to say thank you for such an exciting music career and life that I have. I enjoy working with young people, having conducted many youth orchestras and also being a Lecturer at the Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music at Monash University where I helped many young performers prepare for their lives as musicians.

As a pianist, I have a very well-developed technique and knowledge of the requirements of solo and chamber music performing and accompanying, as well as techniques for memorizing and practicing efficiently without wasting time.

My favorite music is whatever I am conducting or playing at the time.

My relaxation is competitive bridge anywhere in the world as well as online.

Education

Juilliard School of Music - New York City

Qualification awarded - Master of Music (MMus) Music Performance.

Hendrix College - Arkansas

Qualification awarded - Bachelor of Music (BMus) Honors. Music Performance, Musicology, Theory, Composition.

Professional Standing

Member of the Victorian Music Teachers Association

Member of the Australian Music Teachers Register