Susan Deas

Susan Deas is a professional musician, lecturer and teacher. She has been teaching piano for 25 years, with an emphasis on giving her students a broad understanding of music. Her students learn both classical and contemporary styles, including training in classical performance, technique, theory, sight reading, aural skills, playing by ear and improvisation. She also assists other piano teachers in teaching improvisation and playing by ear. Susan has been performing as a professional pianist for two decades at various venues in Sydney and Newcastle, including hotels, clubs, restaurants, reception centres, churches and retirement villages. She has performed in orchestras, brass bands, concert bands, choirs, jazz bands, rock bands, and a Renaissance ensemble. Susan has also directed and conducted several performance groups, and arranged music for many groups and special occasions. Susan is a regular lecturer at Sydney University's Centre for Continuing Education and at WEA, where she teaches courses such as 'A Beginner's Guide to Classical Music' and 'How Music Works.' She also occasionally gives guest lectures at other venues, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Sydney Observatory, and the Jane Austen Society. Susan's training includes a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) at the University of Technology, a Bachelor of Music at the University of New South Wales, and a Master of Music Studies (Studio Pedagogy) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has also achieved an A.Mus.A in Musicianship. Susan serves on the Board of the Music Teachers' Association of New South Wales as Managing Director.