Music lessons in Castle Hill, for children and adults.
One to one, after school and on Saturdays. Take an instrument off the wall to meet its teacher.
Piano with Gina
Gina Marino, Mondays to Saturdays
Reading music from the first lesson, at the student's own pace. Theory too, if you want it.
- At home
- A piano, or a keyboard with 88 full size, weighted keys. More on this
Three teachers, five instruments.
You'll know who's teaching before you book. Qualifications and memberships are listed as each teacher holds them.
Gina Marino
Director. Piano and music theory.
- Bachelor of Music
- ATMusA, the AMEB's Associate Teacher of Music Australia award
- Member of the Music Teachers' Association of NSW (MMTA)
Gina taught from her front room for years before opening Silky Oak. She likes students who ask "why does it go like that?"
Mateo Silva
- Diploma of Music
- Grade 8 drum kit, a playing grade from Rockschool
Teaches acoustic and electric guitar, and kit from first beats up. Plays in a covers band on weekends.
Elif Arslan
- Bachelor of Music Education
- AMusA in violin, an AMEB performance diploma
- Member of ANATS, the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing, whose members agree to its Code of Ethics
Working with Children Checks
Every teacher holds a NSW Working with Children Check. Gina verifies each one with the Office of the Children's Guardian before a teacher starts, and again when it renews. A police check on its own isn't accepted instead.
- Parents and carers are welcome to sit in on any lesson.
- Every lesson room has a glass panel in the door.
- Teachers contact families through the school's phone and email, not private numbers.
- We only photograph or record a student with written permission.
What you need at home.
Nothing for the first lesson: every room has the instrument. After that, this is what each student practises on.
- PianoA piano, or a keyboard with 88 full size, weighted keys and a sustain pedal. A smaller keyboard is fine for the first term.
- GuitarA guitar sized to the student, a clip on tuner or a tuner app, and a few picks.
- VoiceNothing to buy. A quiet spot, a phone to record yourself, and a glass of water.
- DrumsA practice pad and a pair of sticks to start. An electronic kit with headphones later keeps the neighbours on side.
- ViolinA violin sized to the student, rosin and a shoulder rest.
Hire before you buy
For guitar, violin and drums, hire for a term or two first. Children go up a size every year or two, and hiring lets you find out if the instrument sticks. Your teacher checks the size at the first lesson.
Practice, roughly
Little and often beats one long session. Ten to fifteen minutes on most days is a good start for young beginners, more as pieces grow. Your teacher will suggest an amount that fits your week; it's a guide, not a rule.
Exams are optional.
Some students like a goal to work towards. Others just want to play. Both are fine, and you can change your mind later.
- Pieces. Usually three, chosen from the exam board's list for that grade.
- Technical work. Scales and exercises, played from memory.
- Aural and sight reading. Short tests of listening and reading music you haven't seen.
- The day. Played to an examiner from the board, with a written report afterwards.
We prepare students for AMEB exams on piano, violin and voice, and Rockschool exams on guitar and drums. The entry fee is paid to the board, on top of lessons; we'll tell you the current amount before you enter.
A grade isn't a teaching qualification
A grade, or a performance diploma like AMusA, shows how someone plays. Teaching awards are separate: the AMEB's are CTMusA, ATMusA and LTMusA. That's why each teacher above is listed with exactly what they hold.
Lessons and prices.
One teacher, one student. One price for each lesson length, whoever teaches it.
- 30 minutes$42 a lessonMost beginners, and children under 10.
- 45 minutes$60 a lessonOnce pieces get longer, and most adults.
- 60 minutes$78 a lessonAdvanced students and diploma work.
Billed by the term
One invoice for the lessons left in the term, so starting mid term costs less. There's no enrolment fee or levy: the lesson price is the whole price.
Missed lessons
Tell us before the lesson and we'll book a make-up time, usually on a Saturday. If your teacher has to cancel, we always reschedule or credit the lesson.
Adults are welcome
Same teachers, same prices, from complete beginners who've never read a note. Evening times run until 8.30pm.
Start with one lesson.
- Pick an instrument and a time. One short form, and the time is yours.
- Come as you are. The instrument is in the room. You'll have the teacher you'd have each week.
- Decide afterwards. Your teacher suggests a lesson length and what to get for home. If you'd like to go on, we offer the weekly times that are free. If not, that's the end of it.
No long contract: lessons run term by term. Let us know two weeks before a term ends if you're not continuing.
Find us.
Shop 7, 4 Old Northern RoadCastle Hill NSW 2154
- Monday
- 2.30pm to 8.30pm
- Tuesday
- 2.30pm to 8.30pm
- Wednesday
- 2.30pm to 8.30pm
- Thursday
- 2.30pm to 8.30pm
- Friday
- 2.30pm to 8.30pm
- Saturday
- 8.30am to 4pm
- Sunday
- Closed
- Parking. Free in the car park behind the shops.
- Waiting. There's a front room with chairs, and you can see the lesson room doors from it.
- Access. Ground floor, no steps from the car park.
Questions.
What age can children start?
Violin from about 5, piano from about 6, guitar from about 7, and drums and voice from about 8. Every child is different; the first lesson is how we find out.
Can adults start with no experience?
Yes. You don't need to read music, and nobody will make you sit an exam. Most adults take 45 minutes in the evening.
Are lessons music therapy, or NDIS funded?
No. We teach music. Our lessons aren't music therapy and we don't claim them through the NDIS. Students of every ability are welcome: tell us what helps, and the teacher plans around it.
Can I watch my child's lesson?
Yes, any lesson. Some children play better with you in the room and some play better without; the teacher will tell you honestly.
What if we go away for a week?
Tell us before the lesson and we'll book a make-up time. If you know before the term starts, we can leave that week off the invoice.
Ask us anything.
Gina answers the phone during lesson hours, between lessons. Leave a message and she'll call back the same day.