MEd (ECU) | GradCertEdDes (MON) | GradCertEd (ECU) | BMus (hons)
Steve founded a brick-and-mortar music school, Advantage Music Academy in 2018 in Perth, Western Australia, where he leads a team of 10 teachers, including piano, violin, guitar and voice teachers. In 2023, the Academy reached a student body of 300, which includes one-to-one instrumental lessons and an original early-years program, Early Starters Music and Movement and Head Start Piano, which has been featured on the Integrated Music Teaching podcast.
Steve has over 20 years of teaching experience in the studio and the tertiary sector, in which he was a multi-award-winning lecturer of musicology. He holds a bachelor's degree in classical piano with first-class honours (UWA), two postgraduate graduate degrees in educational leadership (ECU) and one in educational design (MON).
Steve's reputation for excellence and leadership in pedagogy led to an invitation to join the Australian Music Examination Board as a piano examiner in 2023.
His passion is mentoring teachers in the application of education research and practice to maximise student learning outcomes and mentoring studio owners, particularly in the areas of recruitment and policy.
No empty promises about how to make six or seven figures. Just ground guidance based on education, experience, and research to help you become a more effective teacher and studio manager.
Need to hire professional, committed, and excellent teachers to work with you? I've developed a robust and comprehensive recruitment process unique to instrumental music studios. This process will help you identify the ideal employee for your specific needs and recognise red flags. I can help you implement this process, adapt it to your unique needs, and go through an entire recruitment cycle with you from writing your job page through to the final hiring decision.
Having trouble with student behaviour? I've developed a proactive behaviour management strategy for our unique context. The strategy is an adaptation and synthesis of effective evidence-based practices used in the classroom that aims to deal with issues promptly and decisively.
What to level up your pedagogy? Drawing on evidence-based practices and education research, I can help you increase student engagement with learning, foster student ownership of learning, teach with greater structure, clarity and purpose, and provide effective forward-focussed feedback. No apps, games, or method books—just real pedagogy.
Need help writing policy? I can teach you principles to guide your policy-writing process and help you construct effective, airtight policies that are fair to you and your clients and unique to your context. I can help with enrolment, payment, missed lessons, behaviour, health, termination and other policies.
Flexible options from $99: one-off video calls, written feedback, and project-based coaching.
Ask for a quote
Are you looking for some specific and detailed feedback on your teaching? My approach to pedagogy is one informed by education research and practice, giving you the assurance that the input you receive will lead to positive change and improved student learning.
$199
Are you looking for some quick advice on a single issue? Feedback on your website design, studio policy, behaviour management, recruitment, whatever you need. One issue, one call. Send me the details, and I'll confirm that I can help, and then we'll schedule a one-hour call after I've examined the issue.
From $99
Do you need help writing a policy document? Missed lessons, behaviour, payments, notice periods, employment contracts, and more. Send me your draft, I'll make suggested edits with explanatory notes; it's that easy!
Ask for a quote
Do you need help building your recruitment process? Writing your studio policy from scratch? Improving your website? Building a professional learning community? Implementing education research and practice into your teaching? Things like this require more than one phone call. Send me the details then we'll book an initial call to see if we're a good fit and to discuss your options.