Helen Perris – Principal

“Helen clearly has a genuine joy and love of music along with a depth of musical and technical knowledge that is indescribable.” – Nicole & Mat

“Helen’s dedication, patience, and expertise make each lesson a joy for my daughter, and her personalized approach ensures that she feels supported and challenged every step of the way.” – Preeti

Helen has been based in Western Sydney since 2009, previously teaching in Canberra. She has thirty years of teaching experience. She has had a long and fruitful professional career as a singer-songwriter and children’s entertainer. She is an experienced adjudicator and a published composer. Several of her piano compositions appear in exam syllabi and are performed in studio concerts and student competitions around the world. Helen instills a strong work ethic in her students, fostering a genuine love for the study of music with her infectious enthusiasm.

Helen’s years of teaching experience includes:

• five years as a high school music and drama teacher
• three years employed in a dedicated music school
• teaching for six dancing and performing arts studios in three cities
• working as a peripatetic music teacher in four high schools
• running vocal, songwriting and performance workshops in numerous schools
• many hundreds of private students in her own studio

Helen has an extensive performing resumé with over 40 years in choirs, orchestras, chamber groups, rock bands, concerts, eisteddfods, competitions, revues, variety shows, plays, musicals, commercials, TV shows and films. She has also worked as a director, choreographer and vocal coach for theatre and multi-arts productions and was winner of the 2005 CAT Award for Best Director of a Play.

Helen is a highly qualified piano and voice teacher. She was a recipient of the Yamaha Piano Teacher Award: Breakout for both 2021 & 2024, regularly presents at music teacher conferences around Australia, was commissioned by Yamaha to present a professional development webinar to music teachers, and has been published in The Piano Teacher Magazine and on the Yamaha website. She holds a Bachelor of Music, Masters of Teaching, AMusA (piano) and Full Teacher’s Diploma from CSTD (Tapping).