Tinkling Ivories Piano Studio

Leeanne Innes is the owner of Tinkling Ivories Piano Studio and a Licensed Simply Music Teacher. Tinkling Ivories Piano Studio teaches 3 programs:
Play-a-Story from ages 4 to 7
Play-a-Story is a musical journey in which you and your child travel through a storybook world. It uses the piano as its mode of travel, creating sounds, melodies, harmonies and rhythms to express the story. Literally, your child will create their own musical soundtrack on the piano, interpreting mood, colour, and nuance as the story unfolds.
Students will also have the opportunity to learn some songs accompaniment style, which they can play and sing along to.
Play-a-Story lessons are offered as shared lessons (maximum of 3 students per lesson).
Contact the studio to arrange a Free Introductory Session.
Simply Music from ages 7 upwards
Simply Music is a revolutionary Australian developed piano and keyboard method that offers a breakthrough in music education. This unique approach has beginning students of all ages playing great sounding contemporary, gospel, classical, blues and accompaniment pieces immediately - from their very first lessons!
You are never too old to get started, Simply Music’s eldest beginning student was 97!
In contrast to traditional methods, the Simply Music program uses an entirely new and far more natural approach, focusing on the sheer fun of playing music.
Traditional piano lessons require students to learn how to read music as a means of learning how to play. This 'reading based approach' is slow and frustrating with many students never acquiring the ability to play. Many students lose the desire to learn altogether.
Simply Music uses a 'playing based approach', where we temporarily delay the reading process and get the hands working. Simply Music students get to feel the joy and satisfaction of immediately playing great sounding music.
Students are also taught how to improvise and compose their own music from the beginning.

Contact the studio to arrange a Free Introductory Session.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will my child need an instrument at home to practice on?
A. Absolutely! Classes are about the teacher showing the student what to do. The real learning happens at home with practice.
Q. Do I need a piano or is a keyboard okay?
A. A keyboard is fine as long as it is full size and has weighted keys, keys that you need to press down to make a noise.

Q. What is your schedule? Do you run by the school term?
A. Yes, I run by the Victorian School Term.

Q. How much practice will I need to do?
A. At least 15 minutes a day, most days of the week.

Testimonials from real students
“The piano lessons with you have been one of the best things I have done for myself and my girls. It has brought us a lot of happiness. You have given us a wonderful passion and interest that will continue with us. Thank you!” Angela, Simply Music student and mum of Play-a-Story students Lucy and Katie.
“The lessons are fun, awesome and relaxing. My teacher is very nice and smart” Cameron (aged 10).

“I did not expect it to be fun. I had traditional piano lessons before but found it very hard, I didn’t enjoy it, unlike my experience now. I’m amazed at the number of songs on my playlist. It’s getting bigger and I’m excited every week. Leeanne is professional, patient and organized. She handles class well and motivates me a lot”. Khristela, Simply Music student.

About the Teacher
“I have been playing the piano since I was a teenager, when I took traditional piano lessons. What I love about Simply Music is that you don't have to play scales or do exams! You learn to play songs straight away, not Mary Had A Little Lamb, but real songs. With traditional lessons, I was only taught classical pieces. Now I get to play a whole variety of music - ballads, blues, classical, contemporary, accompaniment, improvising - I've even composed songs myself. Something I thought I would never be able to do!” Leeanne Innes, Simply Music Teacher.
Leeanne holds a Working With Children card.