They are the cornerstone of the school. All the teachers are musicians who perform professionally whilst juggling teaching and other gigs. In addition to being incredibly talented, they are all fantastic with children. The teachers are the reason that Einsteinz Music is successful in teaching children music, in a fun and informal environment.

Matt Steffen
Jule Ann-Glur
Melanie Horsnell
Wayne Tritton
Rosie Tritton
Chris Roberts
Rob Shannon
Karen Moses
Tim McArtney

There was never any doubt that Matt was going to be musically gifted as he was born into a musical family. His father and brother already played the guitar, so at 13 years of age Matt learnt the bass guitar, joining his first band and doing his first gig at the ripe old age of 14!
Matt started playing the double bass at 14 and discovered classical music, doing his first professional gig at 17.

He attended the Canberra School of Music (ANU) from 1990-1994, studying double bass, majoring in performance. At the same time he still played in bands and taught double bass.
Moving to Sydney in 1995, he took on freelance classical work, some of the highlights of which were with the Opera and Ballet Orchestra, The Brandenburg Orchestra, Phantom of
the Opera (over 80 shows), Miss Saigon as well as many one-off events such as playing in the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) on their Australian tour.
At the end of the ‘90s he headed back towards bands, playing in
electric string group Coda from 1996 – 2003, as well as The New Acoustic
Collective (with fellow Einsteinz Music teacher Rob Shannon) and his own band Royal Deluxe.
With Coda, Matt was an ARIA award nominee in 2001 and was also involved in the Musica Viva in Schools program doing over 600 shows at primary schools and some high schools across NSW.
He then branched into the area of improvisation, forming an improv dance/ music group 6’3” with his partner Emma, another dancer and Rob Shannon.
He’s been teaching at Einsteinz Music since 2003 and loves it because he’s passionate about music and thinks that everyone should be able to enjoy it. “Sometimes things are easier to enjoy when you have a basic understanding of what they're about”, Matt says about teaching music.

“I feel music should be an integral part of education and development and in a broader long term sense I feel it makes for a more peaceful, compassionate and intelligent society, something that Australia and the world should be striving towards.”

He tells a story of an Einsteinz Music mum who was so excited because her young daughter had begun to clap in time in the week between classes and her general co-ordination had improved immensely since beginning the classes.
Another story he loves to tell is about a couple of his students putting on little concerts on the weekends for their family and friends, taking on the role of teacher, and teaching everyone the songs and actions just as he taught them in class.

Matt plays with Sydney band Decoder Ring who won a gamut of awards (including an AFI) for their soundtrack to the Australian Film 'Somersault'. In addition he also does sessions for other people's albums, teaches double bass, teaches Einsteinz Music classes and writes and records his own material. He also has an interest in a sound studio on the North Shore and is involved in the mixing side of the business.

Music was always prominent in Julie-Ann’s life, growing up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. She spent some time in Europe in 1992, performing at cafes in Paris and London before heading back home and settling up North in Angourie, a small coastal town. There she spent four years writing and playing music in a band.

She presented a music program featuring new and local talent on Public Radio and also presented a children’s program called ‘Green Eggs and Bacon’, (which was then aired nationally). As an extension of the radio program she started her music teaching career – teaching a class in music appreciation, before moving back to Sydney in 1996.

As well as writing her own songs, (one of her songs, ‘Prism’, has been used as a theme song in a local short film), Julie-Ann is a consummate performer, showing her versatility through many different styles of music:

Jules is a busy lady – teaching 3 mornings a week for Einsteinz Music, giving private guitar tuition and performing her original folk-styled material at venues around NSW.

As soon as she heard about Einsteinz Music, Jules wanted to be a part of the school, joining the teaching staff in 2003. Jules loves children and gets personal satisfaction watching them learn, grow and develop and seeing them absorb the amount they do week after week.

Jules says: “Teaching and connecting with children helps me to maintain the child within myself. It helps me to remain open to that beautiful energy and innocence that continues to inspire me!”

Melanie started to learn classical guitar at 5 years old and was out busking the streets of Manly with her little sister aged 10. In addition to learning the guitar, she took lessons in the bassoon and saxophone too.

She studied the guitar up to Grade 8 Classical and Theory with Trinity College, then started songwriting at 19 and won a few songwriting competitions so decided to pursue it as a career instead of all the other things she wanted to be. Melanie moved to London and Paris and played the traps and built her songwriting portfolio.

She has since returned and released 4 ep's and 2 albums. Her new album “Complicated Sweetheart” is produced by Aria award winning producer Paul McKercher (producer for Augie March, Crowded House, Little Birdy and Pete Murray). She toured Australia with USA’s Jason Mraz in August and has shared the stage to support Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning, Irish supergroup The Frames, Lou Rhodes and Josh Pyke, not to mention Bertie Blackman, Peregrine, Old Man River, Lior, Wes Carr and the list goes on. She showcased at the 2007 CMJ Music Festival in New York and she has toured Europe five times, the USA and Singapore.

Melanie has written music for film and Television including “The Saddle Club”, "The Caterpiller Wish", Aussie surf movie “Living the dream”, “Little Oberon”, “Canal Road” and “Big Brother”. She also wrote five songs for the soundtrack of the Aussie movie “Love in the First Degree”, including the signature track “I Just Want Some Love”.

"I am a new mum and I've just personally discovered how fun it is to play with my child with music, and how much she loves it! I've always loved teaching children music and playing music to them, as they always respond naturally with enthusiasm to it and they are just so clever when they discover a new rhythm or song, it is one of the most enjoyable moments. My daughter Gypsy has just figured out how to stop eating the Maraccas and start playing them – that is so cool!"

Wayne began his musical career learning to play… the RULER! Truly! Wayne had an enthusiastic, music-loving Year 3 primary school teacher, who, believing in the power of music as a great educational tool, decided all her students should learn to play the recorder. Lacking enough resources for the entire class, those without were instructed to draw “finger-holes” on their rulers and play along that way until such time as they could procure an instrument for themselves. Wayne still plays to this day.

The recorder led to the clarinet in the school band, then to the organ and then later, the guitar. Leaving his hometown of Brisbane in 1986 for Sydney, Wayne has been playing professionally ever since in various bands, both his own and others. He was a long time member (guitarist/vocalist) of the twice ARIA nominated Dave Steel and the Roadside Prophets, releasing 3 albums and an EP, and as the guitarist for ARIA winner Margot Smiths’ band.

Wayne also plays the harmonica and the mandolin, and is an accomplished singer and songwriter, having released an EP and an album of his own material. He plays regularly around Sydney and the south coast with his acoustic duo littlebob, have recorded their own CD. .

When Wayne's wife Rosie became a teacher, she came home after her first teaching class, and was positively bursting with enthusiasm and passion for what she was doing, and it was contagious. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I went along to watch a few classes, to see if it was something I could do. One session was all it took!! Seeing the kids having so much fun and PARTICIPATING in the actual class really impressed me, and it was obvious the teachers themselves were having fun. I was hooked!! THIS is what music should be about for kids: not endless repetitive scales and pressure to perform; just joining in, singing along, getting to bash on a drum, shake some shakers, and run and jump around so music becomes something they associate with having fun as well as learning. I walked away with a big smile on my face and knew that this was something I REALLY wanted to do.”

Rose is quite unique as she is a qualified Speech Pathologist, is very experienced at working with children, has a diploma in Creative and Expressive Arts – and plays the ukulele! Rose is a very vibrant addition to our teaching staff and has already enchanted all the parents and children she has met.

Rose is very excited about joining Einsteinz Music as a teacher and loves watching children moving in time to music. “I can’t think of a more satisfying way to combine my love of music with the desire to help children learn”.

Rose graduated from Sydney University in 2001 with a Bachelors Degree in Speech Pathology and began practising speech pathology working for the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) specialising in the area of disability. She has worked with a range of clients from 2 year olds to adults with disabilities such as Autism, Downs Syndrome, Kabuki Syndrome and Developmental Delay in a variety of settings (home, pre-school and centre based).

Rose works in the field of Speech Pathology and has experience working with children that have difficulties with articulation (speech sounds), dysfluency (stuttering), language learning and attention. She enjoys using sign language and music within her therapy sessions when it is appropriate.

Rose also has an Associated Diploma in Creative and Expressive Arts and has always enjoyed singing and performing.

In 2000 she met her husband Wayne (a professional musican) who encouraged her to continue to pursue her musical interests. Rose began learning the ukelele in 2002 and now performs regularly with her husband at various venues around Sydney. She also began learning the acoustic bass guitar last year.

Chris grew up listening to his father’s stunning tenor voice soaring in churches, and being serenaded to sleep by his dad’s barbershop quartet practising 4-part harmonies in his home weeknights. His granddad was a professional jazz pianist.

At the age of 7, Chris asked to learn the piano, on his stipulated condition that he not have to do it through the exam system – he’d already seen kids losing their enthusiasm and creativity, practicing their set pieces for the whole year – so he happily played his way unimpeded through the classical repertoire by the age of 12.

By age 13, Chris’s teacher was mooting a concert pianist career. By 1979 he was the opening act and regular entertainer for the new Toucan café in Glebe Point Rd, singing and playing piano and guitar.

On the way through Chris also learnt harmonica, organ, clarinet and saxophone.

In the end though, Chris was drawn more to the healing arts, and worked
in various health-related disciplines, mainly as a Counsellor for the last
20 years.

Chris comes to the Einsteinz Music position as a parent of girls aged 5 and 2, with whom he’s sat in on classes now for 4 ½ years. He’s very consciously tapped the rhythm and beat into their little bodies, and sung to them, from the day they were born.

Chris loves the idea of children attending music and movement classes, and of surrounding them with music from a young age -- whether they’re apparently listening or not! He feels it a shame our culture has less pervasive ‘street-level’ music surrounding our children than it might.

He believes this early exposure to music, movement and “the beat”, is profoundly beneficial for them in life. He believes this stimulates emotional expression and communication, not to mention the love of music, and the resultant body-instilled empowerment to produce it and express themselves musically throughout their lives.

“I’m very excited to be returning to a more musical phase of my life, especially through such a fun and satisfying avenue as teaching music classes for young kids!”

Rob is one of Sydney’s more colourful musicians; his musical palate encompasses many styles and traditions. As a young child he played drum kit, in many bands, moving to Sydney (from central west NSW) at age 16, to pursue a career as a professional musician.

Along this path he studied classical theory via Trinity College London. He completed his exams with credits and then flew to India and fell madly in love with Hindustani (North Indian) classical music and commenced his studies in this music, namely tabla (drums).
Based in New Delhi, he lived and learnt with his teacher Shree Gladwin Charles. He learnt in the tradional Gurukal (teacher/ student) system, a rare honour for a western student. These studies spanned almost a decade.
Realising the limited options available to performers in Australia, Rob took up the guitar professionally, playing various styles of Jazz, including Gypsy and Popular.
He led the band ‘The Straight Back Fellows’ for 5 years, as well as playing tabla for ‘Heval’, (a Kurdish/ Indian fusion band). He now leads his own band ‘Arabesque’, who perform regularly around Sydney.

Rob has been teaching with Einsteinz Music for four years, since June 2001. Teaching little children music has proved to be one of his bigger challenges to date.
His favourite moment was years ago when a little student challenged him on the drums in front of all the other kids and parents. “The challenge was most impressive, with the little man copying me note for note”, Rob mused. “The parents just stood there with their mouths agape. I know he will go on to be a great musician – if he wants to be.”

As a professional musician Rob loves teaching the children. He feels it is “a great way to address certain cultural inadequacies in Australia, being a basic lack of understanding and appreciation of the arts”. Rob’s goal as a teacher is “ …to give the children, as well as the parents and carers, a little insight into the working of music – and a chance to share it together.”

Although Rob has now re-located to Bathurst with his family, he will be returning to run collaborative programs with Einsteinz Music, including holiday workshops.

Karen Moses grew up in a musical family, where both her parents played the piano and sang in choirs. She was brought up going to musicals as both her parents were in a Musical Society. Karen learnt to play the piano and read sheet music when she was 7 years old. One of her childhood friends started to play the drums in primary school and she was so inspired by this that she wanted to learn the drums too, which she was able to do when she bought her first drum kit from a grant awarded to her as when she was awarded the most improved student in Year 8.

After that she studied drums through private tuition for 6 years. She was in a folk band called 'Wild Blue Ivy' and while working at Drum City was the drummer for a blues rock band called 'Double Helix'. They played at many venues around Sydney and supported groups like 'Holly Throsby' and 'The John Butler Trio'.

Along the way she taught herself to play the guitar and began writing songs which she still does to this day. She enjoys playing the djembe, wooden flute and the dombec.

In 2003 Karen began a new career working as an Early Childhood Teacher in a long day care centre. This is where she began to appreciate how much children learn from music. She would make up songs on her guitar and have a huge group of children dancing and singing in front of her. She would also do music and movement with her drums, which they loved. She picked up a wide knowledge of children's songs from being in this environment.

For the last two years she worked as a nanny and brought the two children she looks after to Einsteinz music classes taught by Matt and Chris. One day she was playing a song on the piano when the boy she nannies for picked up a tambourine and began to play the beat in time with what she was doing – so she has been able to see the effect first-hand what attending music classes from a young age can do for children. She saw in him an ability to understand music and be confidently involved in musical activities.

One day she mentioned to Chris that she would like to be an Einsteinz Music teacher as she loves to see the way children respond to music and finds it fascinating how they remember the words and rhythms so easily. "It is such a positive environment to be in where everyone is having fun, smiling, dancing and learning about music", she says about the music classes.

Tim McArtney grew up in far North Queensland and although his upbringing may cue images of footy and watersports, Tim decided to stay inside and play guitar. Then bass. Then double bass. Then a 15 year old Tim headed straight to Newcastle's Hunter School of Performing Arts as an aspiring bass player and singer/songwriter.

At 17, Tim began performing anywhere in Newcastle and Sydney. That big city life captured Tim as he began studying at the Australian Institute of Music. Tim attended jam nights, jazz gigs, rock gigs and recording sessions in almost all of Sydney's big name studios. There were stints as a front man, a sideman and a producer; all giving him further insights into the craft of music. He was the lead singer of popular Newcastle band 'Thirty Seven', supporting ‘Motorace’, ‘Frenzal Rhomb’ and ‘On Inc’ (to name a few), but left to play bass for Sydney band 'Somewhere In Summer'. These bands gained airplay on Australian Indie Radio, including FBI, RRR and Triple J.

Tim realised he needed to practice! He practiced 5 hours a day for about 8 months, moved to Sydney, finished his degree (Bachelor of Music with Honors) and began life as a full time musician.

Tim has personally taken one-on-one lessons with Mark Costa (Australian Idol, Shannon Noll, Anthony Callea), Hugh Fraser (We Will Rock You: Queen), Leon Gaer (Barry Manilow, LA session player), Michael Galliazi (Karma County, Java Quartet), Brett Hirst (Lior, Mike Nock Trio, Sandy Evans Trio), Paul Lazslo (various orchestras throughout Sydney), Phil Stack (Thirsty Merc, Vince Jones), Dave Symes (The Sleepy Jackson, Jackie Orsarsky), and Jonothan Zwartz (James Morrison, Tina Arena).

Currently, Tim is playing and recording around Australia, wearing many different hats. Rock, pop, jazz, experimental – and anything he finds exciting. Any day of the week Tim could be playing Jazz in Sydney's classy Opera Bar or Marble Bar (Hilton), on the road with Melanie Horsnell (another Einsteinz Music teacher), recording at SonyBMG studios with popstar Nathan Leigh Jones, or being the first call double bass tutor for The Bass Shop.

Tim McArtney has been teaching since he was 15 years old! Tim likes teaching for Einsteinz Music because he feels he can guide and nurture children into being either brilliant musicians or at very least lovers of music of all styles and types!

And plus, Tim says that “sitting on a mat and becoming a kid again can be a lot of fun!”