Piano lessons in St Leonards, North Sydney, Chatswood, Epping and online.
Fall in love with music, one note at a time
Warm, patient piano teaching for children, teens and adults, from your very first notes to AMEB and ABRSM exams. Learn at Ms Van's St Leonards studio, three minutes walk from the station, at your own piano across Sydney's north shore and Northern Beaches, or online.
8+ years of teaching experience | Master of Music (Performance) | Lessons in English & Tiếng Việt
Her student won 1st Prize, Crescendo International 2024 including a S$5,000 study scholarship
About me
Meet Ms Van
Vanessa (Van) Cao M.M.T.A., known to her students as Ms Van, is a classically trained pianist and piano teacher based in St Leonards on Sydney's lower north shore. She holds a Master of Music (Performance) from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) in Sydney, where she studied on a full scholarship with pianist Dr Wojciech Wisniewski, and she graduated with distinction from the Vietnam National Academy of Music.
On stage, Ms Van specialises in Baroque, Classical and Romantic repertoire, and aims to convey deep emotional expression in every performance. Her highlights include the 60th anniversary celebration of the Hanoi College of Art, charity concerts at the 108 Military Central Hospital, and Third Prize at the Vietnam-Spain International Piano Competition.
As a teacher, she is known for inspiration, adaptability and clear communication, including with children who find communicating a challenge. She currently teaches piano at Asteria School of Music and is an accredited member of the Music Teachers' Association of NSW. Her students don't just pass exams; they learn to love the instrument.
- Master of Music (Performance), full scholarship, Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA), Sydney
- Graduate with distinction, Vietnam National Academy of Music
- Piano teacher at Asteria School of Music
- Accredited member (M.M.T.A.), Music Teachers' Association of NSW
- Third Prize, Vietnam-Spain International Piano Competition
- Specialises in Baroque, Classical and Romantic repertoire
- Teaches in English and Vietnamese
"From the age of five, when I met the teacher who stayed with me until I was eighteen, I have wanted to be a piano teacher. A good teacher is not defined by technical mastery or years of study alone. A good teacher truly listens to each student, because every student has their own strengths. Real success comes when I help each child bring out those strengths, find their own wins, and fall in love with music.
Children, with their pure and innocent spirits, often remind me of myself at that age. I simply want to help them express themselves through the rise and fall of the notes. Adults come to the piano carrying all the ups and downs of life, and its sound can release feelings held in for a long time, and bring a little more peace of mind."
Achievements
Prize-winning students, proud teacher
Ms Van's students regularly take home prizes at music festivals and competitions in Hanoi, and the moments below mean even more than the medals.
Le Rythme "Winter Dreams" Concert 2023
1 Gold & 2 Silver Prizes
Crescendo International Music Festival & Competition 2024
1st Prize with a S$5,000 scholarship & 2 Silver Prizes
Sunflower's Symphony 2024
1st Prize
Lessons
Lessons
Every lesson is one-to-one and shaped around the student: age, level, goals and personality. Ms Van teaches on classical foundations, the technique and reading that let a student play anything afterwards, pop songs included. Absolute beginners are very welcome, and so are advanced pianists preparing for exams.
- Ages 5 to adult
- Beginner to advanced
- Classical foundations
- AMEB & ABRSM exam prep
- Pop and film music too
- Exam accompanying
- Music theory
What a lesson builds
- Technique: posture, hand shape, scales and arpeggios
- Reading music, and playing new music at sight
- Repertoire from the great composers, plus the music you love
- Musicianship: rhythm, listening, phrasing and expression
- Music theory, built into every lesson or taught as a subject of its own
- Performing with confidence, and AMEB or ABRSM exam preparation
Students are welcome to bring pieces they love, pop songs and film music included, alongside the classical grounding.
Prices
10-lesson package
Ten 60-minute lessons
$99 per lesson
$990 total package
No travel fees, free make-up lessons
Casual lessons
- 30 minutes$60
- 45 minutes$90
- 60 minutes$120
*Package paid upfront. Make-up lessons are free when you tell Ms Van by the day before. Casual lessons further out may have a travel fee.
Where lessons happen
Three ways to learn, all close to home. The studio is a 3 minute walk from St Leonards station. Ms Van travels to families across the north shore, from North Sydney, Chatswood and Mosman to Hunters Hill and Epping, and to the Northern Beaches. Online lessons work from anywhere.
Ms Van's studio
In St Leonards, a 3 minute walk from the station. Easy straight after school or after work.
Your home
Ms Van comes to you, and your child practises on their own piano. North Sydney, Chatswood, Mosman, Epping and across the north shore and Northern Beaches.
Online
Anywhere, over a video call. Handy for busy weeks, rain, and families who have moved away.
Google reviews
What families say
5.0 from 14 Google reviews
"When I first started piano lessons, my playing had many flaws. Thanks to Ms. Van's patient guidance and sharp eye for detail, my technique and confidence have improved dramatically. She is a wonderful teacher!"
"Ms Van has been a great piano teacher for our son. She is patient and knows how to impart knowledge and skills to kids in a way that they can understand. Highly recommend."
"My two kids are complete opposites. One is very serious, the other one cannot sit still. Somehow Van manages both of them. Very professional, Van!"
"Ms Van is such a lovely and patient piano teacher. She makes every lesson feel comfortable and enjoyable, and you can really tell how much she cares about her students. She explains things in a very easy-to-understand way and always encourages you without making you feel pressured. I've really enjoyed learning with her and always look forward to the lessons. Highly recommend Ms Van to anyone looking for a kind, supportive and passionate piano teacher"
"Very patient teacher. My son can get distracted quite easily but Van somehow gets him back on track without making a big deal out of it."
"Our son recently did his first AMEB piano exam and was quite nervous about having to play in front of an examiner. Van helped him prepare each of his pieces and scales and was very clear about what he needed to practise from week to week. As the exam got closer, we could see his confidence improving and by the day of the exam he felt well prepared. It was our first experience with AMEB as parents as well, so I really appreciated being able to ask Van questions about the process."
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Leave a Google reviewQuestions
Common questions
The things families usually ask before their first lesson. If yours is not here, just send a message.
Ms Van teaches children from age 5. Lessons are one-to-one and shaped around each student's age, level, goals and personality.
Yes. Complete beginners are very welcome, including adults learning for the first time. Ms Van teaches from beginner to advanced, so lessons also suit students who have played before.
Comfortable technique, reading music, rhythm, listening and expression, with theory taught through the pieces themselves. The grounding is classical, which is what makes it possible to play anything later, and students are welcome to bring pop songs and film music they love.
A keyboard is fine to start on, and many students do. Ms Van does encourage families to move to an upright or full size piano when they can, because weighted keys and a real sound are what build good technique. Whatever you have, the important thing is that it is available every day for practice.
At Ms Van's studio in St Leonards, a 3 minute walk from the station; at your own home across the north shore, including North Sydney, Chatswood, Mosman, Neutral Bay, Hunters Hill and Epping, and the Northern Beaches; or online from anywhere. There is no travel fee for lessons at your home on the lower north shore or in the Sydney CBD. Casual lessons further out may have a travel fee. Packages never do.
Lessons are always one-to-one. Casual lessons are $60 for 30 minutes, $90 for 45 minutes and $120 for 60 minutes. The special offer is $99 a lesson for 60 minutes on the 10-lesson package ($990 in total, paid upfront), with no travel fees. Your first lesson is a free 30-minute online trial.
You get ten 60-minute lessons at $99 a lesson instead of $120, with no travel fees. The package is $990 in total, paid upfront. If you need to reschedule, tell Ms Van by the day before and the make-up lesson is free.
It is free. It is a 30 minute lesson online where you meet Ms Van, talk about your goals and see how lessons feel. Fill in the short form on the booking page and either pick a time straight away or ask her to text you back. There is no pressure and no commitment afterwards.
Yes. Ms Van prepares students for both AMEB and ABRSM piano exams, and she can accompany students in their exams as well. Her own students have won prizes at international festivals and competitions.
Yes. Theory is part of every piano lesson, and Ms Van also teaches music theory as a subject of its own, including preparation for AMEB and ABRSM theory exams.
Yes. Ms Van teaches in English and Vietnamese, so use whichever you prefer when you get in touch. Cô Vân nói tiếng Việt!
Contact
Say hello
The easiest way to reach Ms Van is by message. Send a text, or use this form and she'll get back to you as soon as she can. English and Vietnamese are both welcome. Cô Vân nói tiếng Việt!
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Text or call
0422 721 276 -
Email
caovan093@gmail.com -
Areas
St Leonards studio, North Sydney, Chatswood, Mosman, Epping, the north shore, Northern Beaches and online