Learning from Aksuna

Learning how to craft your skill on the piano is not just about understanding the music, how to play fluently or grasping the technical know-hows. It’s also about how you respond to the challenges, pressures and expectations that creep up in this process, and how you manage them.

Known to her students using her personal name, Natasha has been a teacher for more than 20 years. She is committed to helping everyone reach their full potential in piano playing, both in technique and resilience. Traditional and inflexible teaching methods may sometimes yield unwanted technical and emotional obstacles that can impede progress and lead some to consider giving up the instrument altogether. She offers something different: a combination of technical excellence whilst safeguarding student mental and musical wellbeing.

Natasha firmly believes that sharpening your craft should not be at jeopardy to your wellbeing. Her teaching method is based on positive psychology, which recognises the importance of thriving, resilience, and general wellbeing in optimal functioning.

Lesson enquiry

“Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”

— Plato

Qualifications & Recognitions

[2021] Outstanding Teaching Award, St. Petersburg International Piano Competition

[2019] Certificate in Peace-building and Conflict Transformation (U.S.A.)

[2018] Master of Music Therapy

[2014] Finalist, Australian National Piano Award

[2014] Master of Music in Performance

[2013] Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Arts

[2001] Licentiate of Music Australia

[2000] Associate of Music Australia (Distinction)

In addition to being awarded the Australian Postgraduate Award for her Masters studies and a full-scholarship for her Bachelor studies, Aksuna was humbly awarded other various scholarships and grants from The University of Melbourne.

Lesson enquiry

  • “We are eternally grateful to Natasha for introducing our son to the wonderful world of music at the age of 5. Her nurturing approach harnessing a young child’s interest and innate talent has to be the only way to teach music as we see our boy blossomed under the tutelage of this masterful piano virtuoso. Natasha’s technical brilliance and approachable demeanour create a conducive learning environment for her students to discover their own wonderful world of music.”

    — CJ, father of Ayden (5 yo)

  • "Our 7 year old daughter is attending private lessons with Natasha. Natasha is a very gifted teacher and clearly has an infectious passion and love for music which she passes on to our daughter effortlessly. Her technique and method of teaching are professional, unique creative and easy to follow. We have witnessed our daughter progress in her learning and understanding of the piano discipline very quickly and efficiently. She loves going to classes with Natasha and enjoys practicing her homework during the week. The whole experience has been profound for us as a family and the teaching our daughter is receiving from Natasha are a positive influence for her. They will stay with our daughter for her entire life. We are very grateful for all the passion, dedication, work and energy that Natasha has been putting in to her lessons. We are some of her biggest fans. So in short we highly recommend her to anyone considering learning the piano. "

    — Ethan, father of Amelia (7yo)

  • "Our two daughters have been learning piano with Natasha for the past three years. Over that time, we have observed that their piano playing technique, musicality and the polish of their public performances have improved quite markedly. This is reflected in Natasha’s own marvellous virtuosity in piano performance. We would highly recommend Natasha to anyone who wishes to take their piano playing technique, musicality and performance to the next level."

    — Matthew, father of Amanda (11 yo) and Bianca (14 yo)

  • “Natasha is the Bob Ross of Music…From coordinating concerts to practising music therapy in India, lessons with Natasha meant that you’d learn how music is applied beyond exams, competitions and concerts. Her emphasis in positive psychology also places individual growth and wellbeing of high import in lessons. Coming from a 20-year-old, I’ve never come across such meaningful lessons and such a beacon of inspiration that has motivated me thus far in life. I’ve blossomed from a shy kid with high-functioning anxiety to an adult equipped for greater challenges.”

    — Amani (20 yo)

  • “I have no grand plans to become a musician, but was simply looking for a new way to be creative and reignite my childhood love of music. Re-learning how to play piano in my 30s has been a fun challenge, and so rewarding. Eternally grateful to Natasha for sharing her gift with me."New List Item

    — Kelly (30 yo)

  • "One of the things I value most about Natasha is that I never feel attacked or judged when she teaches me - which unfortunately was the experience I had before. I was scared of teachers being condescending or patronising. With Natasha, I feel I can be myself, and that it's OK if I'm not up to a particular standard; that it's OK to be me. She just work with that, and she genuinely wants to help me improve or be better. I feel like most piano teachers just focus only on building technicality, but I feel she has helped me build up also on mental skills and resilience, help me be in touch with my emotions. Natasa also have helped me build up emotional resilience for my performance, and from that the tools to help manage these anxieties and beyond. Overall, learning with Natasha has helped me learn to be less critical of myself, not just as a musician but also as a person in general. These lessons in self-acceptance and self-compassion, have been invaluable. I can realise and feel that this is all part of the journey, a bigger picture, much like a piece of music with an ongoing narrative.”

    — Caitlin (22 yo)

Lesson enquiry