Our Experienced Music Teachers
All of School of Rock Bella Vista’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.
Liza-Marie Cacnio Singing Teacher
Liza-Marie is a singing teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista with a background as a singer-songwriter, arranger, and performer based in Sydney, Australia.
Taking inspiration from artists Tori Kelly, H.E.R, Pink Sweat$, Lianne La Havas, and alike, Liza-Marie writes and performs songs influenced by mixed genres of R&B, Soul, Pop, Christian, and many more.
Not only does she compose songs for herself, but also for church (Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ)) in the Music Department of Oceania. As she continues to find her voice through her songs and develop her skills as an individual artist, she hopes to make herself known in the community and inspire others.
Liza-Marie's go-to song to jam out to is Bittersweet by Lianne La Havas.
Ashlea Schuberg Singing Teacher
Ashlea is a singing teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista. She started her musical journey from a young age being inspired by her love for music and great voices. She has been performing on stages around Sydney from a young age and then professionally from the age of 18. Particular artists that Ashlea loves are the greats such as Aretha Franklin, Bon Jovi, Patti Labelle and Beyonce, and most recently Night Traveller.
Much of Ashlea's teaching is based on technique being the foundation of your skill and then being able to start using your voice as a form of expression and storytelling, and in finding yourself as both an artist and individual in your own right.
Ashlea is writing, recording and releasing music she has written and is performing throughout Sydney.
Matt Taylor Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Matt is a guitar and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista in Sydney.
Growing up in a music-loving household, Matt tried a few different instruments before landing on bass at age 13. Through high school, his love of performing was born in various bands and ensembles and although he followed a teaching path after graduating, he kept the passion alive through regular attendance of rock concerts and festivals. Matt began playing in bands again in his mid-twenties and, realizing this is what he wanted to do, went back to university to study a bachelor of music at JMC Academy. Matt has played overseas, toured interstate and is a regular on the live music circuit in Sydney as a member of two local bands Presquè Vu and Life After Football.
Matt has a wide taste of music styles citing The Beatles through to Phantastic Furniture among his favorites.
He was inspired to become a bass guitar player after hearing Cliff Burton from Metallica and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers but still makes time for his guilty pleasure band, Linkin Park.
Ryley Simmonds Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Ryley is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher and keyboard teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista in Sydney’s Hills District.
Ryley graduated from School of Rock as a student and was accepted to continue his music education through Western Sydney University’s Music Program.
Growing up in a family passionate about music, Ryley was exposed to a variety of musical styles and cut his teeth learning the songs of Queen and The Beatles. Throughout his School of Rock journey, Ryley had the opportunity to perform at the Whiskey a Go-Go in Los Angeles as well as showcasing his talents at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood where he impressed the faculty. He has toured the United States playing shows in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Ryley’s passion for music has passed onto his students with his ability to engage them and make music fun.
Simone White Drum Teacher
Simone White is a versatile, eclectic drummer with his eye on the bigger picture. Not content to just lay down a beat, Simone contemplates the significance of everything around him and the role every part plays in creating and expressing music. With a versatile background ranging from Hip-Hop, Funk, Latin, Reggae, Jazz, and Drum and Bass, to Rock, Punk, Metal, and Progressive, Simone has played with George Clinton and recorded and toured with Mark Eitze of the American Music Club. He is an accomplished live and session musician.
Simone was the drummer for The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and has toured with Nirvana, L7, and The Breeders. Simone is a Drum Teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista in Sydney. Originally from San Francisco in the United States, Simone called Australia home after falling in love with Sydney after playing The Big Day Out Tour. Simone has been teaching drums for 30 plus years and is available for Drum Lessons at School of Rock Bella Vista
Sarah Hewitt-Horne Keyboard Teacher
Originally from London, UK but now based in Australia, Sarah is a musician who has been playing the piano for over 20 years. An illness at 14 caused her to be bed bound and miss the last 18 months of high school, but she had an old Roland keyboard in the house, and the radio and MTV were always playing and as she got better, the piano was the place to develop her own style and give her a hobby to work towards as she built up her strength. One of her favourite things to do is put heavy metal songs to the piano to change them up a bit.
“What I love about teaching piano at School of Rock is seeing the joy on students' faces, and the sense of accomplishment when they understand new musical knowledge or nail a song they've been working really hard on and get to show this to their family and friends on show days. And also all the support people give each other at the school is extremely heart-warming.”
Sarah has a very eclectic mix of music tastes but cites Chris Cornell, The Cure, Hans Zimmer and Ludovico Einaudi as her top artists. Sarah’s guilty pleasure track would have to be "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon with its sharp lyrical wit and instantly catchy piano riff. “A timeless classic that always makes me smile”.