(07) 3878 3329
For further information or to enquire about enrollment, please contact us at:
Inna Kogan’s Music School
1/26 Kingussie Street
Kenmore QLD 4069
Use the contact form below to send us a message:
Inna strongly believes in the benefits of learning a musical instrument and it’s positive influence on emotional and intellectual development of every child. In her teaching, Inna follows the “accelerated learning” method that she has developed over a period of 35 years, to which she continues to perfect and adjust. The concept is to find an individual ‘key’ to each child’s learning capability through a structured, friendly and nurturing environment which eventually expands the students’ potential to it’s fullest.
Instrument trainer: Piano
Grace’s Pedagogical philosophy centres upon creating a holistic learning environment in which each singer will learn to enhance their natural talents with the most up-to-date training and guidance.
Instrument trainer : Voice
A graduate of the QLD Conservatorium of Music, Jason joined our school in 2018. Jason is a prominent member of the QLD Symphony Orchestra and a very thought after percussionist amongst top Australian Orchestras. Jason is a very devoted teacher and achieves great results with all of his students through his determination to cater for each of their needs.
Instrument trainer : Percussion
Teaching piano and theory has been Mary’s dream from a young age. She has been teaching piano since 2011. Her goal is to develop student’s musicianship and their understanding and mastery of their instrument to play beautifully and achieve excellence in all aspects. Mary has recently graduated from The University of Queensland with Bachelor of Music (Honours), completing an extended major in performance and an Honours thesis in arranging piano music. Mary obtained an AMusA in piano and also enjoys playing flute and violin and choral singing. When not musically occupied in teaching, performing, arranging or accompanying, Mary loves organising events and engaging in her sewing, crotchet and baking hobbies.
Instrument trainer : Piano
Roger Cui is a Chinese born Australian concert Pianist and a Teacher. Roger completed his B.Mus with 1st Class Honors at QCM and in 2013 he completed his Masters Degree in Baden-Wüztemberg, Germany
Roger is a 2nd prize winner of the 2007 Lev Vlassenco Piano Competition as well as numerous other piano competitions in Australia, New Zealand and Germany
Elizabeth Chin gained her Graduate Diploma at the University of Melbourne. A dedicated piano teacher, Elizabeth has more than 10 years of experience both in theory and practical. She gives students the joy and happiness in playing the piano through her passion of music performance and appreciation of music making. Elizabeth composed and published numerous piano pieces both solo and duets for children, and arranged popular Disney movie soundtracks for piano solos.
Instrument trainer : Guitar
Kaitlyn first picked up the violin at age 6 and from there her love for music has blossomed; some days you’ll find Kaitlyn in a classical orchestra and some hanging upside down to play her violin. Her passion for music education runs deep, and she hopes to one day transform the curriculum for classroom and instrumental music in schools. At the moment, Kaitlyn is currently studying for her Bachelor of Music, playing in the DeepBlue Orchestra, and writing covers as a solo artist.
Samantha is currently in her final year at the QLD Conservatorium of Music, majoring in Piano performance. Samantha has been a student of Inna for several years prior to her tertiary studies. She has been teaching for the last 4 years, in her free time Samantha enjoys cycling, walking and playing with her dog.
Instrument trainer : Piano
Instrument trainer : Woodwind/ brass department
Jacqueline has been teaching for the last 8 years. She strongly believes that music should be taught in a nurturing and relaxed atmosphere with great attention to the individual needs of each student. She was a principal violinist of the QLD Youth Symphony Orchestra and still performs extensively on top of her teaching commitments.
Instrument trainer: Violin
Tim Gaze is a rock and blues guitarist, songwriter, singer and producer. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from his involvement in several Australian top rock groups. Tim is currently working on his pHD in the field of movie music. Tim also teaches guitar at St. Peter’s Lutheran College and at the Queensland University of Technology.
Instrument trainer : Guitar
Emma has been teaching at IKMS for over 10 years. Emma has a masters degree in Music majoring in Organ Performance at the QCM M.Mus. (organ) and a bachelor of music majoring in piano performance B.Mus. (perf). Emma teaches a wide range of students, starting from beginner level to advanced in both piano and theory. Emma also specializes in accompanying for AMEB exams and loves to dance in her spare time.
Instrument trainer : Piano
Rory graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (jazz guitar). Rory has performance and teaching experience in Jazz, Blues, Rock, Contemporary, Folk and flamenco. He is proficient in composition, music theory and guitar technique for all abilities. In his spare time he performs in a local jazz group having performed at national festivals around Australia.
Mark Connors graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Music (performance). He has also attained A.Mus.A with distinction. Mark has been teaching at IKMS since 2015. Mark is also in demand as an accompanist for choirs as well as for classical singers. He regularly accompanies the Queensland Choir, performs with the Underground Opera Company and in 2017 began working casually with Opera Queensland as a rehearsal pianist.
Instrument trainer : Piano
A recent graduate from the QLD Conservatorium of Music and recipient of the University Medal, Crystal has been teaching for the last 6 years. Crystal is passionate about performing and teaching, and enjoys composing and arranging music.
Instrument trainer : Piano
Natalie Scalia has recently completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Within the courses and environment provided by the prestigious University, Natalie has gained substantial experience in several areas of interest including musicology, pedagogy and performance. Natalie has been a student of Inna for seven years prior to entering QCM and obtained an AMusA (Dist.), and is now teaching at IKMS. Natalie plans on continuing to grow as a pedagogue, accompanist and researcher through further postgraduate studies. Her aspiration is to become a reputable researcher and passionate teacher who helps contribute to the growing Australian music culture.
Instrument trainer : Piano
August, 2013
Nicola W – Junior Aggregate Trophy (for highest total points score)
Nelson H – Intermediate Aggregate Trophy (for highest total points score)
Sean D – Piano Solo (Grade 7); Piano, Classical or Romantic (10-11 years)
Nelson H – Piano Solo Award (12-14 years); Piano, Classical or Romantic (12-14 years); Piano, Diploma Level
Nicola W – Piano (Grade 6); Piano Solo Award (8 years)
Lilian Jia – Piano (Grade 8); Piano, Classical or Romantic (12-14 years)
Charmaine Cheung – Piano (Grade 1 Open)
Karen Xiao – Piano (Grade 4); Piano Solo Award (9 years)
Lachlan Cheung – Piano (Grade 5)
Breseya Clark – Piano (Grade 3)
Sean Daniskevicius – Piano Solo Award (10-11 years)
Nicola Wallace – Piano, Classical or Romantic (8 years)
Charmaine Cheung – Piano, Classical or Romantic (7 years)
Breseya Clark – Piano, Classical or Romantic (7 years)
Ryan Daniskevicius – Piano, Classical or Romantic (9 years); Piano Solo Award (10-11 years)
Sophie Mauracher – Piano (Grade 1 Open)
Congratulations to Lilian, 14, for receiving an AMusA Diploma in March 2015
Alena T.K. – violin – “A”
Rachael B – trumpet – “A”
Sophie M – piano – “A+”
Tia F – piano – “A”
Sathya G – violin – “A”
Tara M.R. – piano – “A+”
Molly Y – piano – “A”
Anna C – piano – “A”
Ashwini K (prelim) – piano – “A”
Ashley K (prelim) – clarinet – “A”
Tara M.R. – theory – “A+”
Madeleine C – theory – “A+”
Joanna M – theory – “A+”
Yenn R – theory – “A+”
Oliver B – saxaphone – “A”
Fumiko W – piano – “A”
Cherise M – piano – “A”
Rachel B – trumpet – “A”
Curtis M- piano – “A+”
Nadia C – theory – “A+”
Rubin N – piano – “A”
Bella S – piano – “A+”
Oliver B – saxaphone – “A”
Hillary B – theory – “A+”
Jonathan W – piano – “A”
Nicola W – piano – “A+”
Sean D – piano – “A”
Lillian J – piano – “A”
Sarah S – piano – “A”
May-June, 2015
Breseya C – 10/under, Piano Solo
Sean D – 14 to 15 years, Piano Solo
Charmaine C – 10/under, Baroque Period composition
Joanna M – 10 to 12 years, Piano Solo
Sean D – 13 to 15 years, Baroque Period composition
Sean D – 13 to 15 years, Music of the 20th Century and beyond
Samantha S – 16 to 20 years, Music of the 20th Century and beyond
Benjamin L – 7 years, Piano solo
Lachlan C – 11 years, Piano Solo
Jonathan W – 13 years, Piano Solo
Sean D – 13 to 15 years, Sonata
Samantha S – 16 to 20 years, Piano Solo
Samantha S – 16 to 20 years, Sonata
Joanna M – 10 years, Piano Solo
Nicola W – 12/unde, Music of 20th Century and beyond
Nicola W – 11 years, Piano Solo
Sophie M – 9/under, Piano Solo
Cherise M – 10 years, Piano Solo
Nadia C – 10 to 12 years, Piano Solo
Lachlan C – 12/under, Music of the 20th Century and beyond
Nadia C – 11 years, Piano Solo
Jonathan W – 13 to 15 years, Sonata
The following students are congratulated on their exceptional 2015 AMEB results. Well done!
Xinyang G – piano – “A”
Rachel F – piano – “A”
Alena T-K – Violin – “A”
Anna C – piano – “A+”
Hien P – piano – “A+”
Ethan S – clarinet – “A”
Patrick C – trumpet – “A”
Natasha V – theory – “A”
Fumiko W – piano – “A”
Nadia C – theory – “A+”
Joanna M – theory – “A+”
Yenn R – theory – “A+”
Rubin N – theory – “A+”
Bella S – piano – “B+”
Rachael B – trumpet – “A”
Rubin N – piano – “B+”
Breseya C – piano – “A”
Joanna M – piano – “A”
Nadia C – piano – “B+”
Monique E – theory – “B”
Monique E – piano – “A”
Hilary B – piano – “A”
Jonathan W – piano – “B”
The following students are congratulated on their exceptional 2016 AMEB results and Trinity College Exam results. Well done!
Nina W – clarinet – “A”
Xynuan Z – piano – “A”
Sophie M – piano – “A”
Ethan S-clarinet -“B+”
Benjamin L – piano – “A”
Joanna M – piano – “A”
Izzy G – piano – “A”
Ella N – piano – “B” (TCL)
Alicia L – piano – “B+”
Kylie L – piano – “B”
Emily Z – piano – “B+”
Nicola W – piano – “B+”
Monique E – piano – “B+”
Inna Kogan is a well known and much respected teacher, adjudicator, motivational speaker and mentor to a younger generation of professional music teachers.
A third generation musician- with a renowned piano teacher for a mother and a concertmaster violinist of the State Symphony orchestra as a grandfather- Inna’s path to a music career started early. At the age 5 she was accepted to study at a special music school for gifted children in Baku, Soviet Union, and after graduating with distinction, continued studies at the State Music College.While studying she participated and won many student competitions, including the State Shostakovitch Competition at the age of 10.At the age of 12 she won a youth piano competition and, as a winner, was given a chance to perform with the State Symphony Orchestra. Performing with the Orchestra, Inna performed the Grieg Concerto at the age of 12.
Inna and her family migrated to Israel when she was 17. She double majored in Bachelor of Music Performance and Music Education studies, graduating with First-Class Honors and then studied Master of Music from Jerusalem Academy of Music under a tutelage of renowned former Moscow Conservatorium Professors Boris Lvov and Michael Boguslavski..
While studying, she participated and won 2nd place at the Israeli New Talent competition in 1978 and the State Bartok competition in 1980. Graduating at the top of her class, she was awarded a prestigious Sertegy scholarship that allowed her to continue her Master of Music studies.
In 1986 Inna moved to Brisbane, following an invitation to take position as the Head of the Piano Department at the Stoliarsky School of Music. Two years later she established her own music school which she still runs to this day, with a large amount of students and teachers. As of today, the music school is a multi-award winning institution with such accolades as “Excellence in Teaching” and “The best private music school in QLD” awarded by the Brisbane Eisteddfod Committee. Many of Inna’s students have become professional musicians and are performing and teaching in various parts of the world. She has also developed her own “accelerated learning” method. This method allows students of above average potential to explore their limits and reach a high level of performance at a young age. Many of Inna’s students have been awarded A.Mus.A diplomas between the ages of 12-14 and L.Mus.A and A.T.C.L Diplomas before completing High School.
Inna has adjudicated Brisbane, Toowoomba, Central Highlands and Gold Coast Eisteddfods, QLD Piano Competitions, ASKM Gold Coast and Motee Rogers Toowoomba Piano Competitions. She gives frequent master classes, conducts workshops for students and teachers at her school as well as various private studios. She has been invited to Gold Coast, Mt. Isa and Cairns where she has conducted series’ of piano and theory workshops.
Inna Kogan’s Music School was established in 1989 to cater for a growing need, as I felt, for students taking private instrumental lessons to interact with others. Receiving my first music education at a music school where learning music meant frequent public performances, group theory lessons, ensembles, exams and student competitions, I felt that this was a more enjoyable and effective way for young children to learn music.
Learning a solo instrument, especially the piano or any of the keyboard family can become daunting and even lonely after a while.Arriving in Australia after teaching for ten years overseas, I was very concerned about an unusually high ‘drop out’ rate among-est instrumental students, especially at high school age.
This period, just as a student is approaching a higher level of playing, with much larger and more exciting repertoire to play, proved to be a critical ‘crisis’ age for local youth. That resulted in the discouraging fact that a high volume of young teenagers were quitting music before they really started enjoying it. Unfortunately, the level of performance skills gathered during the first two to three years is insufficient for anyone to retain this knowledge long-term, meaning that the above years were basically a waste of time (and money).
Two main factors seemed to have the biggest impact on this age group: an increased pressure from high school work and often insufficient earlier performance experience resulting in overrated nervousness and stage-fright, especially in the 10 – 16 year old age groups.
I was very keen to prove with my students that with the proper approach to piano practice from the very beginning, including an early start and frequent public performances from a very young age, could help the later transition become very smooth if not unnoticeable.
Another emphasis of the school bases on my 30 years research into exploring student’s potential. I always strive to bring every student to his or her full potential. I encourage even the youngest children to think at their lessons and in their home practice, teach them to analyse their own work and evaluate their achievements. Here the atmosphere of a music school with its concerts, an occasional beat of a friendly rivalry and even a simple interaction on a weekly basis becomes very useful.
It is my first priority to give every student proper professional skills such as reading, counting and memory development from the very first note they play. Students that show an above average talent are then given choice and opportunity to move at a faster pace. Parents play a very important role in supervising and encouraging their children’s exercise routine and in attending lessons, if they wish to do so. They also play an important role in deciding on how much weight should be put on their child’s music activities.
Full course studies in our school include weekly individual lessons of either 30, 45 or 60 minutes, depending on student’s age and level, plus a 45 minute weekly group theory lesson. A part-time course consists of one weekly individual or group (when available) instrumental lesson. Although theory classes are optional, they are strongly recommended to be taken as soon as a student starts to learn music, as they are of a strong benefit to a well-rounded music education.
All teachers employed by the school are professionals in their field with tertiary qualifications and often second degrees. In my choice of teachers I place great emphasis on choosing the right type of people who genuinely love and care for children and are dedicated to their work. I am in constant communication with all of my teaching staff, sharing my expertise, helping with repertoire choices and gathering information about every student’s progress.
Public performances are strongly encouraged at the school through our monthly school concerts, active participation at local competitions as well as Trinity College and AMEB exams.
Inna Kogan
Brisbane, 5th January 2007