GUITAR TEACHERS
shaun danger
Shaun has been playing guitar since early 2005. He has an interest in pop, rock, blues, metal, and classical music.
Shaun is largely self-taught in contemporary styles but studied classical guitar with former UHCM teacher Michael Fitzgerald from 2010 – 2014, and under his tutelage completed a Bachelor of Music Performance degree at the University of Newcastle.
Shaun is also into recording music and has been doing so since 2015. He runs a weekly Ukulele group at UHCM on Monday nights.
Susan langbein
As a Music educator Susan has spent 25 years in the secondary school systems of both private and public schools, starting at Kambala Church of England Girls’ School where she was chiefly responsible for the integration of a primary school strings program, and ending in Blayney High School and Scone High School where she was responsible for a range of lessons from Year 7 to Year 12, including the preparation of Year 12 students for HSC in Music. She has five years’ experience as an HSC Music Marker for Music 1 exams. During the early stages of this school teaching career Susan took a sabbatical by spending some time in the Orange Regional Conservatorium as cello tutor, musicianship tutor and orchestral tutor. She returned to her career in school music programs after this.
Coming to Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music gives Susan the opportunity to help this organisation grow by delivering string programs and looking after beginner musicians on a number of instruments that have been part of her professional development over the years, particularly servicing schools that are a little more remote.
Susan’s enjoyment of music has primarily been as a cellist in small ensembles and orchestra, with the occasional solo performance of classical, romantic and 20th century repertoire and new works. The small ensembles have mostly performed at weddings, funerals and creative arts opening events. During the last year Susan has been in Upper Hunter Conservatorium’s orchestra for their regular term concerts.
Susan is looking forward to expanding the experiences of local children in their music studies and encouraging them to realise the fulfillment that playing an instrument can achieve.
john walkom
casey smith
Casey is a contemporary guitarist with over six years of teaching experience, with students of all ages and abilities, Casey enjoys helping others from all walks of life reach their goals. As a teacher, Casey encourages students to see the benefits of learning guitar, and helps them develop better patience, listening skills and creative expression.
Casey’s lessons focus on the skills that are needed to be a performing guitarist, He does this by always considering the students long term development, and the real life application of his lessons.
Casey is a passionate advocate for music education, and believes learning music can help anyone to improve their cognitive ability, social skills and quality of life.
His lessons focus on learning to navigate the guitar freely and efficiently, without boxing students into any particular genre or style of guitar. This contemporary method of teaching helps the students to learn the fundamental skills needed to play in a multitude of real life scenarios, leaving the creative direction completely up to the student.
Casey’s students benefit most in music analysis, theoretical music knowledge and technical ability. Some benefits that students can expect in their personal lives include becoming more active listeners, more effective learners and more confident in applying themselves in challenging scenarios.
andrew french-northam