About Susan Deas

Susan Deas is a professional musician, lecturer and teacher. She has been performing as a professional pianist for over thirty years at various venues in Sydney and Newcastle, including hotels, clubs, restaurants, reception centres, churches and retirement villages. She has performed in orchestras, brass bands, concert bands, choirs, jazz bands, rock bands, and a Renaissance ensemble. Susan has also directed and conducted several performance groups, and arranged music for many groups and special occasions.

In addition to her performing, Susan has been teaching piano for nearly thirty years, with an emphasis on giving her students a broad understanding of music. Her students learn both classical and contemporary styles, including training in classical performance, technique, theory, sight reading, aural skills, playing by ear and improvisation.

She also assists other piano teachers in teaching improvisation and playing by ear, having given several lectures and workshops at conferences and various venues in Sydney, and giving individual lessons to other piano teachers.

Susan lectures in music appreciation and music theory for adults. She has taught many courses at Sydney University’s Centre for Continuing Education and at WEA Sydney, including courses such as “A Beginner’s Guide to Classical Music” and “Classical Genres.” She also occasionally gives guest lectures at other venues.

Susan’s training includes a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) from the University of Technology, a Bachelor of Music from the University of New South Wales, and a Master of Music Studies (Studio Pedagogy) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has also achieved an A.Mus.A in Musicianship. Susan is an Accredited Member of the Music Teachers’ Association of New South Wales.

Susan has written and published the book, “Improvisation for Classically-Trained Pianists: How to Play from Chord Charts,” which has sold over two hundred copies. She also edited and composed for a book of Christian worship music, “Songs from Darling Street.”

Susan is a Christian, and attends St Luke’s Anglican Church in Enmore. She also sometimes plays piano and organ at weddings, funerals and services at other churches.

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12