Last week in Melbourne, the music community came together to celebrate the 10 recipients of the inaugural Yamaha Piano Teacher Award: Breakout. Welcomed by special guests and award advocates, Tina Arena and Paul Grabowsky, the ten deserving recipients were treated to an all-expenses paid trip to Yamaha Headquarters in Melbourne to participate in two days of unique, professional development with industry leading professionals.

The Yamaha Breakout Award is an annual, by-application award, gifted to a piano teacher currently engaged in teaching piano in 2021–2022. It supports both Yamaha’s education advocacy program Off to a Great Start and the Australian Music Association’s national ambition to engage more people in music-making.

Yamaha was looking for Australian piano teachers who are committed and passionate about music education. Nathan Rippon from Yamaha comments ‘music is widely accepted as a valuable and meaningful part of a child’s education and as the largest instrument manufacturer in the world, Yamaha is in a position to lead a conversation around its value.’