Who is Mark?

Mark has been a professional musician and guitar, saxophone, and bass teacher since 1980 and has taught at many music schools in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Gold Coast, and Brisbane at that time.

In 1996 he founded the Holland Park Guitar Studio and soon after took on extra teachers due to increasing demand. He also saw the need for a more concise and professional core teaching syllabus and authored two books, Contemporary Guitar Essentials, and Bass Guitar Essentials. As the school grew he took on more teachers to include piano, drums, vocals, and ukulele, changing the business name to Mark Joe Hope Music School.

In 2016 he moved into a beautiful 1950’s Art Deco Queenslander in the heart of Greenslopes where we have many spacious teaching studios as well as a welcoming waiting room and large outdoor garden and area for our students and families to enjoy. As well as individual teaching both online and face to face, Mark has also developed a comprehensive contemporary band program, currently comprised of 11 student bands of all ages and a Classical Guitar Quintet.

Live performance has always been an essential ingredient for Mark and our bands and students perform regularly at our music festival days during the year as well as playing at community events.

Our Teachers

All of the teachers at Mark Joe Hopehave been handpicked for their amazing musical knowledge, their passion for teaching and their ability to make each lessons a fun and engaging experience. Know What skill level you're at or what music genres interest you, we have a teacher that will get you to the level that you want to be.

Learn More

Julian Hope

Julian is an accomplished Drummer currently completing his AMEB Rockschool Grade 7 exam. He has previously gained high credit results in AMEB CPM 1 and CPM 2 Drum Kit exams with a recent high merit achievement in Grade 5 AMEB Rockschool and performed in performing in bands playing many styles including rock, latin, jazz and funk to large audiences at various venues around Brisbane as well as community events such as Australia Day and QLD Day. For the last 2 years Julian has been teaching drums and has many dedicated students who love his structured teaching style and encouraging vibrant nature. Julian is also especially good at keeping younger students engaged.

Jared Berriman

Jared Berriman is an experienced guitarist and has a passion for all things guitar. He has completed a bachelor of contemporary performance at JMC Academy and is well-versed in many styles including rock, metal, funk, Celtic, folk, electronic, classical and jazz. Jared currently performs in several bands including Prog Metal act Evacuation Plan, Celtic folk group Isle of Skye, pub duo The Red Men and also pursing his solo career. As well as guitar,Jared is an experienced vocalist, banjo player, bassist and has an extreme focus on musical composition and production. Jared’s teaching style is welcoming and casual, focusing on finding the most efficient and fun way for any student to get comfortable on the instrument.

Andrew Fincher

Andrew Fincher is a Brisbane based guitarist/ pianist/ bassist. Originally from the Sunshine Coast, he moved to Brisbane in 2010 to follow his musical passion. He has studied at The Jazz Music Institute in Bowen Hills and has been teaching guitar, piano, bass and drums since 2013. Andrew has extensive live performance experience, he has played in various bands up and down the east coast of Australia for the last decade. Also having toured to the Bahamas and Europe in 2015, playing in a jazz quartet on Royal Caribbeans largest cruiseliner 'The Allure of Seas'. Andrew currently plays in local Brisbane bands Menajerie, Milk Buttons and HRBRT, as well as a few wedding/corporate groups. Andrews loves to share his passion and extensive knowledge with his students.

Lachlan Doedens

Lachlan Doedens completed his studies at the Jazz Music Institute in 2018, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance. A dedicated piano teacher, he strives to teach his students to a wide range of musical styles ranging from Classical and Jazz to Rock and Pop. He engenders a good dynamic in the classroom that fosters learning. Lachlan has performed at many local venues in Brisbane from Jazz clubs to upmarket restaurants. He always gets results with all students ensuring he meets and surpasses their musical aspirations.

Lachlan Alexander

Lachlan Alexander is a local musician, specialising in jazz music. Lachlan completed his bachelor degree in jazz performance at the Jazz Music Institute and completed a masters of jazz performance at the Griffith Conservatorium. He teaches saxophone and clarinet in a way that encourages students to develop theory as much as they develop technique to become a well rounded musician. Lachlan has been performing on the Brisbane scene for 4 years and has played at venues such as: Doo-bop, Brisbane Jazz Club, JMI Live, Buffalo Bar, and Walrus club.

Marianne Falzon

Marianne is a jazz singer and singing teacher with a passion for helping her students discover their unique voice so they can sing with confidence. After graduating from the Jazz Music Institute (JMI) with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance (Voice) in 2019 she completed her Graduate Certificate in Music studies (Contemporary Vocal Performance) at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 2021. She is currently studying her Master of Music Studies in Vocal Pedagogy (Singing Teaching) at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Marianne works with students of all ages and skill levels providing them with the technical foundations and skill to achieve their individual goals.

Mitch Bellert

Mitch Bellert has been performing professionally for 10 years and teaching drums since 2014. Specialising in Jazz, Mitch has a strong rudimentary background, paired with a flair for improvisation. His teaching style mirrors this, with a focus on both building a strong fundamental base in order to play and improvise without mental or physical restrictions in any genre. He has a Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz Performance from Jazz Music Institute (Bowen Hills), graduating in 2015. Since then he has been working regularly as a part of ‘The Wil Sargisson Trio’, along with many other solo projects and tribute shows.Mitch is able to get the best out of any student, with the goal of them becoming a great ‘musician’, instead of just a great ‘drummer’.

Nick Maskell

Nick Maskell has been performing professionally for 20 years and teaching Bass and Guitar since 2010. He has a Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz Performance from Jazz Music Institute, where his principle study was on the Double Bass. Recording and writing with such groups as Weave, Fagan, Hypernovae, Starscream 13, Sudden Chaos, The Tyroon Noonan Band and many more, he has a depth of experience to teach all styles of music. Currently Nick is a member of an Abba tribute band called Arrival Australia, Disco Mania and occasional performer with The Mango Jam Big Band.

Kieran Stevenson

Kieran Stevenson is a singer, songwriter, teacher, and performer. Graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (jazz voice, 2015) and Graduate Certificate (contemporary voice performance, 2016), Kieran has been writing, recording, performing and teaching voice and beginner piano throughout Brisbane for a number of years. With a focus in contemporary vocal styles, Kieran works in teaching beginner-advanced students with a wholehearted approach to learning and singing; inclusive of technique, vocal health, repertoire and authentic stylistic expression, to give students the foundations to explore their aspirations artistically and vocally.

Will Murphy

Will Murphy is a Brisbane guitarist who has spent the last 4 years honing his craft through constant gigging, touring, teaching and playing at festivals such as Woodford Folk Festival. Will started his guitar journey under Mark in 2011 and has since attended the Queensland Conservatorium studying a Bachelor of Music in Jazz. Will teaches a wide vary of genres however he excels in Contemporary, Blues and Rock. Will brings a positive learning environment to the classroom and always encourages his students to strive for improvement while enjoying playing their favourite pieces.

Nicky Scopelliti

Nicky has come to us in Brisbane from Sydney where she was a first a piano and singing instructor for ISM, then a music bus teacher in Western Sydney and also had a music school of her own with 15 students teaching ukulele, singing, drums, bass, piano, guitar and voice. Nicky has a wide range if styles and specialises in rock band style ensembles, having led a number of her own groups since her first originals girl band in high school Raven. She has performed as a lead vocalist, guitarist, bass player and keys player in many bands. Nicky has extensive experience teaching music to all ages from beginners to experience players.