A Family-Owned Music School Built for Young Musicians
Little Musos is a family-owned and operated music school in Rouse Hill, Sydney, created around one simple question:
How do you teach a young child to play the guitar?
For years, instruments such as piano had been considered a natural starting point for young children. We began to question whether children were really too young for instruments like guitar and drums — or whether those instruments simply needed to be taught differently.
That question became the foundation of Little Musos.
Rethinking How Young Children Learn Music
Little Musos began with group guitar classes, including an early class of 25 students aged between five and eleven.
Teaching such a large range of ages and abilities made one thing very clear: traditional teaching methods weren’t going to work.
We needed to break music down differently.
The result was the Little Musos Guitar Method — a structured approach designed to introduce music reading, rhythm, technique and practical playing in small, achievable steps that young students could understand.
The results challenged many of the assumptions surrounding early instrumental learning. Students as young as four were learning to recognise written notation and apply it directly to the guitar.
More importantly, they were learning to understand music rather than simply memorising where to put their fingers.
More Than Learning Songs
The Little Musos approach is based on the belief that students should develop the skills to become confident, capable and independent musicians.
Our lessons combine:
- Music reading and notation
- Rhythm and timing
- Instrumental technique
- Aural development and musicianship
- Contemporary songs and repertoire
- Creativity and improvisation
- Effective practice skills
- Performance experience
As students develop, these foundations allow them to explore increasingly advanced music without losing the skills that support good musicianship.
The same principles we originally developed for young guitar students proved equally effective with older students and adults, and the Little Musos approach has continued to evolve across a much broader range of instruments and programs.
From Guitar Lessons to a Complete Music School
Guitar was only the beginning.
Today, Little Musos offers tuition in guitar, piano and keyboard, drums, singing, bass, violin, saxophone, music theory, composition and music production, alongside group programs, preschool music and Band Bootcamp.
Students can begin with their first notes and rhythms and continue through increasingly advanced technique, musicianship, performance, improvisation, composition and production.
Our aim isn’t simply to help students finish the next song.
We want to give them the musical understanding and confidence to decide where music takes them next.
Founded Through a Lifetime in Music
Little Musos was founded by musician, composer, producer and educator Kris Petersen, whose career has combined professional performance, recording, composition and music education.
Kris’s professional background includes his work with Australian rock band Syndicate, performances in the United States alongside artists including The Drifters and Eric Martin, and the release of his own original music.
Alongside his professional career, Kris completed a Master of Music at the Australian Institute of Music, specialising in Composition and Production.
His academic work and ongoing research into guitar education have helped shape the teaching methods, curriculum and educational resources used at Little Musos.
This combination of professional experience and academic study remains central to the school’s philosophy: students benefit from teachers who not only understand how to play music, but also understand how music works and how to communicate it effectively.
Experienced, Qualified Teachers
A great music teacher brings more than strong playing skills.
Our teachers are selected for their academic credentials, professional music experience, communication skills, personality and ability to connect with children. They combine musicianship and teaching experience with the flexibility to adapt lessons to different ages, personalities and learning styles.
All teachers working with children hold the appropriate Working With Children Check.
Family-Owned and Personally Involved
Little Musos remains a genuinely family-owned and operated business.
Kris and Mariela Petersen continue to be closely involved in the school, from teaching programs and curriculum development through to enrolments, performances and the day-to-day experience of Little Musos families.
That personal involvement has helped shape the kind of music school we want Little Musos to be: professional and structured, but also welcoming, flexible and connected to the families who learn with us.
As parents ourselves, we understand that every child learns differently. Some students thrive on structure, others on creativity and performance, and many need a combination of both.
Our job is to find the approach that helps each student progress while continuing to enjoy making music.
Music Is Meant to Be Shared
Learning an instrument is only part of becoming a musician.
Little Musos students are encouraged to develop the confidence to play with and for other people through recitals, performances, group programs and Band Bootcamp.
These experiences teach skills that can’t always be developed in a private lesson — listening to other musicians, recovering from mistakes, preparing for a performance, working as a team and communicating through music.
For some students, music will become a career. For others, it will remain something they enjoy throughout their lives.
Both are valuable outcomes.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple:
To make high-quality music education accessible, engaging and achievable for students of any age or experience.
We believe young students are capable of learning much more than they’re sometimes given credit for when musical concepts are presented in the right way.
From a child’s first lesson to advanced performance, composition or production, we want Little Musos to provide the skills, encouragement and opportunities that help each student discover what they can do with music.
Little Musos — family-owned music education in Rouse Hill, built around developing confident, capable and creative musicians.
