Julia began learning piano at the age of 6 and began teaching piano at the age of 14. As a child she won many sections in the WA Performing Arts Eisteddfod, and started learning to play the cello as a teenager. She completed AMEB Grade 7 piano and AMEB Grade 5 Theory and then went on to study a Bachelor of Music Education at The University of Western Australia. After graduation, in 2001, she began teaching piano full-time. In 2003 she began writing Sykes Piano. In 2005 Julia expanded her music school in Subiaco. This music school offered lessons in piano and many instruments and grew to over 350 students and 16 teachers. Many of her students have won music competitions, achieved high grades in exams, been accepted to study music at a tertiary level, have gone on to pursue careers in music or have worked in the music industry. Julia has trained over 30 piano teachers, has created 11 piano books, 4 teacher’s manuals and made 100’s of piano tutorial videos. She is also a qualified Kodaly teacher. She is now the director of Julia Sykes School of Music, Sykes Music and teaches about 50 piano students.