Teaching Story

“Heather, I was wondering if you could teach my son piano?”

Mr Sommers, the Principal of our local school, cheerfully questioned.

“Well….I could give it a go. I have done AMEB 7th Grade practical and 5th Grade Theory. I have never taught before but it will be fun to pass on what I know.”

“Good…when can we start?”

We are living in a rural township 500 kms from Adelaide and Music Matters has just been born.

One of my hobbies as my children are growing up is learning new instruments. I can do it at home and it is lots of fun. I make sure I am on track by sitting for AMEB exams in flute and clarinet. My children enjoy listening to and playing the instruments and I start a collection of percussion instruments so we can all play along together.

Within a few years I have three busy teaching days from my studio at home with piano and guitar students.
People are contacting me for music lessons on other instruments: flute, clarinet, saxophone and drums. Someone wants lessons in recorder and ukulele. OK!
“Do you teach harmonica?” well….not yet!

The local area school asks me to teach flute at the school. I agree.
The local choir needs an accompanist. OK, I can do it.
Another local area school asks if I would consider teaching classroom music for a couple of school terms. Of course!

For over seven of my 41 years of music teaching I include Kindermusik classes. Parents of young families gather to enjoy learning about music together. Some of the baby students from Kindermusik stay with me right through to 10 years of age going on to learn piano or guitar, flute or drums.

I am “Ouma” now. Four grandchildren fill me with new inspiration in continuing to share childhood music education.

I look forward to working with you and your children at Music Matters for 5 years and over.

Vision

Creating an interesting, colourful, musical and educational environment for my children was my vision as a young parent.
Perhaps you share this vision with me. We decorate baby’s room with bright coloured curtains, mobiles hanging from the ceiling, soft cuddly toys and soon enough alphabet letters and numbers.
We make sure baby has a variety of children’s music CD’s to play, sing and dance along to.

Now that I am “Ouma”, I can see for myself the important role Grandparents play in the lives of their families and I want to encourage Grandparents to bring their grandchildren to Piano Lessons. Can you imagine a more delightful way to spend your time than with your grandchildren, passing on the love of music, with laughter and a cuddle?

Mission

Music Matters exists to encourage people of all ages to discover the joy that is music.

Enabling adults to have confidence to play and to share music with their children through Music Matters is my aim. Enriching the lives of people of all ages, by offering them the chance to learn music, is my privilege.