Nine years ago we started teaching the young kids of Macarthur music. Little did we know that this would inspire a new generation of teachers.
Everyone starts somewhere. Some of the first few students that signed up as students in our school in October 2006 included, Alex Swallow, Elise Overton , Chris Willis and Adam Ursino. Later on we also gained Kheira Gabsi. For me, it is wonderful to be able to employ young locals and over the years I have seen them progress. Knowing them and seeing them grow as young individuals, I have the opportunity to judge whether they have potential as a teacher.
Alex Swallow began learning piano in one of our first keyboard classes when he was in primary school. Alex had already completed 4th grade on the trumpet but learning to play with both hands was little challenge to him. He then went on to teach himself bass guitar from Youtube videos and was bass guitarist and pianist in the local band “Aimless Uproar”.
Alex then went on to teach himself drums and acoustic guitar later learning drums under the guidance of Rhiannon McWilliam, Matthew Reh and Simon Rigby before starting to teach at Dynamic Rhythms in 2011. Alex’s students love learning from him as he is patient and makes lessons loads of fun whilst teaching students to play along to their favourite songs and teaching them technique.
Elise Overton began the same way, learning keyboard in one of our first classes. Elise has developed her piano skills over the last 9 years learning under the tutelage of Karen Chrupalo and BJ Schell. Elise also plays guitar, ukelele, timpani and sings. Elise is currently preparing for her HSC and for her Grade 7 AMEB piano exam and has been teaching at Dynamic Rhythms for the past 2 years. Her students love her quiet nature and her attention to detail. Elise spent a year working soley in administration before she started teaching a couple of beginner students, gradually building up her student list as her confidence grew.
Chris Willis is another one of our star pupils. Chris began learning guitar in 2006 when we first opened our doors. Chris has had a couple of teachers including Shannon Forrester, James Bateman and Steven Winnall. Chris has also attended Master classes with Tommy Emmanuel. Chris started his teaching career back in 2011 and is following his music passion at university. Chris also has a quiet personality which appeals to most of the young people that he teaches. Chris is very talented and loves nothing better than to talk about and teach his music to others.
Adam Ursino was friends with Alex in primary school and came to us in 2007 after he had a couple of years with another teacher. Adam spent the next 8 years studying under the tutelage of Ranjani Peiris. Adam completed all of the AMEB grade exams and began teaching both class and private piano students in 2011. Adam is a fantastic teacher and we frequently get positive feedback from happy parents.
Finally Kheira Gabsi began flute lessons with me in 2009 after completing 3rd grade with another teacher. Kheira went on to complete all of her AMEB exams and has been teaching at Dynamic Rhythms for 2 years. Kheira has a bubbly personality and relates well to her young students. I always had confidence that Kheira wouldbe a great teacher, having taught her alot of what she knows. She tells me she often hears my voice in her head as she is teaching.
I believe that if a person has the skills and the talent as a musician, they don’t always make a great teacher. The teacher needs to want to share their skills but they also need to cater to the needs of the student. When you are a teacher, it is not about you. It is entirely about the student. Helping the student to learn to love the music and their instrument is all about the passion and the teacher’s ability to motivate, encourage and support the students learning.
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