Music
Norwest Seed Academy offers a wide range of Music tuition.
Vocal tuition classes offer training and and understanding of vocal technique, breathing, support, posture, and performance. With focuses on vocal anatomy and performance, students will be able to grow their talent and excel in the main growth areas. The objectives and goals of these lessons is to teach every student how to properly use their ‘instrument’. It is to grow their voice in a safe, encouraging and educational environment.
Students will receive instruction through a variety of mediums including flashcards, theory activity pages, Scales, Sight-reading and Aural Exercises, through verbal instruction, and, of course, practical experience at the keyboard to allow them to acquire the basics of music and mastery of keyboard techniques. Students will also have the opportunity to complete graded levels of music and develop in all areas of musicianship to move on to perform with greater confidence, accompany groups within the school and in their respective church settings. Students are encouraged to enter into the AMEB program of study and sit for annual examinations from either Classical or Leisure Syllabus and can expect to receive passing marks and certificates of achievement from AMEB.
For beginners, students will learn everything from how to hold drum sticks correctly to understanding basic drum tabs/notation, playing dynamically with backing tracks and basic drum techniques. Intermediate students will have the opportunity to expand their learning with; Different time signatures like 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 and 7/8; Reading and following a whole songs drum notation; Breaking down a whole song, analysing it's parts; Practicing a particular song the student chooses, starting at 75% speed, building up for full speed, then playing to a drumless backing track; Improvising non-linear fills while playing with tutor playing guitar; More complex drum rudiments including flams, double stroke rolls, triplets; Hi-hat improvisations with 16th notes, using the Hihat pedal for additional flavour; Hitting the off-beats on the snare; creating more flavour with Bass pedal; Using the ride cymbal, including the bell and incorporating dynamic sounds from different cymbals.
Guitar tuition is available for students from absolute beginners through to intermediate. Students have the opportunity to follow a set curriculum or tailoring lessons to their individual needs. Students will also learn to perform with greater confidence, accompany groups within the school and in their respective church settings.
Weekly violin lessons include focus on technique, including: Correct playing posture, Intonation, vibrato, tuning, Scales, Arpeggios and more. The curriculum used in lessons varies depending on the student’s wishes and their musical needs and levels. The repertoire used includes AMEB, Suzuki, as well as a variety of supplemental pieces in a large range of musical styles and genres. The main focus and objectives of these lessons is finding ways to regularly challenge, inspire and motivate the students to practice and learn more in order to help them become better musicians with a lifelong love of music.
Music at Norwest Christian College offers students the chance to explore their creativity. There is a strong focus on music performing as well as music creation. The vision of Norwest Christian College is to continue to grow the arts and to offer all students the opportunity to be involved in music making and develop their God given talents so that the arts become a life-long interest and become an active member of the college community. They enable students to grow their skills as musicians but also helps to develop all the BPL dispositions.
For more information on the programs available please click on the links below.
Music Tutors
With a profound passion for music and a dedication to nurturing the talents of young learners, Judah has established a wonderful career as a music teacher. He believes that music is a universal language that can enrich lives, foster creativity, and build meaningful connections. Throughout his career, Judah has consistently demonstrated his commitment to providing a supportive and engaging learning environment for students of all ages. His approach focuses on developing foundational skills while encouraging each student to explore and enjoy the world of music. Judah’s teaching philosophy is centered on the idea that every student has unique potential, and he tailors his lessons to meet their individual needs and goals.
Ray Badham is a dedicated and experienced musician, songwriter, and educator, with thirty years of experience in ministry and education roles. He is passionate about helping people flourish in their God-given gifts and in their walk with Christ. Ray holds a degree in music composition and is a fan of music -enjoying playing guitar, writing songs, and producing music. He focuses on foundational techniques and knowledge, emphasising the enjoyment of playing music. Ray tailors his tuition to the needs and goals of each student.
Jennifer Cheung has been a music lover for as long as she can remember. She has been both playing piano and singing since a very young age, taking every opportunity to use her music to participate in church worship, orchestras, choirs, and competitions. Her education at The Master’s University in California provided opportunities for her to tour the state as a keyboardist for a worship band and internationally sing for The Master’s Chorale. She holds both an AMEB Certificate of Performance for piano and also AMEB Grade 8 for singing.
Jennifer believes that a dedicated teacher never stops learning – a principle outlined in an article she had published in The Piano Teacher magazine. She still practices daily and besides volunteering for church worship, performs whenever she has the opportunity. She also utilises pedagogy conferences, online resources, and the advice of a vast community of piano teachers all to become a more equipped teacher for her own students. She believes that piano pedagogy is constantly under revision, and she seeks to learn the best methods of teaching which can then be tailored to the individual learning style of each student under her care.
Jennifer feels so blessed to be part of the Norwest Seed Academy team and loves the time spent one on one with her students in lessons. She wants her students to experience the joy of music that piano lessons can bring. She considers piano both a foundational and versatile instrument and teaches her students to sightread, play by ear, and by rote. She also incorporates musical history and theory into the lessons so that her students can have a fuller appreciation for all that music is and has to offer. With a well-rounded, versatile repertoire and performance opportunities though Seed Academy and AMEB exams, her students can be immersed into an experience that can extend past school and into their life beyond
Naomi Coulton has over 15 years of experience in music education. She is enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing her passion for music education, innovative teaching methods, and extensive expertise to Norwest Christian College.
Having played in church for as long as she can remember, Naomi's teaching extends beyond traditional graded exams. It encompasses improvisation with chords, composition, and music theory. Naomi's greatest attribute lies in her ability to tailor lessons to the specific needs of each student. She firmly believes that nurturing a love for music will ultimately empower students to reach their fullest potential.
Over the years, Naomi has earned numerous qualifications from various music boards and holds a special fondness for performing duets. More recently, she has taken on the role of an examiner for the International Music Examination Board.
Naomi believes that this additional responsibility enhances her teaching by ensuring that her methods consistently meet the required examination standards.
As a graduate from The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Bach. Mus. Ed), Meredith has taught for many years as a music specialist in primary school classrooms. She has trained and conducted choirs, small ensemble groups and trained students in music theory, both written and practical. As a flute tutor, Meredith has over 30 years of experience. She has taught students ranging in age from 7 to 60. She has prepared students for exams, both school (junior, high and HSC) and AMEB.
Meredith has performed as a guest artist for The St Andrew’s Cathedral Orchestra both as a soloist and orchestra member and has presented several chamber concerts.
We are delighted to introduce Sandra Robinson, a highly experienced and passionate music educator who will be joining our community. Sandra has been playing musical instruments for 56 years and has 42 years of teaching experience.Raised in a Christian and musical home, Sandra has always had a deep connection to music. For the past 13 years, she has successfully run her own music academy, helping many of her students pursue university degrees in music.
Sandra's teaching philosophy focuses on making music both enjoyable and educational, with a strong emphasis on foundational skills. She is dedicated to ensuring that each student receives a solid grounding in music that will inspire and support their growth.We are excited to have Sandra join us and look forward to the positive impact she will have on the musical development of our students.
James has been playing drums for the last 25 years and has been tutoring at various schools around the district for 10 years. He teachers a variety of styles such as rock, jazz, funk and latin. Not only do students learn co-ordination, dynamics, improvisation and sight reading, but also an appreciation and love of music is instilled in them through listening exercises, games and songs.
James not only has a long history of playing drums and other musical instruments, he also has a Bachelor of Music and Masters in Secondary Teaching, as well as continued development and experience with the ORFF music teaching methods.
James has played in a variety of musical ensembles from contemporary rock, punk, funk and folk bands, to playing percussion in the Sydney Wind Symphony.
For more information about Music at Seed Academy email seed@nwcc.nsw.edu.au