Music mentors to teach band basics

AN inaugural music program is set to start this school term with the aim of getting kids gig-ready.

The program, called Hootenanny, is being established by musician and teacher Brodie Glen, who said it will be more focused than the typical session-by-session music lesson.

“We’ll get together and start figuring out what works for the kids in terms of genre and getting them to write their own music then finish up with a gig,” he said.

“It’s about giving them the confidence and then sending them out there. I’ve been playing in pubs since I was 11, and since COVID, kids haven’t really had that opportunity.

“I think of this as like the last scene in School of Rock where they all come together for the big gig at the end.”

Taking place in Sebastopol, the program is set to run throughout six one-hour sessions at $20 each, with three sessions per day running on Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

The program will be for children aged between 10 and 18.

Musician, Justin ‘Hap’ Hayward will lead the final two sessions which will focusing on lyric writing, and said he’s excited to help guide kids in developing their song writing voices.

“My hope is this will facilitate young people to feel confident within themselves and each other to just go for it and take positive creative risks,” he said.

“The meaning behind hootenanny is an informal gathering of folk music. That informal part appeals to me where we’re just guiding kids to get their ideas together.

“There’s the social side as well because with individual music lessons you’re not really interacting that much with your peers so that’s another thing…they can bounce ideas off each other.”

For more info call Glen on 0417 566 478.