Where it all began Pt.2

It was second nature that we’d listened to students practising their scales and studies, as we got on with our regular lives outside the music room sliding door. When students weren’t around we were even allowed to play with all the percussive instruments (in the seclusion of the music room, of course) banging on xylophones, drums and clicking sticks etc.

Eventually I got the courage to ask for lessons and began years behind my girlfriends. But what my knowledge and skill lacked, my drive and desire to learn, made up for. And I’m still the same.

Piano lessons with my ‘Gair’ soon spread into theory lessons and ensemble classes and once in high school I started percussion as well. I really wanted to play the flute or sax, but buying one was not an option so I made do with a set of sticks and a practice pad, and seemed to take on the role of the rhythm section with natural ability. This organically grew into local performances with the school band, and band camps.

With high school, came drama classes and my love of stage performing was once again rekindled with acting and singing in support and lead roles. I wanted to improve my confidence and delivery, and so took up vocal training and choir lessons, on top of everything else.

At this point my after school curriculum consisted of before-school piano lessons, after-school vocal training, school band, choir and not forgetting practice every day. I was buried deep and loved every minute of it!

My lifelong obsession with poetry continued to flourish in between the cracks and was never really given much attention as something that could develop into a serious art. I never realised I was a song-writer in training.

But right along side my music development was my life-long love of all things art. My clear talent for design developed into a career option and when confronted with my VCE subject selections I was forced to chose between the two loves of my life. I chose Graphic Design and moved away to study after taking a year off to help pay for some of it. After Uni I moved abroad, working in London on my Aussie visa, then in Melbourne for a stint before setting up my own successful Web & Graphic Design studio that I ran for over 15 years… until my music-calling was singing to me so loudly that I would no longer ignore it…

<< First read Part 1