Our Teachers
KATE ADAM
Kate Adam is a very busy musician, conducting ACMF programs on a weekly basis in Yarra Glen, Kinglake West and Chum Creek Primary Schools in Victoria, as well as being in three professional bands and a school teacher outside ACMF. Her classes focus on percussion and singing and work towards an end of term performance. Kate is passionate about offering students who otherwise would never have the chance the opportunity to learn music. In her classes, she sees music bring children together to share ideas, express feelings and be inspired to learn more and ‘think outside the square’. JOSH & BEN BANTON
Josh and Ben Banton are Sydney based songwriters/producers who conduct weekly music sessions for ACMF at Baxter Youth Detention Centre (Kariong NSW), Emu Plains Remand Centre, and the NSW Youth Drug and Alcohol Court Program (Liverpool). They focus on songwriting, recording and producing, specialising in R’N’B and Hip Hop. They encourage their students to write honest lyrics for their songs, giving them the chance to reflect, and find this often gives them a new and positive outlook on life. Josh and Ben are young, respectful men who quickly become mentors to the detainees. They find the ACMF programs very inspiring, as they watch the kids evolve by setting goals, expressing themselves through music and increasingly finding direction in their lives. ALLAN CASWELL
Allan Caswell is a multi award-winning Australian singer/songwriter, whose songs have been recorded by singers all over Australia and internationally. He teaches three ACMF programs on a weekly basis, two at disadvantaged schools and one at a Juvenile Justice Centre. Each program Allan teaches is tailored to suit the needs of the students, based on the varying experiences they have faced. He teaches guitar and songwriting, and particularly encourages singing to boost self-confidence, self-expression and team work. Allan finds teaching for the ACMF inspirational and exciting. He loves watching the students become passionate about music, as well as learning to set goals and find direction in their lives . Read an interview with Allan here KERRY DIGBY
Kerry Digby teaches for the ACMF in the Top End Group Schools in the Northern Territory. She travels out to the remote indigenous communities outside Darwin, and on Bathurst, Melville and Croker islands. Her aim is to provide a platform for children to explore their creativity and express their thoughts and feelings through music and movement exercises, including percussion, guitar, songwriting, individual instrument tuition and computer-based music programs. As well as sharing their enjoyment and enthusiasm, Kerry sees an improvement in the children’s focus and behavior. She believes her music classes make a huge impact on these children who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to the sort of musical opportunities the ACMF offers. MARK GRUNDEN
Mark Grunden started working with the ACMF in 2008 and now works at three Victorian schools, Ardeer and Sunshine Harvester primary Schools, and Sunshine West College. He also travelled to the Adelaide River Music and Cultural Festival in September this year where he worked with his Sydney based counterpart, Kerry Digby, alongside the Top End Group school students on a series of workshops and concerts.
Mark’s music workshops are about more than just playing instruments. Through percussion Mark takes the children on an adventure, tracing the history of music around the world. They experience music from Africa, Brazil, Jamacia, America andpopular modern music, through percussion, song and dance…lots of dance actually. He loves to watch their faces when they achieve something musically for the first time.
GLENN DUNKLING
Glenn Dunkling is a musician who teaches for the ACMF at Acmena Juvenile Justice Centre, Grafton. Glenn started writing music at the age of 15 and like his heroes John Lennon and Bob Dylan, believes a good song can change the world. His down to earth, inspirational personality encourages his students to open up and step out of their comfort zones. Glenn teaches guitar, assists with songwriting and encourages students to form bands, and strongly believes in the power of music to heal and change. As well as experiencing his students’ enthusiasm for the ACMF program, he has seen its positive impact on their self-esteem and attitude to life. Read an interview with Glenn hereDAVE JOHNSON
Dave Johnson is a musician who has run choirs and music classes for many diverse community groups. He teaches ACMF music programs in Banksia Hill and Rangeview Juvenile Justice Centre in Western Australia, where his students learn songwriting and guitar skills, working both independently and in groups. His music lessons allow self-expression without judgment and the chance to reflect on feelings, thoughts and past experiences. Dave finds that his ACMF students are more willing to learn and take in new information than other children he teaches, and he’s often overwhelmed at their level of concentration and willingness to learn. As in so many of the centres where the ACMF runs programs, the kids often come from incredibly difficult backgrounds and desperately need (and want to) to learn positive forms of self expression. He is continuously impressed by their musical achievements and turn around in confidence and self-esteem. REBECCA FAIRCHILD
Rebecca Fairchild is a registered music therapist working in Geelong, Victoria, who runs a weekly music group for the ACMF for young parents and their children aged less than 5 years, in a secondary school setting. The group provides a supportive environment for young parents and their children to engage in a range of musical experiences, which enhance important social, motor, speech, language and emotional skills. The program provides a positive space for parents to learn new songs, activities and parenting strategies to use with their child at home, and to enhance the parent/child bond through fun and motivating musical experiences. Through the ACMF program, parents are inspired to connect with their child through music, and to use music at home to assist with daily routines and to promote optimal development. Rebecca’s music therapy work outside of the ACMF spans a range of community settings, including working with children, young people and families in the areas of homelessness, family violence, trauma, disadvantage, early intervention and disability.TONY GENOVESE
Outside ACMF, Tony Genovese is a professional musician, children’s entertainer and schoolteacher, who relishes his lessons at Elizabeth North and Elizabeth Vale Primary Schools (South Australia) each week. Along with teaching singing and percussion, he offers his students the chance to engage in various exercises focusing on movement, listening, role playing and musical-puppetry! Tony encourages group work, and as a result, has noticed an increase in self-confidence as well as a willingness to explore outside the creative boundaries that operate in other school subjects. Tony encourages self-expression by allowing his students to experience creative freedom while learning music, and is flexible with his teaching approach by leaving each lesson plan open-ended. NINA LAITALA
After many years of traveling the world, Nina Laitala is now based in Melbourne with her young family, and teaches for ACMF at King Lake West Primary School. Nina is an accomplished singer and songwriter who has played a number of instruments over the years. She believes that people are inherently musical and the more that inner musicality is encouraged, the more it will appear outwardly.
Her classes focus on improvising and songwriting, using ukuleles, tuned and untuned percussion, guitar and voice. She believes that music should be accessible and fun, so that everyone feels a part of the process, and says there’s nothing more exciting than seeing a child realise they’ve created something that’s enjoyed not only by their peers but by themselves as well. She describes conducting the ACMF program as a humbling and inspiring experience.
GERIANNE RUDD
Gerianne Rudd is an energetic and enthusiastic ACMF teacher, who each week holds music lessons at the Aboriginal & Islander Independent School (Murri School) south of Brisbane. Outside the ACMF she is a professional singer/songwriter, who also teaches swimming to kids. Her classes include a variety of musical elements including rhythm, singing, movement and songwriting, and also offers individual piano lessons. She teaches with a holistic approach, incorporating numeracy and literacy skills with music, allowing freedom for her students to explore in the school environment. As students work together towards an end of term performance, Gerianne notices an increase in confidence and interest to learn. She enjoys giving her students ‘priceless’ opportunities that are more than just music lessons, and is inspired by their ability to pick up new skills quickly .To read an interview with Gerianne, click hereRACHEL SCOTT
Rachel Scott is a talented cellist who has been working with the ACMF for the last five years. Rachel teaches percussion, drumming and singing to children in NSW schools in both regional and metro locations. She is often quoted as saying it is the most exhausting job she has ever done, but also the most rewarding. Rachel has countless tales of the positive impact music can have on a child who comes from challenging circumstances. Many of the schools that the ACMF work in really struggle for equipment so it takes some creativity to deliver a magical musical experience – Rachel has taught kids drumming on old Roundup tins as well as used water bottles. Rachel has a strong belief that there is not enough focus put on fixing the ‘internal’ issues that a child experiences and finds music is a wonderful outlet for them to channel their aggression into something positive. When not teaching for ACMF, you can find Rachel performing with her cello in a variety of locations – click here to find out more (www.bachinthedark.com). She has also shared her love of the cello with kids in the bush who told her they’d heard such a beautiful sound! Read an interview with Rachel Scott here TOM SOTERIOU
Tom Soteriou is a professional musician and entertainment coordinator who’s been with the ACMF for over three years. He visits Cavan ETU and Magill ETU in South Australia on a weekly basis, conducting music lessons that focus on goal setting and achieving. His students learn guitar skills, songwriting and singing, and work towards an end of term performance to build up their confidence and self esteem.Tom finds that a lot of his students have ended up in the Education Training Unit because they haven’t known any better. After being involved in his classes, they often demonstrate a significant change in tolerance, discipline, level of focus and value of life. By learning an instrument, they’re able to realize the hard work and amount of practice that’s involved in accomplishing something. By writing songs, they’re able to say what they feel without being judged. Teamwork offers recognition amongst each other as well as the ability to listen to what others have to say. Tom believes introducing young people to music takes them to a better place. Once they have something creative to focus on they are less likely to resort to negative activities that will lead them to behind bars. The kids move away from the people that were bringing them down, and find others who have similar int
erests in music. JASON LEE
Jason Lee is a country guitarist/singer/songwriter, who won three Awards – National Male Vocalist, National APRA Songwriter, and National Heritage Song of the Year – at this year’s Victorian & National Country Music Awards.
He started working for the ACMF at the Dorchester ETU at Reiby Juvenile Justice Centre In March this year, where he’s currently teaching what he describes as “Eric Clapton with a twist on Rap”. He’s delighted with the progress the boys are making, and is working towards a performance at year’s end involving drums, guitar, bass and vocals. Jason’s latest single, Ordinary Guy was released in August. To listen, click here. http://www.jasonlee.com.au.
REBECCA HENRY
Rebecca Henry is a professional singer, songwriter and trained teacher – she completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Music at SCU, graduating with High Distinction as a Vocal Major & Diploma of Education. She is currently teaching for the ACMF at Soldiers Settlement School at Matraville. The lessons provide the students with the opportunity to read and play music using a variety of instruments. The children are encouraged to sing and play as an ensemble, learning to work as a team while developing their individual skills.
Rebecca has recently taken on the ‘Navy Band’ program where 15 boys from the school were chosen to learn to play guitar, bass or drums. She takes the boys every Tuesday and teaches them how to play their instrument, and once a month three Navy band members visit, to inspire and work with the boys, and show them how to play together as an ensemble. The boys are already showing a great sense of pride in their new abilities. Rebecca is aiming to have the boys playing as a band by the end of the year.
Rebecca is a proud Ambassador for the ACMF, helping to raise awareness of the benefits the ACMF provides to children all around Australia. She also helps judge the ACMF songwriting competition annually. Rebecca believes that music can ‘save a soul’ turning negative emotions into positive ones. Passing on a gift such as songwriting gives people a vehicle that allows them to express all their emotions in a constructive, creative manner.
