Melbourne’s go to destination for Children’s Music Education!

Music is central to all of our lives. Experience the beautiful discovery of music with your child by learning music together in our classes and watch them develop while you have fun together!
Listen to us here – YouTube

  • IN-PERSON MUSIC CLASSES – Babies to Primary
  • JAM SCHOOL – Primary – Adult
  • ELC MUSIC PROGRAMS & INCURSIONS
  • COUNCIL & HOLIDAY PROGRAM
  • PRIMARY SCHOOL INCURSIONS

Our programs are designed using the Orff-Schulwerk approach and Kodaly methodology and are developed by our highly experienced music director who has spent over 15 years as head of music in leading independent ELC & Primary schools across Melbourne & Sydney.

Tanya playing ukulele singing to baby

Melbourne’s go to destination for Children’s Music Education!

Tanya playing ukulele singing to baby

Music is central to all of our lives. Experience the beautiful discovery of music with your child by learning music together in our classes and watch them develop while you have fun together!
Listen to us here – YouTube

  • IN-PERSON MUSIC CLASSES – Babies to Primary
  • JAM SCHOOL – Primary – Adult
  • ELC MUSIC PROGRAMS & INCURSIONS
  • COUNCIL & HOLIDAY PROGRAM
  • PRIMARY SCHOOL INCURSIONS
  • NDIS Music – self-managed funds

Our programs are designed using the Orff-Schulwerk approach and Kodaly methodology and are developed by our highly experienced music director who has spent over 15 years as head of music in leading independent ELC & Primary schools across Melbourne & Sydney.

The Musical Minds Team

Tanya Bethune

Tanya Bethune

Director

Tanya Bethune is the founder of Musical Minds, a Music school for babies, children and adults. A little about Tanya: at the age of 6 Tanya was encouraged by her grandfather to learn music in her local Brass Band. She continued her love of music as a trumpeter and singer in orchestras and blues bands, playing with inspiring musicians across Australia. Tanya continued her education at The University of Melbourne, completing a Bachelor or Music (Honours) and Bachelor of Teaching. In her teaching experience she has experience as a classroom music teacher in Primary and ELCs and Head of Primary Music in leading schools across VIC and NSW. Tanya writes the music program using her experience as an Orff Practitioner and infusing the music program with the Kodaly methodology and Reggio Emilia approach. Tanya has experienced first hand the benefits of learning music from a young age and has researched, developed and written the programs that you learn today. She is currently learning Auslan.

“Miss Bethune, I can do it, listen to me, I can make a song using the music hand signs, I can sing ‘so’ and ‘mi’.”

Tanya loves to help children create music of their own and give parents and grandparents the skills to encourage their children to explore music at home. Tanya values self-confidence as the building blocks of an individuals growth. Though her experience Tanya and her team are confident that they can give you the best music foundation for your child’s development.

Andrew Donald

Andrew Donald

Andrew Donald is an experienced piano and singing teacher with a strong jazz and contemporary music background and extensive ensemble experience as a professional gigging musician for over twenty years. Andrew has a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium and is currently completing his Masters of Teaching (Primary Education) at Victoria University.

Andy has extensive experience working with children (and adults) through individual and group music lessons and is passionate about sharing the many benefits of learning music through the Musical Minds community. He also loves a good chat about Archery.

Nicholas Clark

Nicholas Clark

Nick is an experienced music teacher who is a professional vocalist and guitarist. His music and teaching career that has taken him from mentoring and volunteering with kids and youth programs to performing both solo and in various ensembles.

Nick grew up performing in music and theatre and is passionate about inspiring children through music. Music has the power to positively impact our lives and learning music from a young age can have a real positive impact on our future learning and well-being.

Nick maintains that fun, enjoyment and passion come before everything else (no matter the age!)

Philip Dallas

Philip Dallas

Philip is a musician and composer who has been working with children as a tutor and teacher for nearly a decade.

Playing trumpet in a range of bands, and having studied composition at Monash Uni, he also plays Balinese gamelan, and is an avid Chinese Lion Dancer.

Music is a skill you know in your body, and Philip is a strong believer in getting kids moving, feeling rhythm and melody. Learning the joy of music as well as the skill!

Clement Brennan

Clement Brennan

Clement is an experienced music teacher who has taught children of all ages. He is a professional vocalist and guitarist and his passion for performing and teaching has taken him all over the world.

Clement expresses that music to him is the pulse of life, the heartbeat of existence. There is nothing more rewarding than being able to share that amazing aspect of life.

Clement enjoys every second of being able to share the happiness that music can bring with the next generation.

Daniela Lucchetti

Daniela Lucchetti

Daniela has been working with Children for over 20 years, in ELC’s, as a private nanny, a disability support worker and as a music teacher, both facilitating groups and private one-on-one tuition.

Daniela is a performing artist having trained as a dancer, actress and musician and worked professionally in the Theatre, TV and Music industries.

Voice is her first instrument followed by guitar and percussion and loves to move her body!

Daniela is passionate about inspiring children to use music and movement to express their creativity and characters while learning how to embody feels and melody into their bodies!

Courtney Severini

Courtney Severini

Courtney is a music educator and registered music therapist. With a Masters of the Creative Music Therapy, Courtney has extensive experience in facilitating group music programs for neurodiverse children, adolescents and emerging adults with disabilities.

Courtney supports little ones with social and self-expression goals in mind whilst exploring creativity using the body instrument, voice and elements of the Kodaly method.

Courtney has formal training in classical piano, guitar and the accordion, but you can find her in her spare time rocking out on the drum kit!

With 20 years in the performance space Courtney has glammed up for the 5 star hotels nationally as well as co-written on cabaret projects collaborated in world music ensembles.

Elyse Borderick

Elyse Borderick

Elyse is music teacher, musician, dancer and neurodivergent ninja instructor.

Elyse teaches as a Kinesthetic teacher; teaching through movement and hands on tasks. Whether that be with a physical instrument or vocals, her students learn through patterns, so their minds and bodies work together in their learning environment.

Elyse believes that music isn’t just about instruments but is a tool for the mind; to calm us, excite us and create happiness and joy!

Bryce Novotny

Bryce Novotny

Bryce is an experienced musician & performer, having worked with kids performing songs & other activities including clowning & magic! Bryce has played in bands around Australia since he was a teenager, supporting many international and well known local acts.

Bryce has a passion for music that is obvious for all to see. As a teacher he strives to provide kids with a supportive environment to help encourage an interest in music & showing kids that anyone can make music.

Bryce wants to show kids music can be more than just a hobby, that it can be an integral part of your life and through this he foster creativity and builds confidence.

See What Some of Our Families Have to Say

We have done a few music classes but Tanya’s are brilliant. She weaves music knowledge and understanding seamlessly through the fun activities and engaging songs, and there is cultural diversity in the material too. Kids use different age appropriate instruments and learn community practices like cooperation, packing away etc. She also has highs and lows to the energy so the kids don’t leave over-revved/over-stimulated. It’s wonderful.”
Emily H

I just wanted to say a big thank you to Tanya for your commitment to continuing classes this term. I’m pretty sick of zoom with my work but considering how interactive and performative music is- I take my hat off to you. Please know that through your small business you’re giving a lot of kids like my son a fabulous opportunity to sing, dance and just have fun which they all need. And during lockdown, the whole community needs a pick-me-up. I find because of your positivity and energy, I really feel better after your classes too! So thank you from me and my little guy. Musical Minds is not just about music experiences for kids, it’s a community and I’m so glad my little family stumbled across it!
Maddy H

Thank you Tanya you were amazing! Our 3 Year Old kindergarten children had so much fun and so did the educators! The Musical Minds incursion was really hands on and relevant to the children and we all had lots of turns at playing all the musical instruments. Thanks once again Tanya we will definitely see you next year!
3 Year Old Kindergarten – Maria C

Group Music Classes

Experts In Music Education

Every child deserves the opportunity to expand their minds with music! Musical Minds offers group classes and instrumental lessons for every step of your child’s journey!

Whether you have a newborn child and are looking to explore their sense of sound, a toddler who’s full of energy and wants to express themselves, a kinder child who is keen to experiment with music or a primary school student who wants to be the next Beethoven, we can fulfill all their needs in a supportive and creative environment.

Here are our 6 core programs where parents and kids can get in on the fun together!

maracas

Babies

3 Months – 12 Months

Our Babies classes are set in a comforting and gentle environment where you and your child are encouraged to explore sound together. You will be guided through songs and activities that can be easily incorporated into your daily routines.

drum

Toddlers

10 Months – 24 Months

Your kids are on the move and our Crawlers and Walkers classes here to guide you through activities and songs that you can sing and play daily. This includes imaginative musical play through storytelling and puppets, dances, and instrument play to develop coordination and confidence.

piano

Pre-Kinder

2 Years – 3.5 Years

Learning music in a supportive environment is how your child continues to build their confidence. Through musical play, your child shares ideas with other children and learns how to take turns. They get excited about showing you new sounds they can sing and play and take pride in retelling a musical story.

guitar

Kinder

3.5 Years – 5 Years

Your children are curious about the world around them. They want to know the how’s and why’s of their world. Our Kinder aged classes support your child’s curiosity through programs aligned with the Early Learning Years Framework. Your child learns how to interpret the Elements of Music: keeping a steady beat, identifying a rhythm, playing a melody and singing and hand signing pitch.

violin

Lower Primary

Prep to Year 3/4

Have you thought about learning an individual instrument? Or would you like to develop the skills for making the transition to learning an individual instrument smoother? We show your child how to identify the Elements of Music and teach them how to play these elements: beat, rhythm, pitch, tone colour, dynamics and expression.

saxophone

Jam School - Join a band!

Primary – open age

In Jam School your child will need to have been learning their instrument for at least one year. Your child will learn how to play their instrument in a band. Learning key ensemble skills and having loads of fun along they way. Yearly concerts and open rehearsal sessions. Parents are welcome to attend.

trumpet

Instrumental Lessons - Group & Individual

 Primary and Secondary age

Build upon your child’s group music skills by supporting their learning though group or individual instrumental learning. Our group instrumental lessons are a great way for a young student to begin: lower cost, build social skills and learn from a highly experienced teacher. 

xylophone

Early Learning Centre

Australian Program- EYLFD

Our Early Learning programs are designed and developed at Musical Minds. The programs are customised to your centre and meet the Early Learning Framework Standards. Our program encourages school readiness, learn the xylophone to lead to individual instrument learning and learn the foundations of music that support all other areas of learning. This program is usually only available in independent schools! We are here now to bring it to you! 

Are You Looking to Share Your Passion for Music With Your Child?

Get Started Today By Reaching Out and Talking to Tanya!

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