Viewing entries in
Lewis Eady Music School

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: SAOFINAO UTUMAPU

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: SAOFINAO UTUMAPU

For Saofinao Utumapu, music has always been a central part of his life. But never did he think he would be playing live music in a band for a living!

This term, we caught up with Lewis Eady Music School tutor Saofinao Utumapu about his musical journey.

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: JOYCE LEE

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: JOYCE LEE

Talented piano teacher, influencer, and now dog mum! Joyce Lee has been teaching piano and keyboard at Lewis Eady Music School since 2017. We caught up with Joyce over the summer break to find out what inspires her to teach music.

A MUSICAL ASSESSMENT - CONTINUED.

A MUSICAL ASSESSMENT - CONTINUED.

We continue our conversation with Andrew Buchanan-Smart, Trustee and National Administration Manager of the New Zealand Music Examinations Board (NZMEB), about what makes NZMEB unique.

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: ADAM THORNDYKE

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: ADAM THORNDYKE

Lewis Eady Music School tutor Adam Thorndyke got his first guitar at around 5-6 years old and has never looked back. Adam currently teaches guitar at our partner schools and at our Great South Road studios, and also writes and produces his own music in his home studio.

A MUSICAL ASSESSMENT

A MUSICAL ASSESSMENT

We invited Andrew Buchanan-Smart, Trustee and National Administration Manager of the New Zealand Music Examinations Board (NZMEB), to provide a holistic insight into Aotearoa’s very own music examinations board.

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: KINGSLEY TANG

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: KINGSLEY TANG

Lewis Eady Music School tutor Kingsley Tang wants you to know that it is possible to have music as a major part of your life, even after you ‘finish the grades’. He has been teaching piano at our Great South Road studios since 2015, maintains a career in finance and supply chain, and is dad to a gorgeous 9-month-old daughter!

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: NATSUKI NOMICHI

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: NATSUKI NOMICHI

Multi-instrumentalist Natsuki has been teaching piano and keyboard at Lewis Eady Music School for two and a half years. Born and raised in Japan, Natsuki came to New Zealand in 2016 to pursue her dream of teaching music. Natsuki is a strong advocate of music education and currently teaches students ranging from 3 to 70 years old!

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: KANE CHONG

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: KANE CHONG

Kane is the friendly face you see when you walk into the Lewis Eady guitar showroom on Saturdays. He is also a multi-talented musician who has just completed his first year of teaching guitar at Lewis Eady Music School.

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: LYDIA SEWELL

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: LYDIA SEWELL

Violinist, singer and actor, Lydia Sewell joined the Lewis Eady Music School teaching team in April this year. Born and raised and trained in the USA, Lydia boasts an impressive résumé of international performance experience, most recently as part of a piano quintet on Holland America Line's Lincoln Centre Stage.

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: AMY HSU

TUTOR SPOTLIGHT: AMY HSU

We caught up with Lewis Eady Music School piano tutor Amy Hsu, who has recently returned back home after two years of performing and travelling as a musician on the Holland America cruise line!

SO YOU'VE DECIDED TO LEARN GUITAR? VOL.2

SO YOU'VE DECIDED TO LEARN GUITAR? VOL.2

But are you sure it’s a guitar?
This is ‘Ukulele 101’ (correctly pronounced OOH-koo-LAY-lay) by Lewis Eady Retail Manager and multi-instrumentalist Ed Castelow.

SO YOU’VE DECIDED TO LEARN GUITAR? VOL.1

SO YOU’VE DECIDED TO LEARN GUITAR? VOL.1

Lewis Eady Retail Manager and go-to guitar guy Ed reminisces about his 'lightning moment' with the guitar leading to a lifelong fascination and love for the instrument and shares his insights for to-be learners.

A spot of music

A spot of music

Running out of things to do at home with the whānau? Why not check out these musical links and incorporate them into your daily routine? You don't have to be a musician - a little confidence and creativity will go a long way!

Keyboard or Piano? A Teacher’s Perspective.

Keyboard or Piano? A Teacher’s Perspective.

As a teacher, I experience inner conflict or dissonance, if you will, when an enthusiastic bright-eyed learner begins lessons with a keyboard as the home instrument. I thrive on bringing music into the life of this person, developing the ability to play, no matter the type of instrument. Yet, so often just around the corner, there arises a reluctance to practise followed by teacher and/or parental pressure to “nag” about this much-needed practice. The student’s initial enthusiasm wanes. Could a key motivator for the learner be the quality of sound produced by the instrument?

Play Time

Play Time

When interviewing prospective Lewis Eady music teachers, one of the questions I ask is –

Is there anything from your experience of learning to play your instrument, you now ensure you bring to your lessons?  The answer is almost always the same. 

‘Allow some space for my students to be creative, to try out something new, play with a song or share somethingthey have discovered.’

Wise advice I believe for not only music lessons but all other aspects of learning...