Meet the Team

Amy

She/Her

Piano/Keyboard, Voice, Violin, Guitar

My musical journey kicked off at the age of five with tiny violin in hand, later adding piano and singing to the mix. From school days filled with choir harmonies, barbershop quartets, orchestras, and bands, music was always my favourite subject!

While at university, I shared my love for music by teaching keyboard lessons at a local primary school and offering private piano and violin instruction. But my musical escapades didn’t stop there—I also spent a few years as a wedding DJ, spinning tunes and creating unforgettable dance-floor moments for happy couples and their guests.

One of the most rewarding experiences was helping young composers bring their musical ideas to life in a primary school composition class, guiding them as they wrote and recorded their own songs.

Now, I’m excited to pass this passion on to the next generation—helping kids discover, explore, and fall in love with the magic of music!

Ruth

She/Her

Piano/Keyboard, Guitar, Flute, Tin Whistle, Irish Flute, Piano Accordion

Music has always been at the heart of my life. I started piano lessons when I was six, and by my teens, I was picking up all sorts of instruments—flute, guitar, bass, and more. I was involved in orchestras, bands, choirs, musicals, and even a barbershop quartet! At 17, I started teaching keyboard at a local music school.

I studied music and psychology at university, which eventually led me to earn masters degrees in music therapy and educational psychology. Over the years, I’ve worked as both a music therapist and a psychologist, helping kids with their learning and behaviour.

Along the way, I’ve kept teaching music, always making lessons fun and interactive. I believe in letting students take the lead, whether they want to play Taylor Swift or tackle a Tchaikovsky piece.

As I got older, I fell in love with Irish traditional music. I taught myself the tin whistle, Irish flute, and piano accordion, and have since performed at pub sessions, concerts, and ceilidh dances. These days, you’ll probably catch me playing in one of those lively settings.

Now that I’m a mum to two boys, I’m even more passionate about sharing the joy of music with kids—and I hope to inspire the same love for music in others!

Ian

He/Him

Drums, Guitar

Music became a lifeline for me when I discovered drums at age 18—right when I needed it most. After years of struggling with undiagnosed ADHD, drumming unlocked something in my brain and became a powerful tool for focus, self-expression, and joy. That experience shapes the way I now approach teaching.

I’m a drummer, producer, and music mentor with over 20 years of hands-on experience in performance, composition, recording, and creative collaboration. I’ve led long-term projects, produced albums, and brought together musicians through a community venture I run called Outland Sessions—a creative retreat that supports people to write, record, and connect in inspiring spaces.

Now, I’m bringing that same philosophy to music lessons for kids—creating safe, encouraging environments where they can explore freely, build confidence, and enjoy music on their own terms. My approach is playful and flexible, with a focus on creativity and enjoyment over rigid structure. Whether we’re keeping a beat, improvising, or jamming along to a favourite song, my goal is to offer the kind of empowering musical experience I wish I’d had growing up.

Em

They/Them

Violin, Celtic Fiddle, Tin Whistle, Mandolin, Singing

I started learning the violin through my primary school music system. My music teacher, Mrs Robinson, had decided that teaching a class full of 6-year-olds the violin was a ‘great’ idea, so all twenty-five of my classmates and I were handed a small violin each to play or ‘screech on’ in class. I never understood how (probably thanks to my undiagnosed superpowers of ADHD), but music just clicked in my mind, and I was soon taken to the violin like a duck to water.

I played the violin all through my schooling years until I was 17, when I decided to focus on my singing instead. Music was my life and language, but I had never really fully clicked with the stock-standard classical violin I was taught to be. I had never been taught the violin as an instrument and instead was shown that the only world it belonged in was with classical music.

This is an ethos that I want to change today, with the idea that you can play any genre on any instrument as long as you have the drive and desire to. There is no ‘one size fits all’ idea with music in that we all learn and develop in different ways and speeds. I try to discover each student's needs and ways of learning to cater and design the perfect lesson programs for everyone. Through teaching the instrument and not the genre, students have a chance to learn the dos and don’ts of the violin to create their own desire and drive to play whatever genre they wish!

I’m living proof of this philosophy when I moved to Wellington and met the Irish traditional tunes community. Through discovering my genre, I was reminded of my love for violin music and have grown as a professional musician and teacher faster and more passionately in these last 8 years than in my entire 20+ years of music. And I hope to continue playing and teaching for as long as I can.

Ben

He/Him

Guitar/Drums/Bass Guitar

Ben is a classically trained musician and songwriter with a passion for sharing the joy of music. Skilled in guitar, piano/keyboards, and bass, Ben brings a diverse range of musical talents to every lesson. With a love for teaching music and a knack for songwriting, Ben is dedicated to nurturing young talent and watching students light up when they ‘get it’. Ready to inspire the next generation of musicians.

My music journey started under the tutelage of nuns. Although sometimes the lessons were hard, they gave me a good foundation and in hindsight demonstrated what I believe is key to learning music. That is, lessons should foster laying down the groundwork of music but more importantly they should be fun.

My older brother also played a big part in my formative years. He was a key writer in the band The Exponents when they wrote the kiwi anthem ‘Why does love do this to me’ and is recognised by the band on the album. My brother introduced me to different genres of music which broadened my understanding and interests in all styles of music.