Academy brings music to low-decile schools
KAROLINE TUCKEY
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Hutt News
Spreading music through the suburbs has earned a Hutt man a Local Hero award.
Goodtime Music Academy director Jonny Wilson, 27, was named as the sole Lower Hutt recipient among 16 Wellington Kiwibank Local Hero awards announced earlier this month.
The drummer and pianist has a passion to make fun, quality music classes available to everyone, and has begun a number of innovative programmes under the Goodtime umbrella, aiming to reach as many people as possible.
In 2009 after graduating with a degree in music Mr Wilson started his own school in Silverstream with a foundation roll of 30 drumming students. By the end of last year he had 480 students on his books, and a staff of 22 tutors, and has plans for a raft of new exciting programmes.
Among the innovative Goodtime classes already operating are two mobile studios which tour schools, enabling the schools to offer music tuition in instruments they might not otherwise be equipped to offer.
Late last year Mr Wilson also launched Project 333 offering Saturday music lessons to primary school aged children in low decile areas for $2.50 a class.
Goodtime provides lessons in drums, piano, guitar, bass guitar, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, ukulele, bass guitar and singing, and advanced students are given the opportunity to help Project 333 by being trained as tutors.
"They get to pass on their knowledge, but they get their eyes opened a little bit; they see that these other kids can't actually afford what they had, and what a privilege it was, and they get an understanding of what we as an academy are really about," Mr Wilson says.
All Goodtime classes are designed to be exciting and vibrant, and the school has a focus on providing students with opportunities to take their skills out into the world. Last year groups of students performed on the What Now TV show, at Christmas in the Park, at school fairs and other community events.
Students gain a wider passion for their music, as well as new friends and experiences, Mr Wilson says.
This year the company will be expanded to include Goodtime Dance, with classes taught by two professional dancers, and plans are well under way for creative preschool classes giving under-fives a taste of music, dance and art classes.
Mr Wilson is also in talks with staff at Upper Hutt City Council, and is due to meet with Hutt City Council representatives soon, about a programme of council-backed community classes.
"Music's such a great thing, being able to serenade yourself, and enjoy a cool hobby.
"And all the educational benefits are well researched, things like it improves your concentration and coordination and even the fact kids are using maths and learning about different musical styles, cultures and time periods."
He confesses to not being at the top of his class in school, but says the pride and passion he developed from discovering he had a talent for drumming was a huge boost to his self- confidence and helped him find his place in the world.
The oldest Goodtime student is 75, and Mr Wilson says it's never too late to start.
By the end of this year Mr Wilson has a goal to reach 1000 enrolments, including 70 taking part in Project 333.
By the end of this month the Goodtime team will have completed renovations to a new larger studio at the railway station end of Jackson St in Petone. With facilities for another 400 students, Mr Wilson says the larger space gives them the room they need to expand, and hopefully pick up a few students from Wellington and Wainuiomata.
The Silverstream premises will also remain operating.
Receiving the Local Hero award has been good confirmation that he's on the right path, Mr Wilson says.
"I don't really feel like I deserve it, but people appreciate what we are doing and are keen to get behind it; we have found a real need and are fulfilling it."
CAN YOU HELP PROJECT 333?
Mr Wilson is always on the lookout for donated instruments to help extend Project 333 to more children. He suspects there are many neglected and disused instruments sitting in attics and garages gathering dust that people would be happy to part with for a good cause. If you have an instrument or music stand you no longer need, please contact Jonny Wilson at goodtimemusicacademy.co.nz
- Hutt News
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