By ALESHA CAPONE
PETER Kearney is in A Very Small Band but he has a big heart when it comes to sharing music with young people.
For the past three years, Mr Kearney has been teaching in the Loose Studios program offered by Brimbank Youth Services at St Albans.
Every Saturday, he works with teenagers to educate them about drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, sound equipment, music software, recording and songwriting.
“Developing confidence is definitely something we see a lot with teens who come into the program,” Mr Kearney said.
“Often they come in and say, ‘Can you teach me to play that song?’
“When they learn, it makes their day, and to see them smile when they get it is really something else.”
This weekend, youngsters from the Loose Studios travelled to Bundoora to record an EP at a professional studio.
Mr Kearney said he developed his passion for music as a teenager.
“I was 14 when I discovered Kiss. It really excited me,” he said.
Nowadays Mr Kearney plays with a few music groups but says his favourite is A Very Small Band, whose first album ‘In the Poor House’ is on iTunes.
“We play fun rock music and it’s with my two mates, I think that’s the best way to make music,” Mr Kearney said.
“For the first album I recorded all the instruments myself and got guest singers in, and then later I got my best mates to join in.
“To me it the name was just a joke, because I was just one person. The band is a bit bigger now but the name stuck.
“It’s like that in the Loose Program, the sort of fun spirit we encourage.
“Sometimes people can get very competitive about music, but it’s not a sport.
“For me it’s about making music and people expressing themselves.”
Contact 9249 4110 or see www.brimbankyouth.com/programs for more information about the Loose Program.
