Hoppers Crossing music teacher Steve Davies. 76084 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Alesha Capone
JUST like his great-grandfather, Steve Davies brings the joy of music into the lives of many people.
The Hoppers Crossing resident has been teaching piano, keyboard and electric and acoustic guitar for the past 15 years.
Music is something of a family tradition for Mr Davies, whose great-grandfather Len Davies was a well-known professional organist, pianist and choir-leader in Melbourne, many years ago.
Mr Davies belongs to a talented brood, as his father is also a pianist, his Mum plays guitar, his sister is a piano instructor and many of his cousins are singing teachers.
Mr Davies spent many years as a qualified childcare worker in kindergartens and centres, before he established the Davies Music School and nowadays teaches around 50 students.
The school’s seven other instructors teach across the West, in many Wyndham suburbs, plus Altona, Altona Meadows, Newport, Laverton, Williamstown, Sunshine and Footscray.
“I just enjoy meeting with kids and adults, helping them develop and seeing them develop from beginners to expert musicians,” Mr Davies said.
“They start and after a year or so, they develop into fully-fledged musicians.”
“I have about 12 adult students at the moment, some are doctors, some are accountants, lots are professional people, many are shifts workers too.
“Many do say that they started as a child around 20 years ago and for some reason didn’t practice or only took a couple of classes, and now they want to take it up again.”
Mr Davies said studying music could be similar to “learning another language”, but many of his pupils have gone on to achieve ‘A’ grades in their Australian Music Examinations Board exams and take part in concerts or exams.
With three young sons, Mr Davies said the biggest challenge of being a music teacher was fitting in all his commitments.
“My five-year-old gets on the piano with a music book and pretends he’s playing and hits the notes and makes up songs, copying me,” he said.
For more information contact Daviesmusic@yahoo.com or call 9748 9160.
