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Small Group Music Lessons

Sometimes it’s just best to learn with other people – to help with confidence, to interact with other musicians and to simply share the cost.

Small Group Music Lessons take place at our campus in Wollongong’s beautiful Botanic Garden weekly during school term time. For all instrumental lessons you need to have access to a musical instrument (or you can access one of WollCon’s) and to get the most out of your WollCon lessons you need motivation and time for regular practice.

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Jazz Combos

TIME
1 hour once a week

STUDENTS
3-8 students

FEE

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TEACHERS

Sally Wiggins

Jeremy Sawkins
Jazz Combos provide students with an opportunity to work in small groups to develop their skills in jazz performance under the close supervision of a professional musician and educator.

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Jazz Vocal Combo (The Hummingbirds)

AKA ‘The Hummingbirds’

TIME
1 hour once a week

STUDENTS
3-8 students

FEE

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This is WollCon’s premier vocal ensemble performing 3 & 4 part arrangements heavily weighted towards the jazz genre. Members must be able to strongly hold a harmony line on their own, as arrangements often feature a single voice on one part.

Inspired by groups such as The Andrew’s Sisters; The Chordettes; The Puppinni Sisters; Lambert Hendricks and Singers Unlimited, the Hummingbirds is a wonderful opportunity for members to fine tune their blending and sight singing skills; develop a strong swing and jazz sensibility; play with improvisation; develop vocal consistency and confidence, and explore performance aspects such as movement, patter, set programming and vocal balance in amplified settings.

This is an auditioned group.

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Keyboard

TIME
30min | 45min | 1hr - once a week

AGE GROUP
Ages 8+

STUDENTS
3-5 students

FEE

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TEACHERS

Sonia Sozio
Group keyboard lessons provide an opportunity for students to learn piano basics in small groups of three to five. The classes follow a progressive curriculum that will prepare students for individual tuition. Students will learn to read music, learn basic chord progressions and explore improvisation and ensemble playing.

No experience is necessary to begin and the program is best suited for the 7-12 year-old beginner. Group lessons for teenage and adult students are also on offer but are subject to demand.

Scheduled throughout the week (early afternoon and Saturday mornings), the lessons are forty-five minutes in length and incorporate group and individual work.

Having a piano or keyboard at home is required to ensure successful learning.

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Contemporary/Jazz Group Keyboard Lessons

TIME
Wednesday 6pm-6:45pm

AGE GROUP
All Ages - Grade 4 AMEB level or equivalent required.

STUDENTS
3-4 students

FEE

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TEACHERS

Kelvin Haisman
An ideal class for intermediate and advanced piano students who have an interest in jazz and/or other contemporary styles. Students will learn to read jazz charts, explore improvisation, and understand chord progressions.

Students who succeed may opt to join jazz combo or start individual tuition with one of our experienced jazz piano teachers.

Group lessons for adult students are also on offer but are subject to demand. The lessons are forty-five minutes in length and incorporate group and individual work.
Please also bring some over-ear headphones.

Having a piano or keyboard at home is required to ensure successful learning.

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Tabla & Indian Rhythms - Beginners Class

TIME
Saturday 12pm-1pm

AGE GROUP
All Ages (7 years minimum)

STUDENTS
2-10 students

FEE

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TEACHERS

Chris Fields

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
None
Explore the technical foundations of tabla playing in our Beginners Class. Learn the core strokes and techniques essential for mastering this complex Indian percussion instrument.

This course, led by Chris Fields, provides a structured introduction to tabla. With over 25 years of dedicated study under renowned tabla masters Pt Ramchandra Suman, Pt Shankar Ghosh, and Pt Sanju Sahai, Chris offers a rigorous and authentic approach to learning.

Students will focus on developing precise hand techniques, understanding the structure of basic taals (rhythmic cycles), and learning the fundamental vocabulary of tabla syllables (bols). The curriculum emphasizes the development of rhythmic accuracy and coordination, crucial for building a solid foundation in tabla.

This class is designed for individuals with no prior experience in tabla. You will gain a practical understanding of the instrument’s construction and learn to produce clear and distinct sounds. Expect to develop a disciplined approach to practice and acquire the skills necessary to progress to more advanced tabla studies.

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Recorder

TIME
30min | 45min | 1hr - once a week
Adult Group - 'The Whistle Blowers': Wednesdays 6:30pm (45 mins lesson)

AGE GROUP
Adult Group (18+) - 'The Whistle Blowers'
Ages 8+ - TBC

STUDENTS
Up to 8 students

FEE

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TEACHERS

Mel Wishart
Small group lessons provide a motivating environment to learn music. They encourage teamwork, communication skills, and offer an authentic and empowering environment that can boost confidence and reduce stage fright.

Students will learn to read music at a steady pace but are also encouraged to explore improvisation, as well as taking part in small ensembles.

Lessons are tailor made to explore student’s individual interests, whilst progressively developing their skillset through an established curriculum with each other. “Classical to Whimsical” is Mel’s motto.

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Speech & Drama

TIME
60 mins lessons (one class a week)

AGE GROUP
Ages grouped accordingly

FEES

Click here to view our fees

TEACHERS

Joshua Hinton
Focusing on the individual needs of the student, Speech and Drama can be used to develop skills in public speaking, debating, characterisation, mime, improvisation, and recitation of prose and poetry. Speech and Drama is perfect for those struggling with speech impediments or accents as it works towards developing confidence and clarity of speech. A good basis upon which to build a career in the dramatic industries, it can also be taken as a leisure course for those students just wishing to embrace their creative and extrovert personalities.

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Small Group Lessons take place at our campus in Wollongong’s beautiful Botanic Garden weekly during school term time. For all instrumental lessons you need to have access to a musical instrument (or you can access one of WollCon’s) and to get the most out of your WollCon lessons you need motivation and time for regular practice.

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Wollongong Conservatorium of Music is funded by the NSW Government through the Regional Conservatorium Grants

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Matt Lynch

Director

Matt Lynch brings to WollCon extensive executive and governance experience across energy, infrastructure, defence, and government sectors. He has a proven record of delivering enterprise transformation, strengthening risk and governance frameworks, leading the development of innovative IT solutions, and managing data security and safety transformation projects within highly regulated environments. He is recognised for building high-performing teams that achieve sustainable outcomes.

He holds a Master of Commercial Law from Deakin University, a Bachelor of Information Science and Technology from the University of Wollongong, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Sue Savage

Director

Sue is an accomplished and seasoned manager with a wealth of experience in government administration and community service delivery. With a strong background in strategic planning, organisational development, community engagement, project planning, and building strategic partnerships, Sue has consistently demonstrated her leadership and expertise and brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business focusing on Local Government and Creative Industries from the University of Wollongong, reflecting her commitment to public service and innovative leadership. Sue’s extensive career and dedication to community and social service make her a valuable asset, offering both strategic insight and practical experience to drive meaningful impact.

Anne Mowbray

Director

Anne has been a member of the Wollcon Board since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from UNSW. She is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and an accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. She has taught family law and other subjects at Wollongong University.

For a number of years she has been a subscriber to the Australian Chamber Orchestra which regularly performs in Wollongong . She has been passionate about music and in particular music education to children and adults.

Jake Pearson

Director

Jake has worked in the disability sector for 24 years- 17 of these with Interchange and 7 years as their CEO. Jake is passionate about inclusion and equality for both people with disability and their carers.

He holds an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, as well as completing Diploma’s in Case Management, Community Services Coordination and the AICD Company Directors Course.

Jake is also a committee member on the International Short Breaks Association Board and has been a Director on the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Board since 2022.

Wayne Morris

Director

Wayne is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as being a qualified company secretary and accountant with over 35 years experience in banking and finance. He performed for nine of those years as Chief Executive of IMB Ltd, and the preceding seven years as Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, also with IMB. Wayne’s primary expertise is in the areas of governance, management, accounting, risk management and banking and finance. He has spent his whole life living in the Illawarra and is passionate about ensuring the Illawarra can provide the best possible opportunities and lifestyle for its residents. In 2024 Wayne was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community.

Dr Terumi Narushima

Deputy Chair

Dr Terumi Narushima is a senior lecturer and Music Discipline Leader at the University of Wollongong. She is a composer, performer and sound designer specialising in microtonal tuning systems. Her works include Tritriadic Chimes, a sound installation for LA MicroFest, Hidden Sidetracks, a composition for custom-made instruments premiered by Ensemble Offspring at Sydney Opera House, and a project to build microtonal flutes using 3D printing. She has worked on theatre collaborations which have been presented nationally and internationally, including Yasukichi Murakami: Through a Distant Lens, Lost in Shanghai, and The Story of Chi. She performs with microtonal ensemble Clocks and Clouds, and her book Microtonality and the Tuning Systems of Erv Wilson is published by Routledge.

Nicky Sloan

Chair

Nicky is the CEO of Community Industry Group. She has degrees in Dementia Care, Community & Environment and Marketing, and a Grad Dip in Project Management. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Honorary Fellow of UOW. In addition to Chairing the WollCon Board, she is Deputy Chair of the Regional Development Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven Board and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Warrigal, a large not-for-profit specialising in the provision of services for older people.

Her corporate governance and strategy experience extends through a 20+ year career on boards in the corporate, government and NFP sectors.