About Wendy Brown

Early Years

I love music! I started learning the piano when I was eight years old from Mrs Evans, a piano teacher at my school in Toowoomba. After about two years I wanted to “do exams”, that is – take the piano more seriously and therefore I went to learn from Sr Margaret Norris, with whom I remained for the next seven years.

University Years – Undergraduate

I then went to study at the University of Southern Queensland under the excellent musical ear (and eye!) of Wendy Lorenz. Whom you may be interested to know learnt from Maria Curcio, a teacher in London, who learnt from Liszt, who studied with Czerny, who was a pupil of Beethoven. So in a funny kind of way you have just become part of a “musical lineage” that dates back to Beethoven. I worked my way through the grades with the AMEB and obtained my AMUSA in 1990.

University Years -Post-Graduate Studies

Since finishing my undergraduate studies, I have been teaching the piano and also studying psychology, sociology, music and primary education. I have also graduated from a Post-Graduate Diploma in Music (Piano Pedagogy) and have started my Masters in Music. Some think I shall be a professional student but I just think a student for life will suit me fine!! I am also a qualified Primary Teacher and combine both of these careers at the moment.

About my Philosophy! I teach the piano because I love it and because I believe in the positive power of music. I believe that everybody has the ability to be involved in music in some way and that music has a wonderful way of bringing people together, and it possesses something even beyond that – which I find fulfilling as well. I teach with an eclectic approach which aims to cater for each student individually. I have had training in the Kodaly approach and believe in the effectiveness of this approach and I incorporate this into my teaching.

Now about the Studio!

The Power of Music and People

Wendy Brown Music is a place where I hope to make many friends, while making beautiful, soulful and imaginative music. So far, I have met many wonderful friends through music and I believe that music can bring people together with a positive spirit. When people come together in the spirit of friendship – with mutual respect and acceptance – to make music, they cannot make war. In some small way this studio is my effort to make our world a more peaceful and loving place.

Teaching Dates, Fees, Makeup Lesson Policy

I teach basically according to the school terms. Although for some students we do continue to work with them over the long Christmas break. My fee for Piano Lessons is in accordance with the Music Teachers’ Association (Professional Member) which is $35.00 per half hour, which is payable on a terms basis in the first week of each term. If there are any missed lessons because of illness or school camps etc and I am contacted (with 24 hours’ notice given), I am happy to make up these lessons on “Make-up days” throughout the term (if students miss their make-up time we do not make up these times). Also, at the end of every year we have a ‘Musical Gathering’ and a party, which is a lot of fun for everyone.

My fee for Music for Munchkin classes is  $12.00 per lesson, paid on a term’s basis.

Teacher’s Responsibilities

I see the teacher’s responsibilities in my studio as

• to give the best possible musical education to my students as we can give
• to provide students with a plethora of musical experiences which we hope will enhance their knowledge, skills and enjoyment
• to continue to develop ourselves as people and as musicians so that our growth will extend into the studio
• to ensure that learning music is fun and fulfilling

Expectations of Students

My expectations of my students include

• students make every effort to fulfil their practice assignments each week
• students make every effort to fulfil their potential
• students ensure they attend as many lessons as they can during the term
• they bring all of their music and other books to each lesson
• they have fun!!!