Testimonials
Early Childhood Course Testimonials
“This course is a MUST DO for all educators of young children, not just music specialists. As an experienced music educator, I came away from this course with fresh new ideas, further understandings of why I do what I do, new ways to set students up for success, and a confidence to try some new things in my classroom that I know will be of great benefit to those I teach.”
-Ramona Ponting
“Wow, Wow, Wow, – I signed up as a complete learner with no musical experience or confidence. I was feeling extremely vulnerable and overwhelmed, to think I was putting myself in a position to be ridiculed and look foolish, I must be crazy. Well that was not the case at all. From the initial contact, to the end of day two of Level 1,
there has been nothing but support and encouragement. It’s been a fun filled, informative, interactive, steady paced easy to learn structured course. The only prerequisite required is to have faith in yourself, be prepared to have a go and engage from the heart in this program. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be part of this program.”
-Sandra McLoughlin
“Thank you Susie and Phil for a wonderful week of Music Education. As a beginning teacher with no prior music experience, this course was the perfect starting point for me. It exceeded my expectations in every way. I used to think it would be hard to implement music into the classroom. However, after four days of training with you, I now feel confident about it and have a bank of activities ready to go. I’ve learnt that music can be incorporated into everything we do, so seamlessly and authentically. I appreciate everything you’ve taught me.”
-Laura Barker
“I would do it again in a heart-beat – just loved it! You are very clever people with hearts for sharing. Thank you for making the level/professionalism/and likability of your music accessible to all. I love how the melodies, harmonies, rhythms etc are also appealing to us!!! The Teachers!!!! Thank you I look forward to keeping in touch and learning more.”
-Laura Barker
“Susie presents her training with a warmth and inclusivity that makes everyone who attends feel valued, worthy and happy to join in with all the activities. Her wealth of knowledge and experience is clearly evident in her programme and teaching style.”
-Gayle King
“I highly recommend the Welcome to Music Early Childhood courses, and am so glad I have now completed Stages 1 and 2.”
-Serena-Lee Doorey
“A delightfully engaging course to develop the confidence to teach music activities to young children regardless of your previous music knowledge and experience (or lack thereof).”
-Alexandra Prince
“A fun, engaging, well organised course celebrating and sharing the wonderful gift of music. Suitable for new, experienced and all teachers in between. Thoroughly worthwhile, an absolute gem of a course!”
-Dianne Stewart
“This music course is well worth your time, I learnt so much and would highly recommend it.”
-Wynne Lee
“The Welcome to Music courses are well pitched to beginners who are in their first experiences of teaching music to young children. Susie is an extremely caring and supportive educator with decades of knowledge, experience and skills which she willingly shares. All resources are of very high quality in terms of repertoire selection, models of singing, and linking to core curriculum outcomes. An enjoyable journey of music learning -and a great entry point to the world of teaching music.”
-Lisa Woods
“I love both Susie and Phil’s energy and positivity. Your passion is catching:-) As a music therapist working with the 0-5’s I have used a lot of the repertoire with great success.”
-Samantha Schoeler-Jones
“I am honoured to receive the Kerry Allen Scholarship. This helped me complete the Early Childhood Music Teacher’s Training, something I really wanted to do. The training was so full of life, music, encouragement, and joy. The in between Q&A times were precious and this training brought out many important areas I have not developed as a Music Teacher. It has changed me and I will never be the same. My students are going to be surprised this year when we meet. Thank you so much for changing me, Welcome to Music.”
-Keviseyienuo Mepfuo
“Susie & Phil’s passion for Music Education along with their collection of outstanding resources, research information and creative practice are undoubted proof of how important music is as a core part of any school curriculum.”
-Judith Van Amstel
“If you’re lacking any confidence or feel unsure about how to handle teaching music to young children, this course is the ultimate resource! Everything is explained in a no-judgement, caring environment, so that no matter what your background is, you feel included and ready to learn. Susie and Phil’s songs, dances, ideas and lessons are some of the most fun, well-scaffolded and exciting content out there – and if it’s fun for us to teach, imagine how much fun the kids will find it! I loved every moment of the course, and they look at things you might not think to look at such as transition songs, ukulele and recorder units, and so much more. It’s worth the investment and I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to complete this course both live (Stage 1) and via watching recordings afterwards (Stage 2).”
-Cassandra Cordero
“I have loved doing the refresher course….I have learnt so much more the second time around and can’t wait to try out some of the songs and dances at kinder.”
-Kathy Ryan
“A very worthwhile PD. I was sceptical about it being online, but it was extremely convenient and efficient way of learning lots of new things and recharging my musical brain! I would recommend this to other Early Childhood teachers and music teachers.”
-Steph Balfour
“Thank you for being so incredibly inspirational. The world is a better place because of Susie and Phil.”
-Hannerlie Peck
“Susie and Phil are generous folk who give their all to help music educators. Real gems!”
-Louise Lindsay
“Thank you to both Susie and Phil for a fun-filled, revitalising, inspiring and musically awakening experience over the last 4 days. I’ve really enjoyed every minute of it!”
-Julia Trifonov
“Susie and Phil are so inspirational. They are both truly great educators, musicians and mentors for life as well as music.”
-Elizabeth Arneil
“This was the best online PD I have ever done! And I’ve done a lot of them lately!”
–Jaclyn Lanera
“I feel inspired, confident and now have a wonderful arrangement of resources to implement immediately in the classroom. This will enrich the children’s learning and dispositions of curiosity, playfulness and creativity! Susie and Phil you are amazing and the love of music you share is inspirational. Thank you for a truly brilliant 4 days!”
-Laura Hayes
“Your contribution to Music Education is exceptional. Australia has a real treasure in you! All children should have access to this very enriching music education!”
-Helen Pritchard
“Susie and Phil’s songs are musically well-constructed, narratively interesting, singable and children LOVE them (I do too of course!). Your contribution to my professional development has been invaluable. This is just the start of my Welcome to Music education. I look forward to learning more through the guidance and inspiration of Susie and Phil. They are Australian treasures!”
-Carmel May
Welcome to Music Resources and Professional Development Testimonials
“As an experienced music educator, I highly recommend the Welcome to Music courses and resources to anyone teaching music. Susie and Phil’s approach to Music education looks at the child as a whole, and addresses many different areas of a child’s development. They have created wonderful songs, stories and activities that allow for scaffold learning and development, not only of a student’s musical skills and abilities, but of so much more.
Having recently completed the WTM Stage 1 and Stage 2 Early Childhood Courses, I am so excited to bring new material and teaching ideas into my own Music classroom. I recommend you sign up for a course (or 2 or 3). Susie’s inclusive approach to teaching is mirrored in the way she runs her PD’s. She is personable and keen to empower others who teach music and I guarantee, when the course comes to an end, you will be bursting to get back into your classroom to try out everything you have learned.”
-Ramona Ponting, Vic
“Our school has purchased several Davies- Splitter & Splitter resources over the years and use them widely in class music lessons and for choir. They are user friendly, have great melodies and are great for singing, loads of ideas for activities which are Orff based, used for un-tuned and melodic percussion, ticks the ‘educational’ outcomes boxes, creates a sense of fun and a little ‘silliness’ that the students enjoy.”
-Liz Lieschke ,Wagga Wagga NSW
“I thoroughly recommend The Welcome to Music Series because Susie and Phil are absolute experts! They are Australian Music Education trail blazers and their resources and creative methods work. I first sat in an early childhood music workshop in the 80’s as a student and still draw on my notes from that time to this day in my role as Head of Junior School Music. The huge library of work reaches children from the very young right through to the end of primary school. It caters for students with physical, emotional, intellectual disabilities- breaking through language barriers and offers open ended tasks and challenges to extend the highly able. The fact that it is locally produced and uniquely Australian is pretty special too.”
-Rachel Schmidli, South Africa
“I have had the privilege to attend a music professional development course given by Susie. She was inspirational and opened my eyes to the wonderful world of music education. Her methods and resources are outstanding. I visit the Welcome to Music website frequently and use many of their resources which are excellent to use in the music classroom. The students love it too.”
-Emily Johnson
“Thank you for sharing your music with all of us. An inspiration to all music teachers!”
-Joan Heather Waters-Lithgow, South Africa
“Susie, thank you so much for your inspirational videos. I use your teaching resources daily and have been able to incorporate many ideas easily into a distance learning platform. SOOOOO appreciate your generosity.”
-Sian Edeson
“Welcome to Music is an incredible group, filled with so many valuable, inspiring ideas for Early Childhood educators. Susie is the most vivacious talented musician/teacher, whose enthusiasm and bubbly personality overflows onto those she teaches.
Her husband Phil, well, he’s what you would typically call the class clown, also a talented musician, but an absolute crack up at the same time. Together, they are peaches and cream, complimenting each other in a beautiful balance.
I have attended training with Susie, and couldn’t recommend it any higher. You will come out of it brimming with knowledge, and ideas to bring into your own Early Childhood setting.
If you’re feeling like you’ve lost your passion, and sparkle, or just need a jumpstart, do yourself a favour, and connect with Welcome To Music. You won’t look back.”
-Tina Douglas, Vic
“Fabulous & fun music educators with awesome songs & wonderful teaching resources!!!”
-Fee La, NSW
“Susie is an amazingly gifted music educator who is dedicated to helping upcoming music teachers develop their craft. Thanks a million for your fabulous music and videos Susie! I learn so much from just watching how you perform and interact with the children. You have taught us music teachers so many useful songs and teaching ideas!”
-JoJo Kitley, Vic
Additional Testimonials
“Susie and Phil MUST be congratulated on their ability to be so vibrant and entertaining to other music people. They obviously love their life and are an inspiration to all people around them.We all learnt so much and especially lots of new ways to inspire our students.”
– Kerry Browning, Music Teacher, Tasmania.
“As a practicing music teacher in schools for the last fourteen years, I have found the resources put out by Welcome to Music absolutely invaluable.
I love the Orff approach, and Susie and Phil’s resources take this approach and make it amazingly easy, fun and accessible for all ages and types of children.”
– Angela Chapman, Launceston Preparatory School, Tasmania
“Hi Susie and Phil, I don’t believe we’ve ever met, but I just wanted to say thank you for your music.
I love singing, and when I was in primary school my mother (Martina Golding, who is a primary school music teacher) had a CD of your songs that I loved! So much so that when I was twelve years old I insisted to our music teacher Pauline Greaves that we should write our annual school musical (Roslyn Primary School in Geelong) based around your music.
She relented, and we did! It was called “Cool School…
…Anyway I saw that you were friends with Mum on facebook and just had to let you know that your work is appreciated. Sometimes it’s nice to be told, right?”
— Sarah Golding
“I would just also like to say, your music classes have made my placement experience so worthwhile. There were many situations where the staff in my room asked me to run group time and sing songs with the children, and with my confidence levels already peaking from your classes, I found this task extremely easy and enjoyable.
I was able to demonstrate new dance moves and introduce new songs to the children which they all loved. And therefore I would just like to say thank you so much for commitment and drive to teach us such necessary and worthwhile techniques to employ in the classroom.”
— Amelia Busby, ACU student
“And I just have to say Susie – that you and Phil are gurus to me! I think you both deserve Australian of the Year titles for all you have contributed to the cause of music in Australia (and beyond), and if it wasn’t for your entrepreneurial visions and production of your resources, our country would be a much poorer place. You have both contributed an amazing music legacy, and I know that the costs to do this are enormous and you deserve enormous thanks from us all.”
— Lynne Pilbrow, Music Educator, Canberra
“The Welcome to Music Program delivered at our Country Areas Program teachers’ workshop was outstanding. Our teachers gained practical and valuable knowledge and skills which were easily transferred to the classroom. I would highly recommend this program for all preschool to primary teachers who are looking to enhance their music program. We look forward to working with Phil in future Northern CAP initiatives.”
— Shelli Morse, CAP Consultant
“So far I’m using Hello as my Hello song in prep, level 1 & 2, Edna the Elephant for teaching the beat using percussion instruments and Move with the Motion for the level 3 & 4 students. My students are loving them!”
– Natalie Wickham, Mitcham PS
“I have been meaning to write to you about Beat Street which you gave me at ECCPA. Congratulations on another great CD. Yours and Susie’s voices sound fantastic, as always. Bruce’s youngest daughter loved the Aussie Rules track and listened carefully to make sure you mentioned all the teams! I think Edna the Elephant is my favourite song.”
– Jennifer Smith – Director, Mini Maestros
“I’ve just listened to the whole Beat Street CD and just wanted to say how great it is, especially now that I have heard the tracks that weren’t included in the sample CD.
Especially love Funga Alafia, Rum Tum Tum, Making Waves, Haida & Fantastic Elastic, which are great for early childhood…I was cleaning out a cupboard (one of my goals whilst on leave) but had to stop to dance & move as I imagined using your tracks in my classroom.
Thanks so much to both of you, for yet another great resource!!”
– Sue Jetten, Director, New Hope Baptist Preschool, Melbourne
“I’ve just listened to Beat Street! Great job Susie and Phil. It’s beautifully produced, the songs are fun and it took me back to when my babies used to listen non-stop to Rainbows and Bop in the Bath. The kids will be very excited to hear how the songs turned out!”
– Mark O’Leary, Director, Young Voices of Melbourne
“Dear Susie and Phil, Just wanted to say how much I’m loving using ‘Beat Street’ with my kids. So many great songs to use both in my class and with the choir. Lots of scope to take each song in different directions too. Love your work,”
– Hilary Fairlie, Kingsville PS, Melbourne
“The most celebratory part of the course was hearing the students really engage in singing, moving, improvising and playing. To use your CD’s as backing was a huge motivator and uplifting once we were ready to put things together. The sounds they made reverberated around the UNI and the group had an appreciative group of staff captivated by the sound they made. I told the students that you devote yourselves tirelessly to the creation and delivery of music that is accessible and can form the basis to which much embellishment can be added. They lost themselves in “Life’s a Celebration” They asked me to let you know that they found the words, lyrics and opportunity of vocal and movement improvisation so uplifting. Many said they found themselves going around the house singing and dancing. For many of the participants who suffer from a mental illness the music is a great anti depressant tonic.”
– Kerry Allen, ELC educator, Canberra, ACT
“I did ‘The Fireman’s BBQ’ with my Preppies today, played the instruments, did the voices, used the BIG book etc. One little girl sitting on the floor in front of me just looked up and said quietly and gently, “Ms Arney, I LOVE this story”! Thank you!”
– Sue Arney, teacher, Melbourne
“Thank you for the wonderful presentation you directed yesterday as part of our Harmony Day Assembly. I thought the song ‘Down Under in Australia’ was particularly well done and appropriate. The words of the song spoke of everyone belonging and the beauty of acceptance and harmony. I found the actions you devised for the children particularly moving and they invited the children to authentically engage with the song and the concept that everyone belongs in Australia. I was especially happy to see the inclusiveness of the Indigenous culture in the song.The ‘Hearts in Harmony’ song was similarly well chosen and appropriate to assist children in learning the benefits of compassion, connectedness and citizenship. It is wonderful to have age-appropriate songs that express the underpinning of these important concepts and ideas for our students. Well done to both of you for your excellent choice in music and for taking the time to so beautifully enhance the learning process.”
– Kind regards, Jane Cronan, Primary Years Programme Coordinator
“I really am a fan and would recommended ‘Welcome to Music’ to all teachers and especially to new teachers who are often hesitant to use their own voices – the CD’s are so good that they soon have everyone singing along in spite of themselves. I am not a trained music teacher but have had 50 years teaching mostly early childhood using lots of music. Since I first attended a workshop with Susie and Phil I have used 6 of the ‘Welcome to Music’ series constantly with great results. Currently I am teaching the Junior Choir ‘Banjo the Bunyip’ and the kids just love it (as do I). My Preps just love ‘Luna Lagoon’ Today I was teaching some quite difficult year 4’s ‘Percussion Pop’ – they became really engrossed in working on the 2 ostinati and most left the music room either chanting ‘pop pop pop percussion pop’ or singing ‘sing …say…move, dance, play’. It is such a good thing to see.”
– Carole Wild. Music Teacher at Bribie Island State School QLD
Hi Susie and Phil
“Just a quick note to say thank-you for posting out “Everyone Sing” from your choral pack last week for our major piece for an Eisteddfod.
The lovely ladies in the office did ask me to let you know how we did in the competition and I am pleased to say that our senior choir won their section!! We competed in a section with 10 other Primary School choirs from across Gippsland and the students did an outstanding job on the day and were justly awarded first prize. The Adjudicators comments included “very well polished, strong diction and great movement through the key change and A’cappella Sections.
We use your choir packages frequently and have also sung “One voice One Song” in previous years for competitions and performances. Thank-you so much for all your wonderful resources and your commitment to Primary School music Education I couldn’t do it without your fantastic ideas and
Professional development workshops.I have attached a pic of our grade six students and the Adjudicator, many of our grade 6 girls have been in the choir since grade 1 and were very excited with the win!”
– Bronwyne Kent, St Laurence School Choir, Leongatha
“I just wanted to let you know how much Kirsten’s son Finn LOVES your CDs. At 14 months he knows them off by heart and anticipates what is coming next. He loves the jokes and the children laughing. He stands over near the CD player and dances to let us know he wants the music on (and this is all day long).
He plays his instruments along with yours. He has about 6 CDs altogether but your 2 are his favourites. Of course Granmarg knows a lot of the songs so he probably catches my enthusiasm. Kirsten and I have sung to him since birth, one of us more in tune than the other!. I always knew you were a genius and it is so lovely to see the effect on one so young.”
– Marg Dawkins
“We played your CD ‘Funkey Monkey’ everyday. We danced to it and loved it. In the end, we girls just wanted to dance to the “Fairy and Elephant” Dance. That’s what we called it anyway because of the actions. The real name is Lo Yisa Goy. And every morning we danced to the Bossa Beat. It was just wonderful.
So you see, it is not just for little people, but for big people who want to forget that they are big people and think of themselves as fairies and elephants. You seemed to have added a couple of new things on to the site. It is a great site. I’d like to hear a little more of the music in the example, but it is great to hear what the song will sound like. As soon as I am able to, I am going to order the books and CDs.”
– Glynis, 4th year university student,Tasmania
“Chongzheng Primary School just celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a Musical. I must thank you for allowing us to use 4 of your songs during the musical. The songs were so inspirational and appropriately in line with our story. In fact the song “Feel the Joy” was our finale piece.”
– Bridgette, Chongzheng Primary School, Singapore
Hi Susie and Phil,
“In our recent UN Performance, I used your version of ‘Ipharadisi’ and ‘A Better Place’.
I was inspired by the signing in ‘Imagine If’, that I used as part of last year’s UN Celebration and looked up the signing for ‘Better Place’. Thank you for all the wonderful material that you have created over the years. I am still using songs from the very early albums and every time, I feel as if we are sharing it together. I also meant to tell you that every year, in the second half of first term, Grade 1 study a unit called ‘Let’s Celebrate’. As part of it they visit a full range of places of worship and look at different practices and family traditions. Your song ‘Chanukah Chanukah’ is a lovely reinforcement of what they have discussed. It gives Jewish children in the classes added confidence to explain more of what they do or share as a family. Thank you”
– Susanne Khalek uwcsea, United World College South East Asia, Singapore.
“I am Susie and Phil’s no 1 fan (strange at the age of 67!!!!)
I would like to add a quick story that you might like:
For the 4 weeks before the holidays I had a contract with a local primary school as music teacher (I have been an Early Childhood teacher for over 40 years but music has always been my special love).
On one day a week the teacher I was replacing and therefore I, worked at a Special school. When I had worked at the special school earlier in the year there was one child who as well as being ‘very’ autistic was very violent causing considerable injury to those working with him When he came to music I was told not to speak to him, approach him or even make eye contact with him. There was no real problem as his assistant kept an eye on him and he just wondered around the room in his own world. When I returned this time he had a 1 to 1 teacher and she asked me if I would give him ‘some music’ to which I agreed as long as there was someone else with him as he does not know me at all.
The first day he came to me he did not want to do anything and when we tried to do something like ‘Looby Loo’ which I was told he loved he became very upset, cried and ran from the room after hitting his teacher and knocking off her glasses.
On our next lesson I decided to use Susie and Phil’s music and some instruments. I started with ‘Welcome to Music’ and his assistant and I did all the clapping, moving etc and towards the end I took his hands to move them and he just let me.
I had 3 sets of the instruments for ‘The Biggest Band’ ready and as the instruments changed I would give him the different instrument and he began to move with the maracas and when we got to the claves he held my hand so we were tapping together – he didn’t want the tambourine but kept tapping with his hand still holding mine (very gently) and when the song finished he let me take the claves as I said “That’s the end of that song” and then he put his hand up to my cheek and then ran out of the room.
It was one of the best things that has happened to me in over 40 years of teacher. As I have said before I think Susie and Phil’s music is wonderful and I am sure that is partly the reason for my breakthrough with this young man.”
– Regards and thanks, Carole
“I am writing to let you know of the success of “Funky Monkey” in our school. I recently introduced this as a part of my lessons on rhythm and singing to the junior school then into the middle and senior school where all the students loved singing and improvising beats, scatting and instruments.
In small groups children were asked to develop a scat rhythm to the beat of the music then adapt actions and percussion instruments in a group to perform ….. 9/10 groups were very enthusiastic and loved what we had designed. The juniors have designed actions with the song for our junior music festival in September. Thanks for a great song.”
– Sharon Hayman, Teacher, Shellharbour, Wollongong NSW
“Hi Phil and Susie, I received ‘Sing Jam and Jive’ today. What a wealth of material I don’t know where to start, but I will tomorrow as soon as I go to school. I love the variety both in the content of the songs and their applications in the class, from simple stamp and clap to complicated improvisation. Thank you so much. An inspiration for me and my students.”
– Cheers from Jocelyn Lowinger, Melbourne
“I bought this book when I was in San Jose for the Orff conference and finally got around to using it this week. My first graders absolutely loved the ‘Scooby Doo’ song and you would have loved watching them learn ‘Sing to the Heavens Above’. In one class, one of the boys must be the child of a music minister. He just took over and lead the whole class in appropriate gestures. Thank you for providing such a wonderful resource for younger students to experience jazz.”
– Sarah Miller,
NBCT – Music Specialist, Bryson Elementary
Simpsonville, SC USA
“I love, love, love Sue and Phil Splitter’s books and cds. Bought their entire series. They are an entertaining couple from Australia. My current big time hits are ‘Fuzzy the Clown’ and ‘Luna Lagoon’. I have a Time – Life Book on Animals from Down Under. This works well with ‘Luna Lagoon’ where they cite an animal and an instrument like a saxophone will play as the kids dance around.
– Ellie Wong, USA
“Bought Funky Monkey online and so get your newsletter… My kids adore you! All the best.”
– Dr. Robyn Horner, Assistant Head, School of Theology Chair, Assessment Review Committee
National Coordinator, Graduate Certificate and Master of Arts (Theology) Australian Catholic University St Patrick’s Campus
“Hello Phil and Susie
In June I was very lucky to be sent to Adelaide to the ASME one day conference at Rose Park. It was a fun step in my journey back into the world of Music Teaching having been absent for 8 years.
By sent I actually mean my boss showed me the promo. and I jumped in the air screaming “Yes please yes please!”.
I participated in your ‘Take Orff with Improvisation’ workshop and felt like I had been doing it since I could walk.”
Playing drums for the small group improv. session based on Old Shoe Blues. almost left me shopping for a kit the next day! I loved it! Now I am successfully passing on the enthusiasm for creativite teaching back at school.
With the handouts available I have been able to implement great strategies in the classroom based on your very clear examples. I have also been inspired to write my own songs based on the simplicity of what you demonstrated. Failure proof!
The students lap up the chance to include their own lyrics and vocal suggestions. WE are all engaged and the teachers are thriving on the knowledge.
My most memorable part of the June conference was learning and singing the parts of ‘Imagine If’.”
Sincerely & Thanks
– Mrs Tresma Strelan, Renmark SA
“Hi Phil and Susie – I taught the song ‘Old Shoes Blues’ with 4 year-olds and Preps and Grade Ones using different challenges. They all went away singing.
We used instruments to play the little riffs and different groups stood up and sat down as they played, just like a jazz band. Of course they love to dance to it as well. – I also taught Imagine if and the classes just loved it, felt the sentiment right away and sang it with reverence.
I used the signs to teach the words to the preps without giving them the printed words. ‘Hey Yo’ presented a real challenge with the e d c b, keeping it in the time. The children loved the scatting. The beauty of these songs is that in the Orff tradition, you can take on more challenges for higher levels within the song. Thanks for my weeks lessons.”
– Jocelyn Lowinger, Melbourne