What teachers say
From teachers, schools and organisers who have used Susie and Phil's resources and courses.
Teachers with no music background
“I signed up as a complete learner with no musical experience or confidence. I was feeling extremely vulnerable and overwhelmed… From the initial contact, to the end of day two of Level 1, there has been nothing but support and encouragement.”
— Sandra McLoughlin
“As a beginning teacher with no prior music experience, this course was the perfect starting point for me… 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.”
— Laura Barker, beginning teacher
“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.”
— Cassandra Cordero
“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
“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.”
— Amelia Busby, ACU student, on placement
Early childhood educators
“The Welcome to Music courses are well pitched to beginners who are in their first experiences of teaching music to young children… All resources are of very high quality in terms of repertoire selection, models of singing, and linking to core curriculum outcomes.”
— Lisa Woods
“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!”
— Laura Hayes
“A very worthwhile PD. I was sceptical about it being online, but it was [an] 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
“As a music therapist working with the 0–5s I have used a lot of the repertoire with great success.”
— Samantha Schoeler-Jones, music therapist
“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’!”
— Sue Arney, teacher, Melbourne
Music specialists
“As a practising 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, Tas
“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.”
— 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…”
— Liz Lieschke, Wagga Wagga, NSW
“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.”
— Rachel Schmidli, Head of Junior School Music, South Africa
“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…”
— Carole Wild, Music Teacher, Bribie Island State School, Qld
“Just a quick note to say thank-you for… ‘Everyone Sing’ from your choral pack… for our major piece for an Eisteddfod… 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.”
— Bronwyne Kent, St Laurence School Choir, Leongatha, Vic
“My first graders absolutely loved the ‘Scooby Doo’ song… Thank you for providing such a wonderful resource for younger students to experience jazz.”
— Sarah Miller, Music Specialist, Bryson Elementary, South Carolina, USA
Schools and organisers
“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.”
— Shelli Morse, Country Areas Program Consultant
“Thank you for the wonderful presentation you directed yesterday as part of our Harmony Day Assembly… It is wonderful to have age-appropriate songs that express the underpinning of these important concepts and ideas for our students.”
— Jane Cronan, Primary Years Programme Coordinator
“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.”
— Susanne Khalek, United World College South East Asia, Singapore