Future rock stars born at studio
THE next generation of pop and rock music stars spent the school holidays learning new skills.
Dozens of children enjoyed playing instruments and singing at Toowoomba’s Stars and Idols music studio this week.
Music director Jim Dowling said it was ’80s week for the children this week, having held a Beatles-themed week earlier in the holidays.
“We teach guitar, keyboard, base, drums and singing is what we do,” he said.
“They do lots of different things. They get a chance to
experience something different all the time, that’s the whole point.”
Children, who were aged
from eight to 13, could learn up to two different instruments as well as be part of a band, song-writing, music trivia and karaoke.
Mr Dowling also teaches in nine schools across the region, creating rock bands in each, as well as music lessons.
Having taught in primary schools previously, Mr Dowling started Music and Idols about 12 years ago to allow students to learn music they were actually interested in.
“I just felt what we were doing, although it’s valuable, it wasn’t going from where the kids are. They like the rock music, the pop music,” he said.
He also has his own studio band called Rock Bandits which includes his former students - who also teach at Stars and Idols.