What do you teach?Primary school music. Music has
been nothing short of an obsession since I was seven.
How has the classroom environment changed since you
were at school? We’re much more student-directed than
when I was young. I think the days of the teacher being
the centre of all knowledge are long gone. The students
have more say over what they learn and want to achieve
- I just help them work out how to get there. Do you have
any other projects outside of being a teacher? I sing
in a psychedelic rock band called The Hello Morning;
play pedal steel in a honkytonk band, James Ellis and
The Jealous Guys; DJ boogie tunes once a week; and
book a venue called Littlefoot. I don’t think I change
very much between each role. I just reign in the swears,
and there’s no rider at school – just some Arnott’s
Assorted Creams. Do your students know you’re in a
band? I think most of the kids know, but if you’re not on
The Voice, you’re not on their radar. What makes a good
teacher? You have to be patient and creative with how
you approach different students. It’s really important
to be adaptable. Anything can happen in a classroom - sometimes lessons bomb really hard, and then a kid
decides he can’t quite make the loo and the music room
floor is his best bet... How do you see issues like race
and sexuality play out in the school ground? I don’t
think they register for most of our kids. It’s like a weird
utopia and it’s actually really refreshing. When the ‘yes’
vote was announced for same-sex marriage, one of the
boys politely asked, “Does that mean I have to marry a
boy now?” Bless! Talk us through the schoolteacher
stereotypes you’re up against. Every week on yard duty
kids ask me why I have long hair. Usually boys. I just
say I think it looks cool, then ask them why they have
short hair. It’s funny how it wigs them out. How have
you changed since your first day on the job? I think
I’m getting goofier. I used to feel weird singing songs
and running around like a maniac with preps, but now
I just knock back two coffees and go for it. What excites
you about teaching? Seeing kids perform is hands
down the best thing. It might be a small performance
in the grand scheme of things, but for them, it’s
absolutely massive. Any wisdom to impart on the next
generation? That anyone can play, write, perform or
have an opinion about music. It’s not exclusive or elitist
or something you have to be born with – you just have
to listen, pick up an instrument and start playing.