The 1 hour lesson priced at $90 covers the running costs for SoulTech Studios and also ensures that Music for Life teachers are paid at a reasonable rate for providing a highly specialised service. Music for Life delivers what is most importantly a positive musical experience for the student which is comparable to a therapy session.
Music for Life also provides the additional service of liaising with sponsoring agencies and other support services to keep them informed of the student’s progress and assist in responding effectively to the student’s needs. SoulTech Studios is a GST registered business and has comprehensive business insurance.
There is a bus route (251 bus) with a stop in close walking distance to SoulTech. Northland Bus Interchange is just a couple of bus stops away. There is a 20 space parking lot in front of SoulTech with 4 spaces allotted to users of the studio.
Ideally, a student will have their own musical instrument so that they can practice at home, however students don’t need to bring an instrument to the location. It is usually the case that beginner students don’t own whichever instrument they are learning when they commence music lessons. It does become important to practice at home by the time that the student has had four or five lessons.
SoulTech will source government grants and philanthropic donations to financially assist Music for Life students to have their own musical instruments. SoulTech will also ask sponsoring agencies if they can purchase a musical instrument on behalf of the student they are sponsoring.
The most affordable electric guitar or bass guitar with amplifier packages start from around $200 brand-new. These are adequate for beginner students. Cheaper drum kits range from $300 - $500 and they are also suitable for a beginner. A decent keyboard plus amplification is about $450. Anthony is more than happy to research the best option for buying an instrument when a student is able to afford one.
Sponsoring agencies are organisations that have clients who can benefit from Music for Life. These can be mental health services, youth centres, schools, government departments or welfare organisations. The sponsoring agency covers the cost for their client to attend weekly lessons and rehearsals at Music for Life.
Sometimes it is a good idea for the agency to pay all but ten dollars of the lesson fee, so that the student is required to pay the remaining ten dollars. The purpose for this is to instil in the student a sense of value to the lesson and to prompt them to be prudent and reliable. Both the agency and SoulTech can determine whether this would be an appropriate arrangement for the client.
The pandemic has devastated the community and mental health issues have become increasingly prevalent for vulnerable sections of society. SoulTech Studios would be extremely grateful for any donations of money or musical instruments to help with ongoing costs such as rent and electricity as this will enable SoulTech to provide a safe space in the community where vulnerable individuals can express themselves creatively.
