Staff
The staff at SoulTech are professional musicians who developed their musical ability from an early age and now have successful careers performing, writing, and producing music. At SoulTech, there is less of an emphasis on learning to read music and this is most effective in allowing the student to collaborate with their teacher and fellow students, advance their musical skills, and reach their full potential in the shortest amount of time possible.
Melbourne is renowned for having a vibrant live music scene and there are many opportunities for musicians to make a name for themselves. SoulTech is the ideal starting point for aspiring musicians to assimilate into the local music scene with the relevant skills and knowledge. SoulTech has an extensive recording studio which a student can access when they have gained the confidence and experience required to take their music to the next level.
Music for Life also caters for musically talented students who are looking to improve their skills and collaborate with other students that have a comparable ability. Music for Life teachers have contacts in the local music scene and can assist young talented musicians to get gigs and make the most of their musical aspirations. Talented students are very effective as role models and mentors to novice musicians and can adopt a teaching role within the operational structure of Music for Life.
Anthony Coen
Director
The director of Music for Life is Anthony Coen who is both a musician and educator with over twenty years’ experience delivering music programs in the public sector. He has taught song-writing skills to juvenile offenders, conducted music therapy sessions at an adolescent psychiatric unit, and provided instrumental music lessons to teenagers in residential care. He has a vast experience of imparting his musical knowledge to students from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Anthony has developed a highly effective teaching method. It involves him being able to hear a piece of music and being able to reproduce the instrumentation himself – the drum beat, the guitar or bass line, the notes of a piano or synthesizer – either instantly or after a second or third listening if the instrumentation is complex. This enables him to show the student how to play whatever piece of music they might have on their phone or headset in the shortest possible amount of time without needing sheet music or having ever heard the song before.
In a traditional music lesson, the teacher will present the student with set pieces of music to learn – often the same pieces they learned as a student. Delivering music lessons in this manner is not as effective as responding to the musical styles the student is most interested in. Learning to read music can be an obstacle to learning how to play an instrument in a short amount of time. Anthony's approach in teaching music allows the student to derive their motivation to master an instrument from the strong bond they have with the music they love and the desire to make this style their own.
This teaching method is practiced by Anthony because it is how he taught himself to play these instruments with the advantage of knowing musical theory from nine years of classical piano lessons. He has an advanced knowledge of music theory and its application to modern music styles. Anthony can demonstrate how learning an instrument is both hard work and fun at the same time. Students are amazed at their own ability and potential when learning instrumental music via this method.
Anthony has a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and current VIT registration.
Gustavo Moreno
Born in Colombia, South America, Gustavo has been a professional drummer for over 20 years. His broad experience over the past two decades has seen him working internationally for TV, live radio, musicals, theatre, education, studio recordings and countless concerts and performances for up to 70,000 people.
Gustavo’s unique approach to teaching has proven very successful as he brings his enthusiasm and passion to work side by side with each student. With a focus on the important aspects of drumming and music, he imparts to his student’s rhythmic awareness and knowledge, solid timing, technique, aural training, independence/coordination, and - most of all - the freedom and skills to play music.
Arnaud Lebon
Originally from Beau Bassin, Plaines Wilhems, Mauritius, Arnaud graduated from Saint Mary’s College High School in 2006. His list of talents include composer, multi-instrumentalist, bass specialist, music educator and peer worker. Arnaud teaches piano, guitar, bass guitar, and recorder. He is currently playing gigs about town and is highly respected in the Melbourne music scene.
Arnaud can apply his skills to working on stage productions and he has spent time writing original music for Wonderland Theatre. Every holiday season, this theatre group would present pantomimes for kids and Arnaud would join the actors on-stage playing the live accompaniment and ambient music. He has an affinity for working with young music students and brings enthusiasm and dedication to his profession.
