A rocking success

Sean Collins and Ellie Corbett, front, and other Noosaville State School students involved in the alternative music program with tutor Barney Rodway.

Geoff Pottern

A new alternative music program focusing on guitar, drums and keyboards has proven wildly popular with Noosaville State School students this year, ensuring the program will continue at the school in 2010.

The program, devised by alternative music program co-ordinator and self-described music fanatic Barney Rodway, kicked off with 25 students at the start of the year. It has ended the school year with a total of 80 devoted proteges and a long waiting list.

Mr Rodway said his inspiration for the classes came when he was a full-time day teacher at Noosaville primary school conducting after-school guitar lessons for three years.

“I saw the need in school to cater for other instruments,” Mr Rodway said.

The program, paid by an upfront term fee from parents, is voluntary and runs in tandem with the string, woodwind and brass lessons.

It focuses on songs by Pink, Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, Paramore, Kings Of Leon, Michael Jackson, Missy Higgins, Green Day, Cream, ACDC, The Vines, The Beatles and Metallica.

“We focus on what the kids want to hear and they flourish,” he said.

The program also encourages students to write their own music.

“This is a licence to be original, creative and have fun.”

With the help of the school’s P and C, Mr Rodway has built a specially designed sound studio for the program, giving the students access to state-of-the-art electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards and drum kits as well as sound recording and audio equipment.

Mr Rodway said it was a unique program made possible by a forward thinking principal.

“Our principal Rob Van de Heuval is visionary – he believed in the program and allowed its trial this year.”

The program will come to a climax next Wednesday at 6pm, when the school will put on its own Big Day Out, with 15 rock bands performing 30 songs – including some originals.

Proceeds from the evening will fund more musical equipment for the program.