voodoo child
music
Melbourne’s premier music school
Est. 2006 and located in Surrey Hills, voodoo child music offers high quality personalised music lessons in all styles and all skill levels, from complete beginners to advanced students; 5 years to adults – all ages welcome!
Variety of Instruments and Genres: We offer one to one individual lessons in a range of instruments and musical genres. Whether it’s guitar, piano, keyboard, bass, drums & singing, we offer a diverse selection of lessons to cater to students interests and preferences.
Experienced musicians and teachers: Our students are in great hands. We want to ensure that our students are receiving instruction from experienced, knowledgeable teachers and musicians who can effectively nurture students musical talents.
Individualised Instruction: Each music lessons is tailored to the individual needs and skill levels of each student. This helps students progress at their own pace and reach their full potential.
Supportive Environment: Our school offers a nurturing and supportive environment where students can thrive and develop their musical abilities. Our teachers are warm and caring.
Benefits of Music Education: We know that there are numerous benefits that music education offers for students of all ages. especially children and teenagers. Music can improve cognitive skills, enhance academic performance, boost self-confidence, and increase creativity.
AMEB exam preparation is available in contemporary, RockSchool or classical streams. Alternatively lessons can be taken purely for leisure (without taking exams).
We offer 1:1 lessons in:
guitar
piano
keyboard
singing
drums
bass
All styles: Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues, Music Theatre, Classical, and more…….
We offer individual lessons in a range of instruments and musical genres. Whether it’s guitar, piano, keyboard, bass, drums & singing, we offer a diverse selection of lessons to cater to students interests and preferences.
All ages
Complete beginners to advanced
AMEB exam preparation available
Children: five years plus. Adults: any age – it’s never too late!
Individual lessons
Each student is different and it is important to explore what is going to work best for each individual. We like to firstly understand the students music ability or previous experience – if any? – (complete beginners welcome!) Ours is a comprehensive approach to learning an instrument from the very beginning to an advanced level. We typically have a preferred syllabus that we work from for the various instruments. We also like to supplement tutor books with popular, fun pieces/songs that really interests the student. The teacher can draw upon a large repertoire of music to cater to a wide range of musical tastes and interests and will happily provide guidance about suitable pieces if needed. Our teachers structure the lessons around the students musical ability, musical taste, building skills and having fun.
Our weekly lessons are a comprehensive approach to learning an instrument.
Enrolment
tuition fees
pricing: $47 (gst incl) for a 30 minute 1:1 lesson.
The weekly lessons are on a term by term basis and payment for the whole term is due within 7 days. We follow the Government School Terms (generally 10 – 12 weeks per term) Students can join at any stage throughout the term, we simply bill them for the remainder of the term.
term dates
voodoo child music follows the Government School Terms – details outlined below.
terms for 2025
Term 1: Wed Jan 29 – Sat, April 5 (9 weeks)
Term 2: Tues, Apr 22 – Sat, Jul 5 (11 weeks)
Term 3: Mon, Jul 21 – Sat, Sept 20 (9 weeks)
Term 4: Mon, Oct 6 – Thu, Dec 18 (11 weeks)
Lessons are held at the studio at 104 Union Rd, Surrey Hills 3127.
Monday – Friday : 2:00pm – 9:00pm &
Saturday 9:00am – 3:00pm
public holidays
The studio is closed on all public holidays.
public holidays for 2025:
– Monday 10th of March (Labor day)
– Friday 18th of April (Good Friday)
– Saturday 19th April (Easter Saturday)
– Monday 21 April (Easter Monday)
– Friday 25th of April (ANZAC day)
– Monday 9th of June (Kings Birthday)
– Tuesday 4th of November (Melbourne Cup)
Contact us
104 Union Road, Surrey Hills 3127
mobile 0437 129 987
studio teaching hours:
monday to friday: 4pm – 9pm
saturday: 9am – 3pm
sunday: closed
office hours:
monday to friday: 10am – 7pm
saturday: 9am – 3pm
sunday: closed
Testimonials
“Our daughter Mia has attended singing and piano lessons at Voodoo Child and loves it. The teaching is fun and flexible, but still returns great results. The intimate concerts they hold twice a year are also wonderful.”
– Nicole
“My warmest regards to James for continuing to inspire Tom to improve and love his music. It is often very difficult to persist as teenagers have many completing demands for their time. James has such a great rapport with students he hits the right ‘note’ with his teaching skills and enthusiasm”
– Liz Stayner
“VoodooChild Music is seamlessly coordinated by Siobhan. My son (9) and I (not 9) started learning guitar with Andy just a few months ago (separate lesson times) and he has been brilliant for us both, adapting his teaching style to our respective learning journey. During lockdowns, lessons continued online thanks to Siobhan’s excellent communication and where Andy’s patience shone through various tech-connections issues. Thanks Andy.
Highly recommend the studio, for any age.”
– Olivia
“I just wanted to say thank you and congratulations on a great concert again last night. It was wonderful to see all the young talent so confident up on the stage.
I really appreciate the effort Ben has put in with James throughout the term preparing for the performance and being up on stage together certainly helps them feel comfortable. A wonderful evening enjoyed by all the families I am sure. Again, congratulations, and we can’t wait for the next one at the end of the year!!”
– Many thanks Natalie
“Milica’s passion for playing and teaching bass was obvious within minutes of my first lesson. She continues to push my musical boundaries and expand my knowledge on what it is to be a bass player. How good is that???”
– Garrath
“While my daughter Charlie started learning drums over 3 years ago at school, it wasn’t until she started taking lessons with Niko that we really started to see a rapid improvement in her musical abilities and noticed her true enjoyment and passion for playing the drums come out.
Finding the right music teacher for your child can be the difference between your child developing a lifelong love of music or a quick ending to a musical interest. I am really happy we discovered Voodoo Child Music, through Niko’s fabulous approach to teaching and his ‘on their level’ way with the kids, Charlie always looks forward to her drum lessons, regardless of how much, or how little home time practice she has done.
I can’t thank Niko enough for encouraging and enabling Charlie with the skills and confidence each week and the belief that with some effort (and practice!!) she can be that ‘rock star’ drummer she dreams of being!”
– Lisa
“For a child with a long term interest in music, this is the place to be! Exceptional in every sense.”
– Lisa
“My daughter Jordi has been enjoying singing lessons at Voodoo Child with Kelly for almost 2 years. Kelly is an inspirational, enthusiastic teacher, who is working diligently to develop Jordi’s singing talent. Lessons are fun and relaxed, and songs chosen are relevant to Jordi s age and voice range. Since commencing singing lessons, Jordi’s vocal range has expanded, her confidence has improved enormously, and she has had the opportunity to perform before an audience. Jordi has a passion for singing, and Kelly is instrumental in developing that passion.”
– Lynn
“Emily, who is naturally fairly quiet, has thrived with Kelly as a teacher. Kelly s sweet and encouraging nature has drawn the best from Emily and now, at the age of 9, Emily is confident and prepared enough to sing to a group of 50 people. Emily absolutely adores Kelly and is completely inspired by Kelly to keep going with her singing and become a pop star!!!! Will have to wait and see!! In the meantime, it s THE favourite activity in her week, and she is gaining confidence and her self esteem is soaring with this new found love, so I am delighted as well. Thank you Kelly.”
– Natalie
“I would like to give a big commendation to Fiona, she is great, extremely patient. I’m really happy with voodoo child music and the teacher.”
– Dave
“Well done James and Siobhan for organizing such a great concert. What a fantastic opportunity for the kids to perform at such an awesome venue and you have done a great job getting them all where they are. It was great to finally see it all come together and all the kids were fantastic.”
– Kate Newton
“They have great teachers for all types on instruments”
– Tammie
“Wonderful concert last night, you really have done a wonderful job with all of these kids. My wife and I are of the opinion that playing in the band is one of the reasons why Alec still continues with the bass guitar. Most of his friends have taken up an instrument and then dropped it as their enthusiasm wanes. Being able to play “real” music every week is something that he looks forward to and he has never once said on a Saturday that he never wanted to attend.”
– Ian and Kellie Smith
“A well organized concert with excellent music selection. It was great to observe all members of the band playing as a team. Well done James in organizing the different bands to work harmoniously.”
– Peter and Jeya Selvaratnam
Cancellation policy
Lesson cancellations throughout the term
If a student cancels a lesson with at least 24 hours notice, we will note the absence and do our utmost to arrange a make up lesson. If a student is sick on the day, we still note this and look for a chance for a make up lesson wherever possible. However, make up lessons are not guaranteed. They depend on an opening becoming available in the teachers' schedule, usually directly before or after the student’s scheduled lesson time.
The 24 hour notice period is designed to allow us time to make contact with and offer other students the opportunity to have a make up in your spot: students may need time to make special arrangements to enable them to take advantage of the make up lesson offer.
Please direct all cancellation advice to our office on 9486 1203 or 0437 129 987 (10.00am - 7.00pm daily) not your teacher. The office will advise the teacher of the cancellation. Contacting the office directly allows us to record and coordinate all make up lessons between all students and teachers as efficiently as possible.
Make up lessons remain valid throughout the whole teaching year while the student continues to have lessons with us. Make up lessons that are outstanding at the end of the year are not carried over to the following year.
If a teacher is away, a replacement teacher will be provided (wherever possible). A handover process is in place between teachers so that students can proceed with lessons as normal. If it is not possible to arrange a replacement teacher - the student will be offered a make up lesson as soon as an opening is available either side of the student’s usual lesson time.
Permanent Cancellations
Lessons are strictly on a term by term basis. One full terms notice is required for permanent cancellations.
If a student cancels lessons permanently for any reason once the term has started, a refund will not be offered for the remainder of the term's lessons.
Jobs
At voodoo child music we believe that music lessons should always be inspiring, exciting and fun. If you want to be part of a great team with unique and exciting programs - email us.