Music Teaching and Music Education

 The directors of Christensen's Music & Learning are Rod and Keryn Christensen who have been operating successful music teaching centres and music related enterprises in the South East Queensland area since 1975. Through these centres they have actively taught music and co-ordinated and employed teachers of most musical instruments.

Previous enterprises include :

• owning and operating the Suncoast College of Music in Nambour
• owning and operating Alamoes Music Academy in Maroochydore
• owning and operating several Music Retail and Teaching Centres at major shopping centres including Westfields Toombul Shoppingtown, Westfields Indooroopilly Shoppingtown, Kawana Shoppingtown and Sugarland Shoppingtown at Bundaberg.
  

In more current times :

Rod and Keryn established Christensen's Music & Learning on the Sunshine Coast in 1995 and since then have consolidated definite directions with music education including :

• operating a music teaching service at Buderim offering tuition and classes on most musical instruments
• writing and producing music learning material and student songs with accompaniment CDs which they use with considerable success with their own students, and some of which they now also make available to schools
• presenting workshops on aspects of music not usually covered by mainstream music lessons. Their workshops are well prepared and have proven to be very popular. Christensen's hold workshops regularly for their own students, and also offer them to schools throughout the South East Queensland area.

Rod's personal teaching background also extends to having taught music in schools for Education Queensland as an Instrumental Music Instructor. He eventually left the school system to concentrate on their privately owned teaching services and to work on new and constructive ways to enhance school music programs.

Both Rod and Keryn are active musicians. Rod is a Multi-Instrumentalist as outlined below and Keryn plays Bass Guitar and Guitar. In their music learning centre Rod does most of the teaching while Keryn, who has considerable computer skills, works with Rod on the production of music learning material and related products. They are both involved in the presentation of most workshops and their children's show also outlined below. Both Rod & Keryn are blue card holders for working with children.

Rod's Background as a Musician

Rod has a vast background as a musician and entertainer spanning over 40 years. He is a vocalist, song writer and multi-instrumentalist whose skills extend to Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard/Piano, Violin and Drums. 

In previous times Rod has :

• developed his skills from early childhood on several musical instruments, having learnt from various prominent teachers
  
• studied arranging and composing in his early twenties from a Brisbane conservatorium teacher
  
• played and performed in numerous smaller bands from his early teens across varying genres. Bands have included the popular 'Take Five' Jazz & Latin band and 'Karma' and 'Tabau' which were modern Rock groups in their time.
• played lead Tenor Saxophone in the 'Sunshine Coast Swing Band'
  
• played 2nd Cornet in the 'Nambour & Districts Brass Band'
• worked in the role of Musical Director for a 12 piece Caribbean/Country Rock band called 'Montserrat'
• played solo Piano at Twin Waters Resort and Berardos Restaurant in Noosa, as well as for private and business functions
• performed as a soloist on Saxophone and Flute for weddings and business functions
• performed in Duos and as a Soloist for many leading venues throughout South East Queensland including Heron Island Resort
  
• written numerous songs including educational children's songs about musical instruments
• produced and recorded an educational Children's CD

Currently :

• Rod (& Keryn) perform in their Jazz & Latin band and duo .. the 'Rod Christensen Trend'
  
• Rod performs in the multi style Sunshine Coast band the 'Chardonnay Sippers'
  

Children's Entertainment

Rod and Keryn have recently extended their work with music into presenting a live Children's Show based on 10 original songs which Rod has written to educate and inspire children about musical instruments. The show is already proving to be very successful at schools, early learning centres, children's events and venues.