Jens Music School

Music lessons in Bacchus Marsh

LATEST NEWS:

March 2022 update: I’ve just moved to Bacchus Marsh and I’m available for lessons in my home based studio. Drop me a line if you’d like to learn some new musical skills:)

Grab a gift certificate – drop me a line to discuss.

New ukulele community group – The Swingalong Ukestra.  Head down to the community heading on this webpage for more info.

Check out JenHawleyMusic for Jen’s gigs and other projects.

HEY THERE...

Come and learn guitar, ukulele bass and singing with me in my beautiful home studio in Bacchus Marsh.

Thanks for dropping by my page, I’m Jen Hawley and I’d love to teach you to play music.  My specialities are guitar (acoustic and electric, all styles) bass guitar, ukulele and singing lessons. I can also help you get over your playing hump, feel free to drop in for just a couple of lessons, no need to commit long term.

No one is ever too young or too old to play music! All music lessons are developed to suit the individual needs and goals of each student with the ages of my students ranging from very young to retirees.

Groups are available…

  • ukulele (children and separate groups for adults)
  • songwriting
  • stagecraft and performing
  • gypsy jazz jam
  • improvising/blues

See all our news

All about Jen

Jen Hawley – electric & acoustic guitar, ukulele, bass guitar.

Jen is the founder of Jen’s Music School in Footscray and Sunshine which started up in 2010. Jen and her team of singing and instrumental teachers shared their love and passion for music making for 7 years.  In 2017 Jen relocated to Myrniong, just west of Bacchus Marsh.

Originally from Sydney, Jen Hawley has been teaching and performing for many years.  She started playing guitar at 16 in an all-girl heavy metal band.   Now you’re more likely to see Jen pulling out some blues licks or crooning Billie Holiday ballads.

She trained in classical guitar, cut her teeth on the cover band circuit in Sydney when she was 18 and studied jazz with Bruce Clarke.  During the last 5 years Jen has also made a name for herself as a guitar workshop tutor at community music events.  She  also taught at Kingsville Primary in the music program from 2005 to 2011.  These days Jen’s musical passions are manouche gypsy jazz and blues.  She is a co-founder of The Footscray Gypsies and Supporting Women in Blues programs.

Jen offers music lessons tailored to your goals.  Whether you wish to learn classical, jazz, rock, blues, gypsy, folk or modern guitar, Jen is a great teacher for young or old, experienced or first time player.

Currently Jen teaches from her home studio and plays concerts and gigs. Her new project, The Swingalong Ukestra is taking over Melbourne, one uke at a time!  Oh and of course she has a current working with children check.

Fees.

One on one lessons: Half hour $35, Full hour $70.
Pair (2 People) lessons: Half hour $40, Full hour $80.
More than 2 in the lesson: Half hour $15, Full hour $30.

Here are some youtubes of Jen playing guitar, uke and singing in her bands…

Reviews

If you are looking for a fabulous teacher of ukes and a whizz with online workshops and videos, then look no further!

Oliver Hinton
Community Music Victoria Coordinator

Jen’s lessons are inspirational! She’s patient, encouraging and has a genuine interest in my continual progress. With no music background, under Jen’s guidance, I picked up the ukulele at 60 a few years ago, and now play in bands at musical events, do open mics and generally have a lot of fun. Jen even makes music theory interesting. Learning the ukulele has been life changing, and I couldn’t have a better teacher than Jen Hawley.

Vicki

I have been a guitar student of Jen for approximately 2 years. I have found Jen to be extremely professional, knowledgeable, patient and flexible in her approach to teaching. In simple terms, ‘nothing is too much trouble for her.

I highly recommend Jen as a teacher and my hope is that I will be able to continue to progress under her guidance for as long as possible.

David

I got an acoustic guitar as a present for my birthday and didn’t know where to go to learn as I was an absolute beginner. I found Jen’s Music School and decided to give it a go – I’m so glad that I did.

My teacher is Jen Hawley herself and she has been teaching me guitar since 2010. She is not only talented and inspiring, but a patient and gifted teacher. Her passion for music is infectious and when mixed with her extensive experience, it adds a whole new dimension to the style of teaching. You can’t help but love to learn.

You should definitely check them out.

 

Sheila

I highly recommend Jen’s music school for music lessons that are chicken soup for the soul!

Jen is a great teacher and in the past five years I’ve learnt ukulele, guitar and a dash of singing and every lesson I come away with new skills and a renewed passion for practicing and performing.

Jen has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is highly respected in the musical community – excellent value for money.

Aneta

I’ve been learning guitar from Jen for several years now and am a very happy student. She’s flexible and accommodating with the pace that I’m learning and we work together to find repertoire that is challenging and enjoyable. I’m a classroom music teacher and when parents ask for a recommendation for an instrumental teacher I always send them to Jen. She’s great with both adult students and children.

Hilary

Community Music

Magnetic Gypsy Jazz Ukecamp.

Dark Eyes virtual uke band -Gypsy Jazz Uke Camp Lockdown Zoom Sessions.

Music and video producer and lead uke teacher: Jen Hawley. If you’d like to study with Anu Grace and myself, we have monthly online sessions as well as study resources. Join us on Magnetic Island in July 2021 for a 5 day ukulele residential music fiesta!

I can see clearly now –virtual uke band

Music and video producer: Jen Hawley. I put together this virtual band recording for the Boroondara Seniors Festival Gala Concert in October 2020 during the Melbourne Lockdown (Australia).

The Footscray Gypsy Orchestra

Online concert and interview with The Victorian Seniors Festival 2020

2011 to now!

Originally formed by Jen Hawley, The FGO (aka Footscray Gypsies) is a world music community orchestra based in Footscray in the western suburbs of Melbourne with a repertoire focusing on klezmer, gypsy, romantic and balkan music. They have recorded 2 CDs and regularly play around Melbourne.

The Footscray Gypsies rehearse every second Tuesday night from 7.00 to 10.00pm at the Newport Bowls Club. Now led by Terry Cole.

For more info check out their facebook page here.

jens music school
Star Newspaper 2011. Conductors Jen Hawley, Terry Cole and Sarah Busuttil.
jens music school
FGO at the Bigwest Festival 2011
FGO at White Night 2016

Supporting Women in Blues

2014 to 2016

This was a very successsful ‘Women in Blues’ project for Melbourne players and singers interested in blues music.

The project was run by Jen Hawley – respected guitarist/singer, Michelle Johns, keyboardist, Diane Forster (MBAS committee) and supported by the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society, sharing a common personal passion to foster and develop increased opportunities for women in our music community.

Each quarterly meeting had a different guest musician from the Blues scene to perform as a feature artist and also provide mentoring.  Our stage was graced by amazing mentors: Kelly Auty, Fiona Boyes, Kerri Simson, community radio announcers and record producers, to name a few.  The evenings also enjoyed a blues choir run by Kelly Auty and an inclusive jam run by Jen Hawley and Michelle Johns.

Jens Music School - Music lessons in Myrniong
supporting-women-in-blues
SWIB-xmas-party
KellyAuty
rebecca-davey
Fiona-Boyes

Supporting Women in Blues

Groups and Recording

Record your own CD

Whether you’re after a demo CD for auditions or finding gigs, or if you’d like to experience recording for yourself, family and friends, we can offer a great CD recording for you.

SHORT COURSES

Small group short courses

4 to 6 week courses. 

cost: $210 ($35 per session)
concession $180 ($30 per session)

These courses can be run at any time suitable to the teacher and students.  Group size between 3 and 8.

Songwriting

Learn how to take your lyrics and turn them into the complete song. Focus on strong structure, guided by your influences and unique performing style. Accompany yourself on guitar (BYO guitar if you have one) or keyboards or enlist the support of the teacher and other students.

The course has 6 sessions.  Over the first 4 sessions develop your songwriting in a supportive group (max 6 participants). This gives you the opportunity to develop your lyrics and music.  In session 5 we’ll help you to record your song.  In session 6 the group will go to a local open mic and perform their new work (with the support of others in the group or me if you’d like).

Get out there!

The goal of this 6 week workshop is to gain confidence in playing and or singing your material, then taking it out on the open mic circuit.  Collaborations between group members encouraged.  All levels and instruments welcome.  This workshop is also suitable for spoken word artists and singers.

We’ll cover stage craft/understanding your equipment, overcoming nerves, how to speak to your sound and lighting techs and performing tips.  Two performing opportunities will happen throughout the course, so you can learn and develop from your first experience.

Improvisation for guitarists

gypsy/manouche

blues/rock/indie

Contact us

e: jen@jensmusicschool.com

m: 0413 128052

Clifton Drive Bacchus Marsh 3340.