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
Gift Certificates at Jens Music School
Looking for a special gift for your friend or family? Why not grab a gift certificate for a guitar or ukulele or […]
Jen is touring Feb and March 2020
The Royal High Jinx with Jen Hawley from Jens Music School. When I’m not teaching, I’m out and about playing with my […]
Jen’s Music School moves to Myrniong.
I’m really excited to be moving the music school to our beautiful mudbrick home in Myrniong. Here’s a bit of info about […]
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
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.
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.
Supporting Women in Blues
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