GROWING up on the family farm at Finley, Kathryn Pyle never missed a beat - so to speak.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From a young age she clearly remembers listening to music and analysing what she heard: the bass part; the vocal line; the drum patterns; the lyrics and harmonies.
"When the grownups asked me what I wanted to be, I don't think I ever said I wanted to be a music teacher, but I do remember that it was blissful laying down listening to and analysing all the sounds I was hearing on Mum and Dad's His Masters Voice stereo!" she said.
"I was spellbound most of the time listening to Elton John, Bill Haley and the Comets, Queen, Disco Dazzler, Ripper '77; I was thinking all the time and visualised in colour or black and white; the shapes of the notes heard."
Ms Pyle's tactile approach to music and her ability to get on the same page as young people bode well for her future career.
On Monday night in Wodonga, Ms Pyle will launch the 20th year of her Musikids program on the Border.
Having worked as a music teacher at Mount Druitt and Corowa High schools from 1994-2000, Ms Pyle did her Kindermusik training in Perth.
She launched Kindermusik in Kathryn's Corner at Corowa before taking it to the Murray Conservatorium in Albury for three years.
RELATED CONTENT:
Having rebranded as Musikids in 2004, Ms Pyle went out on her own in Albury, Wodonga, Corowa and Wangaratta. Two teachers also joined the fold.
Thirteen years ago Musikids relocated to Gateway Village; later the Corowa business was sold and Wangaratta stopped.
During almost two decades on the Border, more than 1800 children have gained Musikids tuition.
More than 200 children are enrolled in Musikids classes in Wodonga this year.
Ms Pyle said the biggest change to the Musikids format was technology.
"After 19 years I have chosen to not give CDs, instruments and books to the children in the Babies-4 years classes," she said.
"Stuff impacts on the environment, and there will be a move to accessing music digitally."
Ms Pyle said Musikids was a community of families.
"When I began preparing for this business in 2000 I knew what I wanted it to look like, but I didn't know it would develop into the community it has," she said.
"I think it has to do with the foundations laid down by my parents growing up in the Finley, Berrigan and Jerilderie farming community. By default, that is what has been created around me and Musikids."
Scores of families will celebrate Launching 20 Years in 2020 in Wodonga on Monday night.
