ETC helps make music tuition affordable at Tyalla Primary School

Tyalla Primary School has found a way to make music tuition more accessible for its students.

Music teacher Joe Quiring said with the Principal’s support he established a guitar group at the school in February last year.

“The guitar group was set up to teach guitar to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument,” Mr Quiring said.

“Very few students can afford their own guitar so initially we borrowed 6 old guitars from our neighbouring high school.”

Mr Quiring said there was so much interest in the group he successfully applied for funding from the ETC Community Support Fund to purchase 16 new guitars.

“Without having that funding we would still be battling along with our six borrowed guitars and there would be no way we could have 40 students in guitar group like we do at the moment,” Mr Quiring said.

Mr Quiring said studies have shown that students who play an instrument perform much better academically and socially throughout their lives.

“The biggest change I’ve seen amongst students since the guitar group began at the school has been the growth in confidence, particularly amongst some of the quieter students,” Mr Quiring said.

Student Laura Spooner said she signed up for the guitar group after a friend told her how much fun it was.

“It’s been a lot of fun going to all the performances and learning how to play,” Laura said.

“The funding from ETC has meant that we all get an opportunity to play a guitar, instead of having to share them around, and it also means we can now practise as much as we like.”

ETC Director Lorraine Mouafi said it was a pleasure to be able to support the Tyalla Primary School guitar group.

 “The ETC Community Support Fund is designed to help organisations improve the social and economic development of local communities,” Ms Mouafi said.

“ETC is proud to be a not-for-profit company and we are confident the money we are donating will help make a more positive future for our community.

“Since 1989, ETC has placed over 51,000 Australians into jobs, trained more than 23,000 people, helped over 34,000 small businesses to start-up and grow, and contributed in excess of $25 million to the local communities in which we operate.”