Moving Into Music – thirty years with Lauris Hing at the helm: a potted history …

Moving Into Music began in the 1990s when Lauris Hing created programs and delivered early childhood music education classes to preschoolers and their parents/caregivers. The classes were taught across many suburbs of Melbourne including Toorak, Kew, Camberwell, Ivanhoe, East Melbourne and Brighton. Classes focused on introducing youngsters to singing, dancing, playing percussion and listening activities. Over the next twenty-five years numerous families joined the program. During this period many well known musicians, conductors and composers chose these classes for their children.

Moving Into Music sought, through Lauris’ leadership, to bring resources to aid early musical development in children. Families were introduced to ways in which to bring music into the lives of their children. Always searching for quality and the best available, this included Lauris introducing the Classical Kids Collection – created by Susan Hammond, a school teacher from Toronto. Originally 6 CDs, this series brought a unique blend of dramatic stories based on historical fact and musical masterpieces by the world’s best-loved composers. The audio series has sold millions of copies worldwide and holds more than 100 prestigious awards and honours.

By the 2000s the Moving Into Music Programs had expanded to include instrumental tuition in piano at a studio in Allans Music in Kew and keyboard tuition at After-School Programs in schools in Armadale, North Fitzroy and Surrey Hills. The first Christmas Concert to celebrate student achievement was held in the Assembly Hall at Methodist Ladies College. At that concert two junior pianists, keyboard classes and 100 preschoolers took to the stage.

Moving Into Music’s reach extended into projects stemming from Lauris’ lectureship in the University of Melbourne School of Early Childhood Studies. Teacher training and professional development, conference presentations, research into programming and outreach into selected kindergartens were a feature of Lauris’ work for the next decade and a half. A particular feature was the collaboration with Lilian Cannam Kindergarten in South Melbourne where each year’s teaching culminated in a gala Christmas Concert featuring song, dance and instrumental performances.

From 2000 to 2012 Moving Into Music collaborated with the renowned retailer Allans Music. Lauris set up the model for Allans Music School which was implemented in the capital cities nation-wide. Moving Into Music staff provided lessons in piano, guitar and drums at the Allans stores in Bourke St – CBD and in Kew. This was a period of considerable expansion for Moving Into Music. Many adult students sought tuition. The staff expanded to more than a dozen teachers conducting lessons at the two Allans Melbourne locations. This collaboration was mutually beneficial creating a bridge between music education and the music retail industry.

Moving Into Music Christmas Concerts  have always been held at MLC – a school where Lauris taught outreach pre-school music classes in the MLC Music Academy. From 2000 to 2012, concerts were held in the James Tatoulis Auditorium and supported by Allans Music. Over 150 students took part and performed to audiences of over 300 family and friends. The concerts featured groups of piano students, guitar students, drummers and staff performances … and always concluded with the preschoolers decked in tinsel headbands and waving Christmas stars and candles.

Performance at concerts large and small have been a significant part of Moving Into Music. For Christmas Concerts students have been invited to be part of group performances led by their teacher. Contributing to a trio, quartet or larger group ensemble means adapting, preparing for and rehearsing to be part of the whole performance. This involves a student taking responsibility for working alongside others, musical peers and teachers to bring forth a performance. It is an exciting addition to a student’s skill set and furthers and broadens the development of musical ability through a wider range of experiences.

The Christmas Concerts not only showcase Moving Into Music students. They have always showcased the talents of the staff. Individual staff performances have shown virtuosity and artistry.  The final item from a staff band has enabled the students and the audience to appreciate the flair and musicianship of the teachers. It is a testament to Lauris’ mantra: “We aim to inspire students through the passion and dedication of our staff – to educate, cultivate talent and champion diversity.”

Moving Into Music has always been committed to seeking out and recruiting young, talented and aspiring music graduates to join the staff. Training emerging musicians to be fine teachers and supporting their aspirations as working musicians in Melbourne’s renowned live music scene and beyond has been a constant.This has always been in the belief that having access to such teachers serves students well because they provide effective and inspirational role models – pointing the way forward into the world of music.

This has always been in the belief that having access to such teachers serves students well because they provide effective and inspirational role models – pointing the way forward into the world of music.

At mid-year Moving Into Music has always provided a vital round of Solos Concerts. These provide an opportunity for individual students to commit to preparing and polishing a musical piece for performance. This reinforces the need for practice, to give attention to detail – it builds self confidence and expands the musical horizons of students. It also affords staff and families the opportunity to give public acclamation and recognition for student effort in stepping up to the challenges of preparing and delivering a concert performance.

2012 saw the collapse of Allans Music. It was a severe blow to all involved – retail staff, customers and Moving Into Music. At this time, the preschooler section was wound down leaving Lauris to focus on the recovery for Moving Into Music’s instrumental division. Lauris moved the music school to Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Kew … and St John’s Lutheran Church at Southgate. At Kew the music school then moved to Walpole Street where it resides to this day. In the CBD, Moving Into Music currently operates out of the Nicholas Young studios in the city and South Melbourne.

2020 was another challenging year – it brought Coronavirus, the pandemic and lockdowns. Lauris takes pride in the fact that Moving Into Music was able to pivot swiftly to online lessons and students were able to continue lessons uninterrupted. The teachers remained fully employed throughout this period when work and jobs in the music industry ceased and many musicians were in peril.During the lockdowns, teachers’ and students’ homes became the classrooms. The learning curves were steep, the effort was mammoth but it ensured survival.For the next two years the concerts for both mid-year Solos and Christmas were conducted online. This was a novel, unique but rewarding experience for all concerned: for students, teachers and audience alike.