Footscray-Yarraville City Percussion Academy (Footscray)
Bringing percussive excellence to the Wester Suburbs of Melbourne. Run by Melbourne percussionist and tutor Katie Thomas, the Footscray-Yarraville City Percussion Academy is designed for students all ages and ability levels. It is affiliated with the Victorian Percussion Academy (VPA)
The Footscray-Yarraville City Percussion Academy was founded at the beginning of 2018. Academy Director Katie Thomas had a vision - to set up a specialist Percussion Academy, dedicated to creating confident and skilled percussionists in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne. The name came from the Footscray-Yarraville City Band, who at the time was conducted by Phillipa Edwards. Phillipa shared this vision, of brass and percussion academies providing communities where amateur and professional musicians interact and excel.
In late 2018 the Hyde Street Youth Band, also based in Footscray, were in search of a percussion tutor, and so a fabulous relationship struck up between the three organisations, connecting generations of musicians together. This unique structure of organisations working together, creates the perfect combination of learning and applying practical skills in a band ensemble setting. The academy had the original focus of bringing percussive excellence to the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, but it has reached so much further than that. In 2018 and 2019, the Footscray-Yarraville City Percussion Academy, as part of the Skunkworks Productions Inc., ran the percussion workshops and tutoring at the Bright Brass & Percussion Summer Intensive camp. This camp included students from all over Victoria, from Wodonga to Wonthaggi and many in between.
In early 2020, the two bands and the Percussion Academy moved into a brand new venue in the Nicholson Campus of Victoria University. Based in the heart of Footscray, surrounded by coffee shops this provided the perfect venue for the Percussion Academy as it's less than 10km from the city centre and is easily accessible with parking facilities and public transport.
The combined bands and the academy have purchased a marimba and a vibraphone, completing the full set of orchestral and solo percussion instruments. The academy offers many different instruments to learn on, such as drum kit, timpani, marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, and snare drum, and has a full orchestral set including tubular bells, concert bass drum and crash cymbals.
The Footscray-Yarraville City Percussion Academy now has a strong membership of private students of all ages and abilities, a junior ensemble, a senior ensemble and a toddlers class. The ensembles play at festivals and fetes, as well as students competing in local and state-wide competitions. The academy hosts many workshops and masterclasses throughout the year, with local and international musicians bringing many skill sets to its students.
If you are looking to begin your journey as a percussionist, refine your established skills and set goals, pass your exams or auditions with flying colours, or simply want to finally start that hobby you always dreamed of, this is the place for you. Become part of a community and get world-class tuition.
Classes
Private Lessons - in person (all ages)
Private, one to one lessons are the ultimate way to achieve your goals. Whether you are beginning your journey as a percussionist, wanting to refine your established skills and set goals, pass your exams or auditions with flying colours, or simply want to finally start that hobby you always dreamed of, private, individual lessons are the way to go.
Choose from or combine our many streams, including classical, orchestral, contemporary or solo. We offer the following instruments: drum kit, timpani, marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, snare drum, hand percussion and auxiliary.
Private Lessons - online (ages 6+)
The academy is proud to present it's new online program, featuring high quality video and audio in highly engaging lessons. Distance is no longer an issue! We have many rural students around Victorian, and have recently acquired our first interstate students!
Wiggle & Shake! Toddlers class (ages 1 - 5)
Join us parents, guardians and grandparents for a half hour of dancing, singing, wiggling and shaking! Babies and toddlers in this group will have their first experiences with rhythm, movement, percussion, coordination and social skills. Percussion instruments used include shakers, bells, bongos, tambourines and mini djembes!
Junior Ensemble (ages 6-11)
This super fun and engaging class for young percussionists at any ability focuses on the excitement and engagement of music. Students learn the basics of percussion ensemble playing, additional instruments, and how to perform. A safe and encouraging space for young budding percussionists!
Senior Ensemble (ages 12-17)
This ensemble for teenagers moves to more advanced ensemble techniques, learning the correct way to play orchestral and auxiliary percussion instruments, building confidence as performers and becoming critical analysers of different genres of the percussive arts. This group is for any ability, but will move at a faster pace! It provides teenagers with a safe space to set goals, challenge themselves and improve.
Location
238A Nicholson Street, Footscray 3011 Map
✆ 0402 008 902
Email Enquiry
Web Links
→ www.vpacademy.com.au
→ Footscray-Yarraville City Percussion Academy on Facebook
