Jacqui Blackeby (B Ed (Ec), B Magt (Mktg))

I have always had a passion in music. I learnt the violin and piano, danced Calisthenics and sung in the Australian Girls Choir. My first experience in teaching children began with teaching Calisthenics to the younger age groups. I first learnt about and fell in love with Kindermusik, when I took my first daughter Gracie, who was 6 months at the time to a class. I soon realized the joy in music for young children and the benefits of Kindermusik in developing children holistically – socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively and musically. I now have three wonderful girls Gracie – who is now 5, Phoebe 3 and Ava 1 years.

The best part of the program is that I can share it with my girls and our house is full of music, we sing and play throughout the day. I loved watching Grace changing almost daily and became fascinated in her development and also other children's development. From this I decided to take undertake an early childhood degree, which was a very rewarding course. You soon come to realise that it is the first seven years of a child's life that are the most important, they are the foundations and the building blocks for the future.

I feel very fortunate and blessed that I can be a part of other children's and family lives, influencing in such a positive way through the joy of music and experiencing their journey with them. Developing children' s confidence in the years is the key to them growing up to being happy adults, with a positive outlook on life. After teaching Kindermusik for a number of years under Kylie Green offered me the great opportunity to buy the business (formerly called Kindermusik by Kylie & Co).

Sam Taylor (Bmus, AmusA, GDip Arts Mgt)

I studied flute at the Adelaide Conservatorium graduating in 1989, and embarked upon a teaching and performing career. In 1992 I relocated to Victoria and was heavily involved in music education both as a tutor and orchestral manager with Melbourne Youth Music and State Music Camp Victoria, as well as teaching flute in the private school system. Early in 1998 I initiated a change in direction and worked as an arts administrator until July 2001 when my husband and I moved back to South Australia to start a family. Throughout my time in Victoria, I was a regular member of the Malvern Symphony Orchestra, the Victorian Flute Ensemble, and the Grainger Wind Symphony, as well as playing in various theatre productions and chamber ensembles for weddings.

I came across Kindermusik when I enrolled my son Liam in classes and loved it so much I wanted to be involved on a more practical level. I find teaching children of all ages fun and rewarding, and I derive great pleasure seeing children ‘wiggle and giggle’ and enjoy their music while constantly absorbing new skills.

Deborah Johnson

Deborah’s background is in music having trained at the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide, and graduating with an Honours Degree in Music Performance. She moved to Sydney in 1995 and spent 11 years performing with Opera Australia, as well as appearing with many of Sydney’s smaller professional companies.

Deb completed her Kindermusik training in 2005, and operated 2 studios in Sydney’s inner Western suburbs, until she moved back to Adelaide in late 2006 to spend more time with family.

Since moving back to Adelaide, she has rejoined the State Opera of South Australia, and has undertaken further study, commencing a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at the Magill campus of UniSA.

Deb also recently qualified as an Austswim teacher, and currently teaches the Waterbabies and Kindergarten age groups at Norwood Stateswim.

Cathy Coldrey

I have always had a strong passion for music and dance and believe it is such a magical part of life.

I started dancing at the age of 4 with Calisthenics and then trained in Classical Ballet for 25 years. I also learnt tap dancing and thoroughly enjoyed teaching tap to young children and seeing how thrilled they were to learn rhythm and movement.

I studied Viola throughout school and have been playing in a String Quartet at weddings and functions for the past 15 years. I am currently learning the piano and my husband plays the clarinet and drums, so we have lots of music in our house.

Our son Matthew loves Kindermusik and I have enjoyed watching his development and appreciation of music in such a fun, interactive and social environment.

Zeljka Klindzic

I am a very warm, happy and friendly person with a bubbly personality. Singing, acting and dancing run through my veins. In my early years I studied singing, acting and various forms of dance, including ballet, jazz and tap. Since then I have taught myself to play the guitar and am currently tinkling on a keyboard. 

I have an extensive background in the entertainment business.  I have been a singer in a 60/40 band that worked professionally for many years. In Sydney and Adelaide I have worked on Stage, TV and the Silver Screen as a professional actress.  I have toured around Australia a number of times with theatrical groups and worked on many musicals. One day I decided to stop for 5 minutes and get married.  Well it took longer than 5 minutes and now have my beautiful daughter Nikki (13 years) and my 4 year old son Luka who’s gorgeous. 

I worked as an acting teacher for a well-known entertainment Agency in town. I have also been an assistant director on a few school musicals.  For more than twelve years I have worked as a face painter/balloon bender/children’s entertainer.  It was in my tenth year of working at a kindergarten as a playgroup coordinator that I first heard about Kindermusik.  I was invited to attend some classes with my son Luka, we both had such a wonderful time that I soon realised that I would enjoy being a kindermusik educator as it involved everything I love to do. Tying all of my knowledge and previous experience together with my love of children and the opportunity to share with them the wonderful gift of music and its many educational benefits.

I’d love to see you and your child/children at one of my classes so please come and see how rewarding Kindermusik can be for everyone. 

Cindy-Anne MacDonald

Growing up in a music family, my most memorable experiences were at parties where friends from different cultures would gather together and share their music. It gave me such a special feeling and exposed me to a great variety of musical styles. Music has a special place in my heart and in my life. My first live performance was Singing at 6 years of age.

I continued with music through school and went on to study formally in Commercial Music to Diploma level, which was mainly Jazz orientated, also I had little classical training along the way.

I have always performed with bands or duos also writing and performing my own works. I started teaching Singing in 1998, almost 10 years with the Mighty Good Talent School and continue with private lessons, students varying in age from 4 to 64.

For the last six months I have been working as a Kindermusik teacher and it has been rewarding and fun. I Love the program beginning as young as the babies in the Village classes, seeing the influence and effect music has is awesome. I love that the program is child orientated so there is no pressure of performance, it is a gentle and fun way to learn music with exceptional results. It is such a pleasure to grow and learn with music, and as a teacher I love being a part of that.

I am a mother of 3 my youngest 4 year old is enjoying the programs and is excited about playing the piano bringing to it what she has learned In Young Child class. She is always singing so many songs. Kindermusik has really enhanced her musical and life education.

Rebecca Francis

Music has always been a big part in my life. One of my earliest musical memories was at about 5 years old sitting infront of the tv, trying ever so hard to work out a jingle by ear on my recorder.

Throughout school I took singing lessons and was involved with many theatre productions. I continued taking singing lessons in my early twenties and then, after an offer I couldnt refuse, I "quit my day job" to move overseas and fronted a band at the Hard Rock Cafe in Seoul Korea. This adventure then lead me on to Japan where I found a new band which played the Tokyo pub circuit as well as gigs for the American Military bases. I also formed an accoustic two piece which seranaded diners on a Japanese cruise ship around Tokyo Bay. But the best bit has to be the stint I had performing as a Japanese wedding singer!

Whilst in Japan I also taught some private English lessons to both adults and children of varying ages. The time spent with these children is one of my favourite memories of Japan.

After returning from overseas I worked in Radio for about 6 years both in Adelaide and Sydney.

Since the birth of my twins, Keira and Reed, in July 2007, my musical interests have taken a very different turn. I just adore singing to my children and watching them thoroughly enjoy and respond to music.

Kindermusik is the perfect new role for me, combining my love of music with my love of children.

Kim Donnell

Kim Donnell has been educating young children and their families in music and movement for the past four years, at Musical Moments Playgroup and more recently at Nazareth Catholic College. She has worked professionally in live musical theatre aimed at young audiences and is a trained dancer and singer.

Kim is passionate about sharing the joy music can bring to families with young children.

Nicole Thomas

Music has always been a great love of mine. I spent most of my childhood dressing up and pretending to a “Famous Singer”, dancing in front of mirrors and making my little brother perform dances with me for our parents.

As a child I learnt the piano and then went on to study music and drama in high school, performing in many school and community plays and singing a variety of music styles.

Since moving to Adelaide in 2008 and enrolling my son in Kindermusik, I have experienced first had the wonderful developmental benefits that Kindermusik has to offer children and parents. It is for this reason that I decided to become a Kindermusik Educator.

I have two beautiful children, Ben who is almost 3 and Holly who is almost 1. I have a wonderful husband, Daryl, who has become very used to playing the student in my practice classes :)

I look forward to sharing this wonderful program with you and your children.