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Teacher

Music Teacher and Studio Manager Stephen Galvin LTCL BMus BA MMus [Hons.] Dip. Tchg. is a multi-instrumentalist who teaches contemporary and jazz, drums, guitar, bass, singing, music-reading and music theory. Based in Parnell, close to the Auckland city centre, he is an experienced, qualified and registered teacher. He also teaches guitar, singing, bass and drums in three Auckland secondary schools.

He grew up in a musical household with two brothers playing drums and guitar, and a sister who played bass. His early influences include local musicians Billy and Paul Iota, Graham Potter, Geoffrey Aitken, Bruce McDonald and David Gurr, and moonlighting to hear the Sons and Lovers Band at Wellington's Ali Babas nightclub and David Feehan's Tapestry band, while on records listening to British blues artists such as John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, and other recording stars such as Jimi Hendrix, classic jazz artists Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Stanley Turrentine and others. Stephen credits the hours he spent jamming with friends in basements, school halls and dorm rooms, exploring music. In Auckland he flatted with several musicians including Alan Badger, Neville Jess and Kevin Stanton:

"My music education consisted of listening to records incessantly, talking about music with other musicians, playing along with Pink Floyd and Yes records as well as jamming. That was my unofficial degree in music."

Aged seventeen he toured with classic rock band Gratis Kinetic. At aged twenty he began contemporary piano studies, and musical arrangement with a focus on Henry Mancini, while playing gigs in the thriving restaurant scene of the 1970's. He began teaching music in 1981 at the New Zealand Guitar Academy teaching courses in Lead and Rhythm guitar. He established his own studio in 1984 and has taught thousands of Aucklanders several instruments in many styles, including church music, classical, country, jazz, orchestral, pop, and rock. Stephen has also taught many teenagers in several South Auckland secondary schools.

Some of his ex-students are now teachers themselves. He has performed in musical theatre productions of West Side Story, Chess, The Pyjama Game, Rock Nativity, Jesus Christ Superstar and others. He wrote two musicals for the stage, and played several seasons with The Auckland Concert Orchestra. He has performed with many of Auckland's top musicians and in bands such as Clearlight, Crystal Silence, Gratis Kinetic, Neon Quaver, Opinion, Prohibition Big Band, Rewind, and Sounds of Motown in countless gigs and recording sessions spanning four decades.

Stephen leads three bands; The Residentz, the Presidentz and the Stevie G Band. He sings, plays guitar, bass and drums. He has recently performed with Santiago, Isaiah B Brunt, the West City Jazz Orchestra, The Astronauts, Prohibition Big Band, and others. Since March 2020 Stephen has not been performing publicly, choosing to spend time teaching, writing and recording. His album of jazz and contemporary music Modal Behaviour is for sale in Compact Disc and online versions at: https://www.abcstudioz.com/

"My approach to teaching is simple: to share the joy of making music with as many people as possible as often as possible".

Stephen holds a Performer's Diploma from Trinity College London, Bachelor of Music and Arts degrees, a Master of Music degree with First Class Honours, and a Diploma in Teaching from the University of Auckland.