About
Songlines Music Studio
We offer a wide range of classes and private lessons that cater to all levels. Whether you’re a beginner, an experienced singer, or just looking to brush up on your vocal skills, our professional team of voice teachers and singing teachers will help you reach your goals.
Our Mission
At Songlines Music Studio, we believe that music should be fun, accessible, and empowering. We offer a wide range of music lessons for all ages and levels, from singing lessons and vocal training to piano lessons, drama lessons, musicianship, musical theory, reading music, songwriting, using music for creative expression, and performance training. Our goal is to help you reach your musical goals and gain confidence in your musical abilities. Our experienced and passionate teachers are committed to providing you with the best music education experience possible. Join us today and start your musical journey with Songlines Music Studio.
Our Teachers
Songlines Music Studio in Taree NSW, was founded over 20 years ago by Deirdre Sutherland. In 2021 Deirdre welcomed to the studio, Jodi Cooper another experienced singer and vocal teacher, and Cameron Waugh a talented pianist. Both Jodi and Cameron are major contributors to the performing arts in the NSW Mid Coast community. The three teachers at Songlines have a collaborative approach to their studio teaching and love to share their knowledge, joy and passion, for music, with their students.
Music Teacher - Owner / Director
Deirdre Sutherland
Deirdre has been teaching singing, piano, and speech and drama technique, to children and adults of all ages for over 20 years. She has extensive experience singing in choirs and performing in amateur theatre in New Zealand and Sydney. After moving to Taree, she founded and conducted the Cara Geal Singers, a chamber music ensemble, which competed at the Sydney Eisteddfod. She was the music teacher for the Manning River Steiner School for 10 years where she also helped to establish the first primary school violin program in the Mid North Coast. In recent years she has conducted several performance seasons of the Manning Valley Choral Society. She was a member of the Kantabile Chamber Choir for many years and has sung as a soloist with the Hastings Choristers. In the time she has lived in the Manning Valley she has performed in several Taree Arts Council, and Mirage Theatre productions, and has been asked to sing for many commemorative community events. For the past 10 years Deirdre has been the Vocal Coordinator of the Taree and District Eisteddfod Society, where she enjoys being part of a very willing group of volunteers, who are dedicated to giving young and older performers the opportunity to share their performance art on stage.
Music Teacher - Owner
Jodi Cooper
Jodi has been singing, collaborating and learning through music all of her life. Her first musical production was with Taree Arts Council as one of the Von Trapp children at the age of 11, & later other chorus & lead parts in Pajama Game, Little Shop of Horrors & Mary Poppins. At 17 she was the lead in the Gilbert & Sullivan Musical ‘Trial by Jury’, playing the jilted bride Angelina, opposite wonderful local actors & singers, treading the boards!.
From Age 11, Jodi was competing in Eisteddfod’s singing classical, musical, folk & Jazz styles. Jodi competed in a number of singing competitions which resulted in winning an opportunity at a young age to travel to Sydney to record a Demo of Contemporary music to use for further work. From this came the opportunity to regularly gig at Taree RSL Club & other venues around the coast when she was 17 yrs old. At 21, Jodi successfully staged her own Jazz & Blues repertoire concert.
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Later, wonderful opportunities came to experience performing and hosting events at the Homebush Olympic Venue for the Sports Fan Super Show & later Big Brother House in QLD for Charity.
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Jodi has also provided vocals on Radio and Television advertisements and has been engaged as a session singer for other artists’ albums.
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She also has enjoyed supporting the local school communities by directing a school choir with great success. Jodi is frequently invited to perform as a solo guest artist with the ‘Manning Valley Concert Band’ at various venues including the Manning Entertainment Centre.
Since joining with Deirdre at Songlines Music Studio, Jodi has been teaching Stage Craft, Theory & Singing Principles & Repertoire to children & Adults of all ages & abilities. Focusing on the importance of Vocal health. She enjoys encouraging a love for music of all genres in her students and supports them to write their own songs & to embrace the individual's own voice.
Music Teacher
Cameron Waugh
Cameron Waugh is an award winning pianist from Wingham and has a regular spot on 2BOB FM radio. He is very active in the community, promoting music and dance such as his Dance with Mr C events for people of all ages. He teaches piano at Songlines Music Studio for students of all ages but predominantly for children and younger students.
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Cameron has been playing piano since the age of 7. First studying with Deirdre Sutherland and furthering his studies with Don Secomb in Taree. Currently he is in his final year of a Bachelor of Music through UNE Armidale.
He is very active in the community through his church and his involvement with two local bands which are: Club Taree Community Concert Band and Manning Valley Concert Band. He also plays in Sinfonia the Mid North Coast Orchestra. He encourages his students to study for the AMEB exams and compete at the Taree Eisteddfod.
Community Collaborators for the Songlines Singers
Providing our students with the best opportunities by partnering with institutions, recording studios and performance spaces around NSW. Our Songlines Singers are regularly invited to sing and perform at local community events, big showcases and other musical opportunities for those wanting to be involved.
Institutions we work with
Groups we perform with
Manning Valley Concert Band
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Sinfonia(Orchestra)
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Club Taree Community Band
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Musica Provinciale