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TESTIMONIALS
Words From Our Happy Customers
CHRISTINE JABS
Senior Instrumental Music Teacher Education Queensland.
“Ed’s many decades in the classroom gives his compositions an educational foundation, but also ignites the love of playing in school aged children. His creative works are always a student and audience favourite in my concert programs”.
JOHN THOMAS
Brass Teacher and Band Director
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Buderim Queensland
“Ed Kennedy is a very experienced music educator and this is reflected in his capacity to write with clear intentions to develop young musicians. Both technical and musical abilities are always at the forefront of Ed's Compositions”
RACHEL ANDREWS
Instrumental Music Teacher Education Queensland
“We are so blessed to have such a talented composer in our own backyard writing tunes that our Australian bands get excited about! Ed Kennedy’s music has been a fantastic addition to my school band’s repertoire over the past few years and my students are always excited to play his music. I really love the call and response and layered textures that his compositions create keeping learning interesting and motivating for the students in my bands. I am so lucky to have worked with Ed - he is a passionate educator and brings life to the music he conducts and the music he creates. I am looking forward to hearing more of his amazing music in the future and present the learning opportunity and inspiration that Ed’s music offers to students and educators alike”-
HEATHER CONOMOS
Senior Instrumental Music Teacher
Educations Queensland
Ed Kennedy’s pieces are always a part of my primary school Band repertoire. His many years of experience as an Instrumental teacher, conductor and composer have enabled Ed to compose at the perfect level for young players. From the ever-popular Ozzie Mozzie to Action Squad, Bandroom Blues or Beijing Rickshaw, each piece has its own unique flavour. His music is rhythmically accessible and with tuneful melodic lines. I have past students who are now adults who recall Ed’s pieces and the enjoyment and fun they experienced while playing them!
We also commissioned Ed to compose a piece for the 150th Anniversary of Moggill State School. Ed took the time to think about the school’s history and the area of Moggill. He thoughtfully crafted a piece around the Dreamtime Water Dragon called ‘Magil’, after which the area was named. The students had the wonderful experience of giving the premiere performance of a piece written by a local composer especially for their school!
NATHAN SCHILLING
Instrumental Music Teacher
Education Queensland
“I have been using scores by Edward Kennedy for beginner and intermediate primary schools for a number of years now as a multi-instrumental teacher with Education Queensland. His music for beginner band is simple yet challenging for them and always has a melody line that students either whistle or sing. I recently used his intermediate primary school piece “Uluru” at a music camp with over 90 students and every student loved the piece. It had a range of challenging rhythms with many different articulation and dynamic markings which challenge the students. I always end up coming back to his music for my primary school students”.
FIONA HARVEY
Senior Instrumental Music Teacher
Education Queensland
“I have most of Ed’s works in my concert band library at both primary and secondary school. His pieces are always good teaching tools – the grading is accurate, the compositions stretch the player’s ability while still being achievable, the students enjoy playing them and the audience enjoy listening to them. It is great to be able to choose scores by an Australian composer/Ed. Qld Instrumental Music Teacher.”
PRESIDENT
Central Highlands Music Festival Inc.
Conductor
Emerald Town Band
"We have had the fortunate experience of commissioning Edward Kennedy to compose Uluru for the Central Highlands Festival of Bands in 2021 and have him as a guest conductor for several of his other compositions in 2022. Edward’s music was technically accessible for students, had relatable themes that students could connect with, and rhythmic and melodic ideas that students found engaging to play”.
Karen Newham
Instrumental Music Teacher
As a music educator, finding pieces that not only engage my Beginner Band students but also foster growth in their musical abilities is paramount. Ed Kennedy's compositions have become the backbone of our band's repertoire.
"Five Sombreros" and “March One” are my favourite Beginner Band pieces. My students go back to class singing the tunes, captivated by their infectious rhythms and catchy melodies. Both of these pieces, while approachable for our Beginner Band, have an aura of complexity that makes the students feel like they're tackling something mature and sophisticated.
Our Concert Band students have enjoyed playing "Legend of the Irish Giant" and "A Scottish Air". The way these pieces transport us to different places and evoke a range of emotions provides a musical experience that's not only enjoyable for our audience but also incredibly rewarding and educational for our musicians.
Our students have found immense joy in performing Ed Kennedy’s compositions.
Nick Robke
Ormiston College
"Five Sombreros" has been a huge hit with our beginner concert band students. The catchy rhythms and straightforward five-note melody had them hooked from the beginning. Not only did it provide a fun and engaging challenge for our young musicians, but it was also a great choice for developing their skills, particularly rhythmic independence and introducing quaver rests. We highly recommend "Five Sombreros" to any music educators out there who are searching for a piece that will inspire and entertain their young students.