Join Clare on Monday afternoons from 1-3pm or on Thursday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm … and explore your inner artist in a fun, relaxed and supportive small-group setting.

Clare’s classes run for two hours weekly over an 8 week term. The fee is $320.

Class dates are:

• Monday 29th April - 17th June

• Thursday 2nd May - 20th June

Contact Clare to enrol online at swirlart.com.au or you can give her a call to find out more etc., 0423453160.

Daniel will be offering guitar lessons from the start of Term 2 at Alphington Community Centre.

His classes will be on a Tuesday in the afternoon and evening. You can contact Daniel by email to book in.

Here is a bit about Daniel.

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I currently run a new community music project I put together last year called Circle of Guitars. This project allows me to run group guitar sessions and provides an opportunity for community members to get together and play music.

I am a performing guitarist with a passion for music. In the music scene, I have been involved in numerous bands and exciting musical projects (Harmony Universe, Bernadette Novembre, Neo Lilac), performed across Melbourne's highly regarded venues (Melbourne Recital Centre, the Night Cat, Uptown Jazz Cafe), and was invited to play live on air (3AW).

With over 15 years experience as a dedicated educator, I have taught students from diverse backgrounds in different settings such as universities (Australian Catholic University), Secondary schools (Ave Maria College), and in studio's across Melbourne.

By incorporating infectious enthusiasm, relatable personality, and imaginative approaches I have been able to help pupils overcome challenges while discovering their unique voices in music. It is my aim to provide students with a practical knowledge of the instrument as well as an explanation of theoretical components that are inherent within the music.

My teaching method draws from performing experience and industry standard pedagogies. I specialise in popular musical styles including blues, jazz, rock, metal, pop, country and more.

On Friday afternoons we always enjoy our access all abilities art group. It run by Clare and supported by Corrado and Hazel, our wonderful volunteers. We have a super mix of people attending to work on mixed media group and individual projects each week.

Here is one of the latest group pieces, made from paper. It is up on the wall in the Community Shed.

So … our renovations are powering along. Eastern Property Services have been super lovely and efficient to work with.

This week the slab was poured for the new building in the backyard. And the frame for the building is being delivered on Monday. So this week should be exciting out there.

Inside we are busy sorting and organising … because on Thursday the asbestos will be removed from the ceiling in our office and in the foyers (and we have a LOT of stuff in our office and the foyers). There is also asbestos in the lino under the carpet tiles in our two main rooms that will come out.

So we need to clear everything out and … after the asbestos is removed, and until the ceilings are reinstated and the carpet tiles go back down, we’ll have our main rooms closed and we will be using the desk in room 3 for our office during the day (where we usually have podcasting/counselling/music lessons). To compensate for the closed rooms we will be reorganising the community shed space - so it can be used for a wider variety of programming.

Kalimna and I are in the process now of contacting all our users that will be impacted by the works, to ensure they (you) have an alternative plan. If we haven’t spoken to you yet we’ll do it early this week … but if you are worried please feel free also to give us a call!

It’s all going to be fine … it is all a bit up in the air, but the focus is on keeping things running … and we don’t want anyone to feel concerned.

In this light, please note that our outside programming, including playgroups and our Friday community program should not be impacted by the ongoing works … we’ll use the kitchen by the community shed and the shed itself if we need indoor space … and we’ll have access to the toilet through room 3 … and it will be exciting and different and fun!

(Hopefully).

It was super lovely to welcome our colleague Kathy Vrettas from Yarra City Council to our community morning on Friday. And we were delighted that she brought along Cr Edward Crosslands who is the new Yarra Mayor.

The Yarra neighbourhood houses have such a great relationship with Council, and we are always thrilled when staff and councillors come along so we can show off all the exciting things we have been up to - and that deliver on our shared strategic objectives to create great services for our local community.

And … to mark the occasion … I FINALLY took a photo of some of our crafting friends who come along on Fridays with GenU. They have been coming for at least 6 months now, and we really look forward to them attending each week. Such nice people!

If you are interested in craft or gardening - with a good dose of socialising thrown in - our community mornings might be just right for you too! Come along from 10am. All welcome. Lunch is at 12pm.