The Music Makers - Nathaniel Taylor
The reluctant music maker
Nathaniel Taylor moved to Birregurra, with his new bride Elizabeth Braid, at the beginning of 2014, after securing his first teaching position as Teacher of Music at Trinity College, Colac.
His music making had an early start with piano lessons, aged 5. Like so many music students, he loved playing but not so much practicing. A change of teacher, to one who recognised, stretched and extended his talent, enabled the young Nathaniel to work through the AMEB stream. He went to Ballarat's Clarendon College, a secondary school renowned for it's strong music program, where he added the violin to his repertoire and played it in the school orchestra. His VCE subjects included Music Styles, Solo Performance/Classical Piano.
Even though he enjoyed music, he did not plan a career in music and definitely did not want to be a teacher. After a gap year and some travel he enrolled in an Arts/Marketing degree at Monash University.
Whilst a career in music was not on the agenda, his love for music took on a life of it's own and he involved himself in local theatre productions and even acted as Musical Director for some.
The success and confidence gained through this made him re-evaluate his career path and his desire to become involved in Music Education grew.
Nathaniel's passion for music is drawn from the power it has to communicate and express feelings and has found that he is able to explore this through teaching secondary school aged students.
He finds the measure of talent among his students exciting and fostering a love for music in them extremely rewarding - not bad for someone who was definitely not going to be a teacher of Music.
Nathaniel values the role the encouragement of family and friends played on his path to finding his professional niche.
Personally, he is a member of a Jazz Fusion Improvisation Quartet called HAIKU.
To listen to their fabulous groove click HERE
This Music Maker also finds time to expertly lead the Birregurra Singing Group that meets regularly at the Anglican Church Hall.