Carol Biddiss Dip. T. B.Ed. M.Ed.

Carol Biddiss is the Director of Musical Child and its course designer.  Carol has taught music to children and adults for over 30 years in school, college, university and private studio settings.  With a Masters degree in music education, a background in junior primary teaching, a career as a music advisory teacher followed by sixteen years experience designing tertiary courses and teaching music to student teachers, she is well qualified to offer these preschool music lesson plans.

Carol has seen the results of early childhood stimulation in the arts as her students have grown to adulthood.  She believes passionately in the value of music education, intervening with the right activities at the right time.  Carol follows the mainstream education philosophy that, for the young musical child, songs, games, dances and simple instruments are the best means for growth. Complex instruments can come later when fine motor control has developed.  Carol has her own practice working with children, parents, teachers and childcare workers in several settings and conducts research into the effectiveness of early childhood music curricula and resources.

Carol works regularly in community classes, childcare centres and also works as a consultant and trainer in arts and education.  She is also an experienced project manager in the performing and visual arts.  Carol is a registered teacher in South Australia and her professional memberships include Early Childhood Australia; Australian Performing Rights Assocation; Copyright Agency Limited.

To keep up with current happenings on Musical Child, please follow the blog.

Maggie Fiddian

Program designer and contributor, editor, music educator, senior trainer, performer.

Maggie’s long and varied experience in all facets of the Musical Child project adds authority and depth to her design and editorial contributions to the publications.

She grew up surrounded by music.  All her family, both immediate and extended, were involved in music at the highest level and so when Maggie learnt not just one instrument but flute, piano, voice and also classical ballet, it came as no surprise.  This engagement in music in a family environment has provided a wonderful background for Maggie as a Musical Child educator.

Maggie is an experienced music educator in early childhood programs having taught in many settings and various methods over the last seven years.  She has seen that music and movement activities positively impact on the development of the whole child in areas such as cognitive, emotional, physical, spatial and literacy skills.

Maggie is a strong believer in making the Musical Child experiences the best she can, drawing on each valuable idea and activity and making it all a whole heap of fun.  She displays special talents in movement to music.  She is a warm, dedicated educator and her classes are active, musical and inspirational.  

As a mum, Maggie appreciates not only the developmental benefits but also the happiness that music has brought to her own two children's lives and looks forward to sharing the Musical Child experiences and preschool music lesson plans with you and your child as well.

Mish Bown

Program contributor, music educator, senior trainer, performer

Mish’s years of working with the program in community classes, childcare and training sessions adds conviction and expressiveness to her vocal presentations on the song tracks. Mish is currently involved in a program of study to qualify her as an art therapist.

Mish was born into a musical family.  Her own early childhood music education, particularly in song, has had a huge impact on her life.  She took formal lessons in piano, singing and music theory throughout childhood and in the teenage years.  As an adult she has studied voice, performed lead roles in amateur music theatre and sung in several bands.

She is also an accomplished artist and is currently painting large canvases and making jewelry.

Mish adores interacting with young children and has a warm, natural manner allowing the children to quickly feel at ease.  She shares the children's delight in the discovery of sound and movement and guides them through purposeful musical play.  She displays special talents in singing and drama.  

Mish has two children who share her love of music, and she developed their passion by singing and playing to them when they were young.

Mish is passionate about music and about child development and is excited to be one of the team of Musical Child Educators.

Janette Porteous

Musician

Janette joined the project in 2005 to collaborate in the song arrangements, working together with Carol in a long-running partnership to make all of the multi-track recordings. Her quirky sense of what might appeal to the very young child is obvious in many of the arrangements.  Janette’s musical work in the improvisations and occasional compositions for the backing tracks is informed by her work as a choir accompanist, her love of the works of Erik Satie and a fondness for simplicity and restraint.   

Michael Cashen B Ed, Grad Dip Jewellery

Performer

Apart from his main profession as a jewellery designer, Michael has an enduring interest in audio-visual media and has undertaken training in radio presentation.  This edge gives his vocal presence on the tracks immense warmth and appeal. His earlier career as a junior primary teacher also informs his work as a presenter and performer for Musical Child.