Kimberley Lloyd

Nominated by Jason Boron

2024 Award Recipient for Excellence in Australian Kodály-inspired Music Education: Innovation

Kimberley Lloyd is a highly accomplished Music Educator and Choral Director, with extensive experience teaching across various countries and educational levels. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Education in Music, complemented by a Master of Music in Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis from Holy Names University in California. Kimberley’s dedication to the Kodály philosophy is evident through her accreditation as a lecturer for the Australian Kodály Certificate.

Following the birth of her daughter Freya, Kimberley embarked on the establishment of her music school, Little House of Music. This endeavour reflects her fervent commitment to delivering quality music education to a diverse array of students, spanning from infants to adults. Moreover, Kimberley’s proactive inclusion of Professional Development opportunities for music educators underscores her unwavering dedication to fostering the growth and expertise of her peers within the field.

In addition to her role as the Musical Director of the Little House of Music, Kimberley also imparts her knowledge and expertise as a sessional academic at Edith Cowan University, where she lectures in early childhood, primary and secondary music education. Through her multifaceted roles and extensive contributions to the field of music education, Kimberley continues to inspire and empower both students and educators alike.

1. Demonstrated personal teaching and musical excellence.
Since first meeting Kimberley in 2015, I have been impressed by her commitment to Kodály-inspired music education. As a colleague at Edith Cowan University, I have observed Kimberley develop safe environments for (her early childhood and primary pre-service teacher) students to learn. I believe this intuitive approach is underpinned by outstanding teaching and high levels of musicianship. Kimberley is a highly qualified Kodály-inpsired music educator with a Master of Music in Music Education (with Kodály emphasis) from Holy Names University, USA. Kimberley is also an accredited lecturer of the Australian Certificate.

2. Demonstrated contribution of work to Australian Kodály-inspired music education and/or the Kodály Australia community.
Kimberley is a highly respected Kodaly-inspired music educator who has made a significant and positive contribution to the Kodály WA community. With considerable experience as a secondary music educator, the birth of her daughter served as an opportunity to establish her own music school, Little House of Music. This new venture allowed Kimberley to apply Kodály-inspired principles for teaching across all ages, particularly with very young children. An innovative aspect of her work has been the desire to engage not only with the children but with parents and caregivers. Kimberley hopes this approach will help instil a lifelong love of music in both parent and child, and ultimately their families. Kimberley has also developed extensive learning opportunities for adults through weekly musicianship classes and regular professional development for teachers. Furthermore, her ‘bite-sized’ repertoire and activity idea videos shared via social media have inspired both early-career music educators and those who are more experienced. Her significant contribution to adult learning is reflected in her successful work with early childhood and primary pre-service educators at Edith Cowan University. What sets Kimberley apart is her innate ability to connect Kodály-inspired learning with her student’s interests and motivations, fostering a deep sense of engagement and enthusiasm for music. Whether working with children or adult learners, she has a unique talent to inspire and empower them to develop as musicians. “Such a lovely environment for young Ella to explore and learn! Ms. Kimberly creates a welcoming atmosphere that makes everyone feel at home. The lessons are not only enjoyable for the children but also engaging for adults. We’ll certainly return for more!” Little House of Music Parent.

3. Demonstrated impact of work on Australian Kodály-inspired music education and/or the Kodály Australia community.
Since the establishment of Little House of Music, awareness about and availability of Kodály-inspired early childhood music education programs in Perth has increased. Parents who enrol their children in Kimberley’s classes have reported very positive experiences, and feel connected to the strong sense of community she has created. “We absolutely loved our first class at Little House of Music. I especially love that everyone is invited to hang around after class for tea, coffee and a chat. Giving mums the opportunity to bond with other mummas in different settings is priceless for creating a connected community”. Little House of Music Parent. This community-minded approach is evident in Kimberley’s work with early-career music educators. Her supportive, encouraging, and caring approach helps develop self-efficacy in music and teaching skills. As a pre-service teacher educator, I am encouraged to see increased opportunities for our future and graduate teachers to develop and grow beyond what is provided within Initial Teacher Education.

4. Potential model for others.
Like many of us, Kimberley discovered Kodály-inspired music education as an adult. Since that time, she has committed herself fully to developing into the best musician and teacher possible. Her positive approach to her work, combined with her ‘can-do’ and limitless energy, rubs off on all she works with. What stands out to me is that despite considerable success as a teacher and workshop clinician, Kimberley is reflective in her approach and constantly seeks out opportunities for professional development – truly a lifelong learner! Furthermore, her contributions as a member of the Management Committee for Kodály WA remind us all of the importance of serving the communities in which we live and work.