Susan Fredline

Nominated by Tess Laird

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

Susan has had a varied career in teaching music over 35 years with students from Kindergarten to Year 10, in contexts spanning West Queensland, the far North, working with indigenous children, and Toowoomba, where she moved from the State system to Early Childhood, Catholic and Independent schools. During her time in Mt Isa, along with Paul Holley, Susan initiated “Choir Fest”, which was the winner of the Channel 10 Regional Event for 2 years. This inspired a love of non-competitive choral work and active support of community festivals wherever she has worked since. Upon election to Kodály Australia’s National Council, Susan became the National Treasurer, and is now currently Queensland Branch Treasurer, concurrently serving with the Mackay Chapter. During her time on National Council she also worked on both the Financial/Strategic Planning and Reconciliation committees. Susan has a Bachelor of Education (James Cook University), and the Australian Kodaly Certificate (2005). She is committed to delivering music programs which are aural and sequentially developmental, based on the Kodály philosophy centred around the joy of singing for all. Her successful application to work at Whitsunday Anglican College was largely based on Susan’s success and advocacy for a Kodály based approach to music education.

Susan’s success has always been evident in the admiration she receives from students, colleagues, parents, and the wider community. Her dedication to the craft of teaching is obvious, given her enthusiastic lesson delivery, a genuine interest in each learner irrespective of where they are on the learning continuum, and a whole-person approach that is empathetic and nurturing. This level of respect is extended to all stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes for all students. Using the Kodály philosophy has ensured that Susan’s students develop a confident love of singing and music-making. In the pursuit of musical excellence, Susan has continually worked to develop her personal skills at every level. This has involved private singing lessons, becoming a member of community vocal ensembles/choirs, as well as learning the cello, violin and hand bells in order to better support students in the instrumental immersion programs at her current school.

There is no doubt that Susan has made an enormous contribution to Kodaly Australia as National and now State Branch Treasurer. Susan compiled a comprehensive list of Treasurer’s duties that are invaluable for mentoring new personnel. She has recently created resources that may be sold to help subsidise the “Judy Creen Education Bursary”, which provides financial support to individuals pursuing music education in the Kodály approach.

Susan is recognised as an exceptional educator of children and her espousal of Kodály philosophy has clearly been evidenced in every aspect of her teaching. Opportunities for professional development offered through the Kodály  community (including AKC training, workshops both live and via zoom, State and National conferences) have been loyally supported by Susan. She selflessly seeks to involve other teachers in order to “pay it forward” and encourage their affiliation with the Kodály approach. Professional development exclusively for specialist teachers in the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba was instigated at Susan’s suggestion, and she is currently helping to organise professional development opportunities for music specialists in Mackay. Contributions to the Qld discussion board on line always impart the wisdom of experience, and Susan is currently preparing for her first National Conference presentation.

At her school, Susan has encouraged and nurtured other teachers to embark on study for the AKC. Indeed, her school’s facilities were made available for these courses. In the last 3 years she has worked with colleagues to develop a Junior School approach to music pedagogy, collaborating and supporting instrumental teachers to establish a cohesive program making links from classroom to instrumental pedagogy from Year 2 – 5. In addition, she has provided demonstration lessons and rehearsals to show the pedagogy in action, and produced video recordings for class teachers to engage students on a daily basis.

Work to mentor individual students ranges from encouraging leadership roles in ensembles to intervention for students with learning difficulties. Integrating repertoire reflective of students’ cultural backgrounds has been a special interest of Susan’s. She continuously refines her practice based upon current educational research and curriculum requirements.

Susan has been selfless in her pursuit of quality and sharing the expertise she has gained over many years of diligent practise. She is most worthy of receiving an award for Excellence in Kodály-inspired Music Education, and I am proud to nominate her on behalf of those she has mentored.