Podcast Highlights
Ian Ross Williams is a talented Australian children’s songwriter. He is an Orff and Kodaly trained primary school music teacher.
Biography
Ian Ross Williams was born in Sydney, long ago, and raised in a happy, churchy, musical environment. Hours were spent taking part in sing-alongs at family or social gatherings, as well as alone, often accompanied by the pedal pianola. A boy soprano with a golden voice, Ian was blind-sided in Year 6 by a girl-friend who asked him to please not sing. Up until that point he had been unaware that he often sang in the playground. Now slightly more self-aware, Ian’s teen years often did include performing in public, but generally at more appropriate times.
After dropping out of high school and taking various jobs, Ian spent a year as a teacher’s aide at a school for autistic children. With encouragement from the principal, he then began his teacher training. Ian’s longstanding interest in all things Aboriginal led to his first teaching position, at a bi-lingual school on the Tiwi Islands, N.T., where he taught for three years, during which time Ian and the Aboriginal teachers wrote and recorded ‘Ngawa Ngarikuruwala – We Sing’ which, along with a song-book was released in 1981. The package sold out in 1 ½ days, with virtually every household on the island owning a copy that year. Ian has been writing and recording songs for children ever since. Continue reading his bio HERE.
Links Mentioned by Ian, the Australian Children’s Songwriter :
Australian Children’s Songwriter – Favorite Songs/Resources:
- So Many Stars (song)
- Whimsy Was a Little Fish (song)
- The Rainbow Snake (song)
- Living in Australia (song)
- Underneath the Mango Tree (song)
- Fast Version – Wayayi Kuwayijimi – the Curlew Cries (song)
- Slow Version – Wayayi Kuwayijimi – the Curlew Cries (song)
- Teach Like It’s Music (book)
Find Ian on his website and his YouTube channel.
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