​​​​​​Our Story

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Octave8 Music Academy began with one teacher, one instrument and one afternoon of music lessons at St Joseph’s Church.

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Our founder and director, Mr Ric Mills, began by teaching digital keyboard to young students in small groups of up to five. From the outset, the aim was to create something a little different: music lessons that maintained high educational standards while remaining friendly, encouraging and enjoyable. Students could learn alongside others, build confidence and experience the sheer pleasure of making music without lessons feeling intimidating or overly formal.

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That first afternoon proved popular. Word spread among local families, more students joined, and before long, one afternoon of lessons had grown into five afternoons every week.

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As Octave8’s community expanded, families began asking whether we could also offer guitar lessons. Mr Ric approached one of his former students, Mr Jerry, who had gone on to become an accomplished educator and is now a senior music teacher at Hurlstone Agricultural High School. Alongside Jerry, a friend from the church community, Michael, also became part of the developing team. What had begun as a small digital keyboard program was becoming a thriving keyboard and guitar school.

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The requests did not stop there.

 

Parents and students frequently asked whether Octave8 could offer drum lessons, so we invested in our very first drum kit and welcomed Mr Alex to establish a new and energetic cohort of young drummers. Vocal lessons were the next natural addition, led by the fabulous Miss Michaela. Octave8 now had a wonderful team of four teachers, offering keyboard, guitar, drums and singing to a steadily growing number of local families.

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The school continued to develop organically, largely through recommendations from parents and students. More schools, churches and community venues approached us about establishing music lessons at their locations. This was an exciting period in Octave8’s history, but it also marked an important turning point.

Running a growing music academy involves far more than simply arranging lessons and placing a teacher in a room. Behind every lesson is an enormous amount of administration and responsibility: public liability insurance, workers’ compensation, child-safety requirements, marketing, accounts, regulatory compliance, student enrolments, invoicing, instrument purchases, timetabling, staff wages and communication with families, teachers, schools and venue managers.

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To allow Octave8 to grow responsibly, Mr Ric gradually stepped away from regular teaching and concentrated on his role as director. Although families may not now see him teaching from room to room each afternoon, he remains deeply involved behind the scenes—overseeing the academy, developing its programs, managing partnerships, solving the inevitable daily puzzles and planning for its future. As the organisation grew, so too did the need for a dedicated administrative team.

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Carlene, a local administration professional, joined Octave8 to provide essential support. Her contribution transformed the way the academy operated, freeing Mr Ric to focus on the broader direction of the business while ensuring that families, staff and accounts continued to be managed carefully and professionally.

There was still one vital piece of the puzzle missing: an experienced teacher who could lead the teaching team and help maintain the quality of music education as Octave8 welcomed more teachers and students.

 

Enter, stage right, Miss Louise.

 

Miss Louise was recommended to Mr Ric by the mother of one of our students—and it proved to be one of the most important introductions in Octave8’s story. Since Louise joined the academy, Octave8 has continued to go from strength to strength.

 

As Teacher Manager, Miss Louise plays a central role in supporting, training and guiding our instrumental teachers. She helps new teachers understand not only what we teach, but how we believe students should be taught. Her knowledge, leadership and commitment to music education ensure that our teaching standards remain high across every Octave8 location.

 

We are proud of our friendly ethos, but “friendly” never means careless or casual. We want students to feel safe, welcome and encouraged, while also receiving structured, purposeful tuition from teachers who take their progress seriously. Miss Louise embodies that balance beautifully. She is a strong and knowledgeable leader who understands that excellent teaching requires patience, preparation, consistency and genuine care for each student.

 

Miss Novita later joined the growing team and became another important part of Octave8’s development. Over time, the academy evolved into a fully formed music education service, with a Director, Teacher Manager, Accounts Manager, Administration Manager and Student Liaison Officer supporting a talented team of instrumental and vocal teachers.

 

This structure allows our teachers to concentrate on what they do best: teaching and inspiring their students. It also ensures that the many practical aspects of running a responsible music academy are handled properly. We may be a small local business, but we take our responsibilities to our students, families, teachers and partner schools extremely seriously.

 

Today, Octave8 Music Academy provides tuition across a range of instruments and locations, but the heart of the academy remains much the same as it was during that very first afternoon at St Joseph’s Church. We believe students make their greatest progress when they are taught with warmth, clarity and encouragement. Music education should challenge students, but it should also give them confidence, creativity and a lasting sense of achievement.

 

For students who wish to pursue formal qualifications, we offer pathways through internationally recognised examination systems, including the Australian Music Examinations Board and Rockschool. Our students regularly achieve outstanding results, including A grades and A grades with distinction.

 

One of the proudest achievements in our history belongs to Matthew, who earned a Grade 8 Organ Distinction through Trinity College London. Reaching Grade 8 is a considerable accomplishment in itself; achieving it with distinction reflects years of commitment, musicianship and dedicated support.

Octave8’s contribution to the local community was formally recognised in 2018, when we won the Liverpool City Local Business Award for Most Outstanding Education Service. It was a tremendously proud moment for our entire team and a wonderful acknowledgement of the care, work and belief that so many people had invested in the academy.

 

Yet our story is not simply a collection of awards, examination results or expanding locations. It is the story of a small local music school that grew because families trusted us. It is the story of former students becoming teachers, parents recommending remarkable staff, and talented educators joining together around a shared philosophy.

 

Most importantly, it is the story of thousands of individual musical moments: a student playing their first complete song, finding the courage to perform, passing an examination, discovering their voice, joining a band or simply looking forward to their lesson each week.

 

From a single afternoon of group keyboard lessons to a complete music education service, Octave8 has grown considerably—but we have never wanted to become impersonal. We remain proudly local, proudly independent and deeply grateful to the families, teachers, schools and community organisations that have helped us become what we are today.

 

The scale may have changed, but the purpose has not: to provide excellent music education in a friendly and supportive environment, and to help every student discover just how much music they have within them.

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