Crossfire: Perth Montessori School’s new rock saviours

The Perth Montessori School’s five-piece rock band took their talents to the big stage during the Vic Park Summer Street Party.

In the band are Year 6 students Patrick Cooke, Eliot Birtwistle, Draven Andrews-Clarke and twins Emerson and Quinn Galic.

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School music teacher Aaron Woolley said the band began by learning rock riffs and have continued to explore the genre.

“I began by teaching them riffs from The Beatles and The Kinks to give them an idea about rock ‘n’ roll,” he said.

“They learnt songs like You Really Got Me and Twist and Shout, there’s only three or four chords.

“We practise one day a week and I’m really proud of how far they’ve come.

“The school has a brass band but it’s pretty unusual for the school to have a rock band.”

Mr Woolley said he hoped the students would continue to play music as they got older.

“It can go as far as they want it to,” he said.

“Some of the other students at the school are quite envious of them.”

Lead singer Emerson said playing in a band was really fun and they all enjoyed it.

“Getting on stage made me really happy because I got to listen to the cheering but it also gave me butterflies,” he said.