Teen musician Abbey is fine-tuning her future at CDU

Abbey received a ukulele for her 12^th birthday and wrote her very first song soon after.  A music course at Charles Darwin University is hitting the right note with this talented teenager and her future career plans.

Abbey was encouraged to sing in choirs from an early age and taught herself the rest. 

“YouTube was how I learned to play guitar chords, then I started getting better at reading the music,” she says. “Music has always been a part of my life.”

Struggling with dyslexia, Abbey began homeschooling in Year 10. 

She was given the opportunity to study the Certificate IV in Music at CDU while still a high school student. 

Self-taught to the classroom

“Being dyslexic, I always thought uni was off the cards for me,” she says.

“I had no idea you could even study music like this."

The course caters perfectly to Abbey’s dreams of becoming a professional musician. 

Alongside honing her skills in songwriting, musical composition, and performing as both a soloist and part of a group, she’s loving the hands-on production units. 

“We have access to everything – recording equipment, practice equipment, all the stuff I want to get when I learn how to record my own music.”

Abbey notes how valuable the business planning skills have been, giving the skills in how to approach and thrive within the industry. 

“It’s helping me learn about how to run my own business, how to advocate for yourself and know your value, and what you deserve to get paid.”

“This course was everything I wanted to learn.”

Connecting with classmates and the music community

Though she’s the youngest in her cohort, Abbey loves being part of a diverse group of musicians. 

“Everyone has such different experiences – I’m 17, one of my classmates is 70!”

“They’re all completely different musicians—everyone plays different instruments, writes differently, no two people write the same way.”

The course has also exposed her to the ins and outs of the Top End music scene. 

“I’d never even heard of Happy Yess, a big live music space in Darwin. After being a part of this class, I’m now on the board as the youth member,” she says.

“It has helped a lot with getting to know the local industry.” 

When she’s not studying or performing at pubs and venues around the Top End, Abbey is using her talents to give other young people a helping hand.

She runs DJ workshops at Don Dale Youth Centre through Dream Impact Inspire, a local organisation working to empower and support marginalised Territory youth. 

“It definitely comes with its challenges, but I absolutely love it,” says Abbey.

“It fills my heart.”

Fine-tuning her future

Armed with new skills in music production and recording from her Certificate IV, Abbey has already released one of her own songs. Listen to it here! 

She’s hoping to put more of her music on the airwaves before she travels the world as a solo musician.

“I want to record all my music and get it out there so I have something to show people when I’m travelling.”

“Studying music doesn’t come without its challenges,” she adds. “If you don’t love it enough, you’ll get washed out.”

“If you do choose to make music your life,” Abbey says, the Certificate IV in Music at CDU is the perfect way to set the stage for a successful career in the creative arts. 

“It is teaching me how to know my worth and how to be prepared for life as a musician.”

Turn your passion for music into your profession with a TAFE music course or the new Bachelor of Creative Arts at Charles Darwin University.