By Mikayla van Loon
Get ready to tap your feet and move to the beat as regular Mount Evelyn gig master Stephen Pinzone puts on a show later this month in support of the German Australian Learning Exchange (GALE).
Catch the musician on Saturday 24 February at Heart and Soul Cafe to raise funds for international teachers coming to public schools across the country to facilitate German classes.
GALE secretary Eva Windisch said it encouraged the study of the German language and provided students with an opportunity to learn about German culture.
“Language assistants are much needed in Australian public schools,” she said.
“GALE facilitates the placing of student-teachers from universities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, to complete their practical teacher training placement (Praktikum) and work as volunteers in Australian schools where German is taught as a LOTE.”
Volunteer teachers have the opportunity to stay for one to two terms, which in the past was entirely funded through them.
“Prospective student teachers had to find a suitable school in Australia, look for accommodation, and pay for their living and travelling expenses while in Australia,” Eva said.
“Very few student-teachers can actually participate in this wonderful opportunity to complete their Praktikum in Australia because this entails a considerable financial burden.
“To work here requires, at a minimum, $4000 per successful applicant per term. GALE provides financial assistance to successful applicants and, to this end, conducts major fundraising initiatives.”
Stephen said Eva had attended one of his regular gigs at the Mount Evelyn cafe and asked if he would be interested in supporting the fundraising efforts.
“If there’s a chance to play, I’ll take it,” he said.
Mostly sticking to the classics, an audience can expect to hear anything from the ‘50s through to the early ‘90s.
“I’m not somebody who likes to rehearse. I’m a jammer. I like to do things spontaneously because I like to interact with people. You can’t rehearse spontaneity,” he said.
“We’re just a bunch of guys, friends who get up and we play, we just joke around, we just don’t take it seriously and we just play.”
Although, favouring artists like The Beatles and Elvis Presley, Stephen said music was not about the lyrics but how it mades people feel.
“I’m not interested in lyrics. So to me, the lyrics are boring. If I can make someone tap their feet and make someone smile, I don’t care how good I am as a player or a singer. It’s the music that I like and the music they like and if they can tap and sing and have a smile, I’m happy with that.
“If someone’s in the audience and they want to sing as well, go get up and have a sing. I don’t care. It’s not about me.
“I find more pleasure in getting people up and seeing their friends having a good time.”
With no set list, Stephen said he invited the audience to request songs and he and the band would play it to the best of their ability.
As a self taught musician who began playing 45 years ago, Stephen said “you don’t get it right sometimes but if they want to hear that song I’m going to give it a go anyway”.
Eva said bookings for the fundraiser were best and coould be arranged by contacting Heart and Soul Cafe on 9737 1777 or herself on 0417 566 805.
The tickets are $50 which includes a meal, with the rest going directly to GALE. The event gets underway at 6.30pm.
