Ukubebe Music was founded by Joanne Steel, a passionate and dedicated early childhood educator who loves to sing and play music with young children and their families.
Joanne is an extremely dedicated and passionate Early Childhood Educator... she incorporated her extensive knowledge of music into the program, creating a joyful and vibrant atmosphere.
Ruth Weinstein,
Director/Owner, Wee Care Kindergarten and Wee Care2 Child Care Centre
Joanne Steel
Jo loves seeing the joy of music-making touch the lives of children andtheir families. She believes that music is the most wonderful medium to engage children and to extend their interests and learning.
As the founder of Ukubebe, Jo is trained and experienced and draws on a background both in Early Childhood Education and Specialist Early Childhood Music Education. Jo’s music teaching is inspired by the combined wisdom of Kodaly, Orff, Dalcroze and Suzuki.
Jo has released two children's albums 'I love to Play' and 'Watermelon Jazz'. She plays piano, guitar, ukulele, and piano accordion, and is also an experienced singer. Jo presents music workshops, composes music and conducts choirs.
Prior to establishing Ukubebe Music, Jo worked in Early Childhood at Wee Care2 Child Care Centre Bondi. There she developed a music and movement program for the children and staff. This program was integrated into the daily program (within the Early Years Learning Framework).
Jo also spent a decade with Rocking Horse Music Education in Canberra, as a Specialist Early Childhood Music Educator. She brought music to many Early Childhood Centres, as well as facilitating music playgroups.
Joanne Steel has a current Working with Children Check
Hanna Clutterbuck
Hanna teaches Ukubebe music classes in early learning centres and in Ukubebe music playgroups, in the Camden and Campbelltown areas, in Western Sydney.
Hanna is a compassionate and versatile music educator and musician. Her aim is to create a safe, inclusive, interactive and positive atmosphere in all her music sessions: so that everybody can feel seen and heard and be comfortable to express themselves.
Hanna has Bachelors in both Early Childhood Music Education and Music Education (Helsinki and Lahti, Finland and Malmo, Sweden) and over 20 years of experience working in early music education as well as teaching piano, last 4 years here in Australia.
Hanna’s music pedagogy roots go deep and wide combining Kodaly, Orff and Dalcroze music philosophies as well as knowledge and practices from music therapy fields, whilst her musical branches are always continuing to reach out for new ideas from amazing educators all around the world.
Hanna has taught in several music schools and day care centres in Finland as well as working in different bands and children’s music groups as a pianist, singer, percussionist and arranger. She loves diving into different musical genres, improvising with her students and writing her own music inspired by everyday situations and her young students.
Hanna sees that children’s natural response to rhythm and music is one of the most beautiful things and her aim is to not only nurture that, but to also help carers and early childhood educators find the ideal material and tips that support their job and musical well-being.
Hanna Clutterbuck has a current working with children’s check.
Anita Pulie
Anita Pulie has worked as an Early Childhood Teacher for over 20 years in a variety of settings including: School, Preschool, Long Day Care and Family Day Care. In these teaching roles she has also worked as the Educational Leader and Nominated Supervisor of services and has trained students in VET Cert III Early Childhood.
With her background in music, she has taught classes at and ran the Macquarie University, Institute of Early Childhood Outreach Music Program with families and children 0-8 years.
Anita’s interest in music began as a young child playing flute and piano, then through school with choirs, bands and other ensembles.
She sang in “The Juliettes” an all women acapella group for 8 years, and currently plays in the Sydney based all-women’s original band “G I Jane” on keyboards, and flute, melodica and singing too!
Anita has also trained in and teaches Nia (a holistic movement practice) and Ageless Grace (a senior’s body and brain movement program), where she has developed her teaching, music and movement skills further.
Anita is passionate about the importance of music in early years education, and is excited to share her skills and experience in this field.