When Eliette’s Albany location started bursting at the seams, the hunt was on for the perfect location for a second school – and Uptown provided one.

The space above the Persian Rug Gallery on Khyber Pass holds 14 purpose- built, individually sound-proofed practice rooms; between both locations, the school teaches more than 600 students per week.

The director of the Uptown location is Nick Douch, a seasoned professional musician and drummer of 10 years in successful Kiwi rock band Ekko Park. He has played hundreds of shows throughout Australasia, the UK and Europe and his love of supporting young musicians on their own journeys brought him to Eliette’s Music Academy, where he is now a business partner with managing director and founder Eliette Roslin.

“We wanted to be somewhere central, close to schools and to public transport,” explains Nick. “We were blown away when we found this space, we are stoked to be here!”

The school teaches all kinds of instruments, including piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, drums, and voice. There are also lessons in songwriting, music theory, music production, musical theatre, drama and performance, and preschool music classes.

The essential thing for Eliette’s, says Nick, is that “kids have fun and build their confidence along the way. It’s all about playing and getting the most out of their experience”.

Elliette’s inspires kids to start their own musical journey. “Our main priority is getting kids playing, it’s not about reading musical notes from the get-go. We do that too, but we encourage them to play first, just like you don’t have to read before you can speak, we get them playing and having fun first.”

Nick says he gets a kick out of watching kids go from trying to work out guitar chords or a drumbeat to seeing them perform in one of the many concerts held at the academy.

“Some teens go on to play Smokefreerockquest and I saw an ex-student playing in a pub recently – I remember teaching him at 10, I love watching kids progress.”

As well as teaching all ages at their two locations, Eliette and Nick recognise the value that music can bring to supporting young people and their mental health. In 2018, they established the Green Room Charitable Trust, a programme that gives teenagers struggling with anxiety, depression and bullying the opportunity to express themselves through music.



Nick says the Green Room is about creativity and enjoyment. “We offer low fees and scholarships. Teenagers don’t need to be accomplished musicians, because it’s a safe place to come and meet others, make friends, try out an instrument, and have great experiences through music.”

Nick says Eliette’s is not only a music academy, it’s also a place for self-expression and experimentation for kids of all ages.