FEATUR E STORY
Aeyons
World leading platform for online instrumental teaching
A new music platform has brought work to hundreds of musicians globally who have suffered dramatic income losses due to COVID-19. The online platform, Aeyons, has connected worldclass musicians with students of all ages across 17 countries for hundreds of real-time private tutorials since its launch. It is the creation of musician and former Drummond resident Geoff Collinson. In 2006, Geoff saw a need and an opportunity to create an online learning hub for music education. It needed outstanding audio and picture quality and a collection of the world’s most dedicated and celebrated teachers. Fast forward to today and Aeyons, founded in 2019 is now leading the world in the digital technology, making it possible to have a music lesson with a teacher from the other side of the world and experiencing an almost synonymous-like quality as with being there in person. Collinson was on the verge of launching the online music teaching platform in China at the beginning of 2020 but said he had a “complete other opportunity to help musicians around the world when COVID struck”. “We decided to make a change to help right now,” he said. Throughout the pandemic, Collinson has seen dozens of talented musicians and friends lose everything as events and venues shut down overnight. “COVID has impacted the music sector in a devastating way,” he said. “There have been no gigs since March and sadly being out of work has become a common story. We know there are musicians out there who need something like this.”
14
His business pivot has been exactly that for at least 170 musicians now connecting and sharing their talents across the globe, including 40 Australian professionals with room for more. Award-winning percussionist David Jones is one of those who came on board and described Aeyons as a “lifeline” during the Melbourne lockdown period. Aeyons, which stands for Another Eight Year Overnight Success is a platform that can be used on its own or in conjunction with booking and payment facilities. It allows musicians from anywhere in the world to connect with their ideal teacher - imagine being able to communicate directly with your hero, or simply cutting down your commute time by having a mix of online and in-person lessons with your current teacher. The one-on-one tutorials are on AEYONS’ own video conferencing platform and each tutor (more than 150 of them from 17 countries around the world) sets their own price. The tutors are from the London, Chicago, Los Angeles and Sydney symphonies, platinum-selling recording artists, conservatoriums and festivals. The exemplary quality has even attracted high profile businesses to use the platform as their online meeting tool, relishing in the ease of conversation and the increased connectedness experienced over other meeting platforms. “The response has been incredible. It just boomed! We have now partnered with global investors. The whole thing has kind of gone ballistic,” Collinson said.
