Biography
Madeline studied music from an early age, starting with the Piano from age 3. The great ‘classic’ composers (Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt) inspired her throughout her musical development, and modern composers such as Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Harry Gregson-Williams continue to do so today.
One of the very first pieces Madeline played in its entirety was Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, learned completely by ear, as it was the only demo song featured on her tiny keyboard. (pictured)
Madeline suffered from chronic ear and sinus infections as a toddler, rendering her partially deaf. She wasn’t able to get surgery to correct this until she was 7.
At age 4, Madeline started kindergarten early as she was reading, writing and spelling at a primary school level.
Madeline began private piano lessons from a local teacher at age 5, she had already learned all major and minor Piano chords from a chart found in her father’s Billy Joel songbook.
Her father Bill, a Dutch immigrant, had a strong interest in music, along with the rest of his family.
Many of the VanDerMast family sang in choirs and operas. An appreciation for music ran through generations.
Bill encouraged Madeline to play the piano and to improvise.
Madeline’s mother Diana is a poetry & creative writing hobbyist, set to publish her first novel.
Madeline’s health suffered throughout childhood, so she mostly spent time indoors, playing the piano and computer games.
Madeline’s passion for music began early, with a strong foundation in piano and theory. After completing her AMEB studies, she pursued a degree in Music Business, expanding her knowledge of the industry.
In 2008, Madeline met Chris, and together they embarked on a journey of teaching music together. Their partnership blossomed, leading them to purchase a small music school in Woy Woy in 2011. Under their guidance, the school flourished, growing from 38 students to over 180.
Madeline’s dedication to music was recognized in 2011 when she became a finalist in the APRA Professional Development Awards. Seeking to deepen her understanding of composition and arrangement, she taught herself cello and violin in 2012.
The Stratford’s story reached a new chapter in 2013 when Chris proposed to Madeline at the school’s end-of-year concert. They married in October 2014.
In 2016, the music school faced a relocation. With a vision for a unique and welcoming space, Madeline and Chris designed and built their own tuition rooms. As Madeline describes, “We wanted to create a place that was homely but also unique. We’ve designed the school to offer the highest standard of tuition while still being a comfortable place that students of all ages will enjoy visiting.”
When COVID hit in 2020, Stratford Music struggled with constant lockdowns.
Madeline & Chris made the final decision to shut the physical premises in 2021 and transition to online lessons, where Madeline still teaches today.
During lockdowns, Madeline started work on her Music Course & Book publishing.
She released the Stratford Music Theory Course in 2021.
Madeline became the first female tutor in the world to be featured on Ultimate Guitar for Music Theory. Her course is now also featured on Musescore and Udemy.
Madeline has since been working on various music projects; from composition, sheet music arranging, video game designing/scoring, and new music course creations.
You can check out progress in the ‘Games’ tab on this website.
Characters in the game are based on Madeline’s real students!
