Neighbours strike a chord

Music teachers Hedley Timbs, Leon Gray and Paul Henderson all moved into the same street. Photo / Andrew Warner

There's something in the water in Briarley St.

Neighbours Hedley Timbs, Leon Gray and Paul Henderson share a common bond - they are all music teachers.

While the three men had all met each other individually, the trio had never been together at the same time until posing for a photograph for the Bay of Plenty Times.

Mr Timbs was the first of the trio to move into the neighbourhood, in March 2011.

"Within a year, a new next-door neighbour moves in," he said.

"It was Paul, a piano and bass teacher. Then a year ago, Leon moved in. He teaches music theory, piano and speech and drama."

He teaches guitar, Spanish guitar and acoustic guitar privately to people of all ages, and also teaches classes at Papamoa College and Bethlehem College.

"My main market for private lessons is adult beginners who want to learn to play their favourite songs, although everyone has to learn those simple songs like Stand By Me and Under the Boardwalk."

Mr Timbs' musical background is mostly playing in bands. Mr Henderson teaches piano, bass and guitar. He has been in Briarley St for two-and-a-half years.

Before becoming a teacher, he travelled for many years in the United States as a jazz musician. He has also taught in Wellington.

"We see each other out on the street all the time. It's hilarious having the three of us on one small street," he said.

Although living in such a musical street, Mr Henderson said it was a quiet area and he had never heard any of his neighbours playing at home.

"Most musicians I know play quiet, especially once they're in their 30s. I suppose they like to concentrate when they're listening. It's not as if we're playing drums or loud rock music."

Mr Gray teaches piano, music theory and speech and drama, and has just finished his masters in music education.

He moved to Briarley St in September 2012.

He met Mr Henderson a while ago but had not met Mr Timbs until recently.

"So far, so good - we all seem to get along."