Aussie singer Keith Urban has paid tribute to his Aussie high school teacher in a sweet video about the importance of music education.
Speaking out as part of a campaign by the Country Music Association, the 51-year-old claimed he wouldn’t be in the position he is today without help from Mrs Grimmer, his music teacher at Caboolture High School in Queensland, who went out of her way to help the young musician reach his goals.
Taking to Instagram at the weekend, the ‘Somebody Like You’ singer claimed while he had many great teachers growing up, it was Mrs Grimmer, who taught him through Years 8-10, who he will always remember as having the greatest impact on his life.
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“I failed music as a subject,” Keith explained. “It was because I couldn’t read, I had no theory but she knew that I was naturally talented so she re-wrote this whole test we were supposed to take. Me and several of the other kids.
“We did this exam with a lot more playing and all these other parts that weren’t part of the curriculum. As the end of the year came along they just said ‘no that’s not the way it’s meant to be graded’. They failed.
“She [Mrs Grimmer] was so distraught. But that meant the world to me that she would want to recognise our natural talents like that.”
The sweet message received a flurry of comments from fans who commended the the educator on her teaching methods.
“It’s teachers like that that should be in our schools and should be commended because they give you that feeling that you’re not just a silly kid, bless Mrs Grimmer,” one person wrote.
While another commented: “Mrs Grimmer was a very smart lady having recognised early on the sheer talent in front of her! And your fans are forever grateful Keith Urban.”
And a third said: “Love that story, same thing happened to my son with art work. You are inspirational.”
Like many other great talents, Keith actually didn’t finish high school and ended up dropping out at the age of 15 to pursue his music. In an interview Country Fancast, the singer explained how he managed to convince parents Marienne and Bob to allow him to go down the risky path.
“I was in a public school and the curriculum was super basic,” he said. “I was already playing in a band on the weekends and the band would play during the week without me.
“I said to my mum, ‘if I wasn’t in school, I could be playing five, six nights a week, earning really good money playing four hours a night, getting amazing experience. Obviously, this is what I’m going to be doing my whole life. I’ve been doing this since I was seven. I’m 15 now. I’d really like to quit school’.”
His parents thankfully agreed and so began Keith’s legendary career in music, which would ultimately lead to him receiving numerous Grammys, Country Music Association awards and an induction into the famed Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tennessee — one of the highest honours bestowed to country music artists.
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