Hannah Curwood

Hannah is a Nelson-based singer-songwriter, performer, composer, and educator with a career spanning more than two decades. With extensive international performance experience and a passion for sharing music with students of all ages and backgrounds, she brings both professional expertise and a warm, student-centred approach to her teaching.

She holds a Bachelor of Music (Contemporary Music), majoring in Performance and Composition, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Music, also specialising in Performance and Composition, from the University of Otago. There she studied under Graeme Downes, founding member of The Verlaines and one of Aotearoa’s most respected musical minds. This strong foundation in craft, theory, and artistry continues to inform her teaching practice.

During more than ten years living and performing in London, Hannah established an international career as a recording artist and performer. She recorded multiple albums, toured extensively, and performed at major events including Glastonbury and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her band, Hannah in the Wars, recorded its debut album with Roger O’Donnell of The Cure and producer Paul Corkett, whose credits include Nick Cave and Björk. The album received critical acclaim in both New Zealand and overseas. Throughout her career, Hannah has collaborated and performed alongside artists including Shayne Carter, Jen Cloher, and Geoff Maddock.

Upon returning to Nelson, Hannah served as Musical Director of the Off Your Rockers senior choir, an experience that reinforced her belief in the transformative power of music and performance. Seeing the confidence, connection, and joy that music can inspire in people of all ages has become a cornerstone of her teaching philosophy.

Hannah is particularly passionate about teaching songwriting and performance, helping students discover their own artistic voice, develop confidence, and connect authentically with an audience. She also offers tuition in beginner to intermediate guitar, piano, and voice. Across all areas of instruction, her focus is on building confidence, musicality, creativity, and a lifelong love of music.

Currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapy, Hannah brings an evolving understanding of creativity, wellbeing, and personal growth to her teaching, combining warmth and psychological awareness with high-quality musical training.

Hannah teaches with energy, humour, and deep respect for each student’s individual voice and creative identity. Whether working with a child discovering music for the first time or an adult songwriter seeking to deepen their craft, she meets students where they are and helps them develop confidence, creativity, and a deeper understanding of their musical potential.