In Conversation With Pevan & Sarah: The Teacher Duo Turning Learning Into Something Kids Actually Remember

Most parents have experienced the same moment. Your child comes home from school singing a song you’ve never heard before, repeating a phrase over and over, or enthusiastically teaching you something they learned that day. Sometimes it is the alphabet. Sometimes it is how to hold a pair of scissors correctly. Sometimes it is a lesson about kindness or resilience that has somehow lodged itself permanently in their memory.

For Australian educators and performers Pevan & Sarah, those moments are exactly what they set out to create. Their work sits at the heart of music-based learning for kids across Australia.

What began as a classroom resource designed for their own students has evolved into one of Australia’s most recognised educational entertainment platforms, reaching more than 150,000 students daily and recently achieving the significant milestone of having their music videos acquired by the ABC. Despite that growth, their mission remains remarkably simple: help learn through music-based learning for kids, movement and play while creating positive memories that last long after the lesson ends. Pevan & Sarah have become one of Australia’s leading voices in music-based learning for kids.

Meeting Every Learner Where They Are

The success story may appear impressive from the outside, but the foundation of Pevan & Sarah was built long before national tours, streaming numbers and television opportunities entered the picture. It started in classrooms, where both educators quickly recognised that traditional teaching approaches do not always connect with every learner.

“Education is always evolving, but the fact that everyone learns differently isn’t new information,” they explain. “Some of us are visual learners, while others need a hands-on approach. Whatever the style, it has always been our responsibility as educators to accommodate every type of learner.”

Drawing on their own musical backgrounds, they found themselves returning to a teaching tool they knew could break down barriers and engage students who might struggle with more conventional methods.

“When we first started teaching, we quickly returned to what we knew best: music. Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact music can have on a classroom. It’s such an accessible tool for learning, and it can often reach the students who struggle to connect with more traditional methods.”

A Small Idea With a Much Bigger Reach

What happened next was something neither of them could have predicted.

Although they hoped their songs and resources might eventually reach other classrooms, the original intention was simply to support the students sitting in front of them every day. The idea that those same resources would one day reach hundreds of thousands of children across Australia was far from guaranteed.

“In short? No. Of course we hoped it would, but initially, this classroom idea was only meant for use inside the four walls of our own classroom,” they say. “Once we saw the impact it had, our goal became simple: we wanted to create positive memories for kids.”

That philosophy continues to guide everything they create today. Whether a song is heard by one child or one hundred and fifty thousand, the intention remains exactly the same.

“We write and create with the very same intent, to make learning a positive, memorable experience.”

Letting Kids Feel All the Feels

For many families, educational entertainment often invites comparisons to household favourites like Bluey and The Wiggles. While Pevan & Sarah are honoured to occupy a similar space in children’s lives, their focus goes beyond simply entertaining young audiences.

They hope children see themselves reflected in the experiences, emotions and challenges portrayed throughout their content. Childhood is full of excitement and joy, but it is also filled with uncertainty, mistakes and learning opportunities. Rather than avoiding those realities, Pevan & Sarah embrace them.

“We hope they feel all the feels,” they explain. “Pevan & Sarah openly experience all the joy, confusion, messiness and fun of being young.”

Humour plays a significant role in helping deliver those messages. Through laughter and relatable experiences, children are encouraged to understand that mistakes are a normal and valuable part of learning.

“We want kids to laugh with us, laugh at us and ultimately learn to laugh at themselves when things don’t go perfectly. We want them to feel completely free to express themselves without reservation.”

Many of those messages have become central themes within their songs, including lessons around perseverance, confidence and teamwork.

“Hopefully, they’ll learn that it’s OK to Make Mistakes, that when they’re faced with challenges they choose to Give it a Go, and that we truly are Better Together.”

Why Play and Even Boredom Still Matter

As educators, Pevan & Sarah are also passionate advocates for something they believe is increasingly overlooked in modern childhood: play.

With packed curriculums, structured schedules and growing pressures on both schools and families, they worry that play is sometimes treated as an optional extra rather than an essential part of development.

“Children need to play,” they explain. “We know the curriculum is jam-packed these days, but play isn’t a reward for finishing work, it’s how young children make sense of their world. It drives brain development, builds social-emotional growth and refines motor skills.”

Alongside play, music-based learning for kids remains at the core of everything they create. They also champion something many adults try desperately to eliminate from children’s lives: boredom.

Experiencing boredom, they argue, is often the catalyst that encourages creativity, imagination and independent thinking.

“We also believe children need to be allowed to be bored. Experiencing boredom is the spark that forces them to become active creators of their own fun.”

The Case for Music Education

Of course, if there is one topic they could happily spend hours discussing, it is music education.

“We could write an entire masterclass on the importance of music education. It’s the ultimate tool for connection and learning, and honestly, every single child deserves access to it.”

One of the most remarkable outcomes of their work has been witnessing how deeply children retain information when it is taught through music. The evidence behind music-based learning for kids is well documented, but seeing it work in real classrooms is something else entirely.

“It is incredible to realise that we have thousands of children who can easily recall all twelve months of the year, remember how to hold a pair of scissors, or know exactly how to structure a sentence, all because they can instantly map those concepts to our melodies and lyrics.”

For educators, there are few rewards greater than seeing children absorb important skills while genuinely enjoying the process.

“We always knew the theoretical benefits of music on the brain, but seeing it play out in such a literal, practical way is amazing. The kids are absorbing essential life skills while singing and having a blast. It’s the ultimate win-win.”

Redefining What Success Looks Like

Despite their growing audience and expanding platform, success is measured by far more than subscriber counts or streaming numbers. Their approach to music-based learning for kids has resonated far beyond Australian classrooms. While they are grateful for every milestone, they remain focused on the impact their work has on children and families.

“We’re incredibly grateful for every view, stream and subscriber we have, but we also know the algorithmic beast is fickle and not something we can take for granted,” they explain. “For us, real success has been the ability to build a self-sustaining career in the arts.”

More importantly, they see success in the positive experiences their content creates for children.

“Our true success lies in the millions of kids around the world whose lives have been made a little brighter because they enjoyed one of our songs.”

What’s Next: From ABC to World Domination

With ABC now part of their journey, the future looks incredibly exciting. Yet the duo’s ambitions extend well beyond television.

“World domination!” they joke before outlining plans that include publishing, international touring, a dedicated television series and eventually Netflix. “You know, just a few small items on the bucket list.”

Bringing It Home: Simple Ways to Learn Through Play

For parents wondering how to embrace learning through play at home, their advice is reassuringly practical. There is no need for expensive resources, elaborate activities or social-media-worthy setups. Some of the most meaningful experiences come from the simplest moments.

“Music-based learning for kids doesn’t have to stop at the school gate. Play can be as simple as a cardboard box and some crayons, a couple of bedsheets draped over a table, or a quick game of I Spy in the back of the car,” they explain. “Chuck on a song, dance around the living room and find small ways to incorporate play into everyday life.”

It is a philosophy that feels refreshing in a world where parenting advice often comes wrapped in pressure and perfectionism. The message from Pevan & Sarah is far simpler. Learning should be joyful. Play should be accessible. Childhood should include plenty of opportunities to laugh, experiment and occasionally make a mess.

Most importantly, some of the moments children remember forever are not the carefully planned ones. They are the spontaneous dance parties, the cardboard castles, the made-up games and the songs that somehow become the soundtrack to childhood.

For Pevan & Sarah, creating those memories has always been the goal. The fact that so many families have welcomed them into their homes and classrooms along the way is simply the icing on the cake.

For families looking to embrace music-based learning for kids at home, their advice is refreshingly simple.

DISCLAIMER The responses in this article were provided directly by Pevan & Sarah and have been edited for length and clarity. The views and opinions expressed are those of the subjects and do not necessarily reflect the views of Parenthood360.