Music Teachers' Association
of New South Wales

Tuesday 22nd January 2019, 9am-5pm

Newcastle Conservatorium of Music

Laman St, Newcastle

Belgian pianist and pedagogue, Gilbert De Greeve leads a day of seminars and workshops in Newcastle for music teachers and students. Investigating the importance of profound score analysis in both seminar and question forum, Gilbert will also mentor singers in workshops on the performance of lieder, collaborative pianists in accompaniment workshops and solo pianists in repertoire from various exam syllabi.

Private lessons are also available for students and their teachers.

Tickets available online: www.trybooking.com/ZQVR

Rod MacFarlane Workshop

FEES: $40 MTA & UMTA MEMBERS and $55 NON-MEMBERS
The MTA acknowledges the generous sponsorship of Rod and Nola MacFarlane.

Rod MacFarlane will present a range of comprehensive and interesting repertoire from P Plate Piano through to Grade 8, working from both the grade books and Piano for Leisure as well as works from the Manual list. He will also discuss many of his own pieces which will pique the interest of teachers and widen the repertoire for students.

A passionate piano teacher and performer Rod is a represented Associate Artist with the Australian Music Centre and has over 20 years teaching experience at all levels in both individual and group situations, as well as adjudicating eisteddfods and competitions. He
has also presented workshops for teachers and students in Australia and New Zealand.

The holder of diplomas from both AMEB and Trinity College, Rod’s published works include Piano Fun 1, 2, and 3, Music my Way, Piano Fun for Beginners 1 and 2 and Piano Fun Studies, all published by EMI, which company also commissioned him to write answer books for Dulcie Holland’s Grades 4 and 5 Theory.

Morning tea will be provided with delicious home made cakes. Bring your grade books and come and enjoy the discussion!

Saturday 9th March, 10:30am-1:30pm

Newcastle Conservatorium of Music

Laman St, Newcastle

International Vocal Expert, Robin de Hass is based in Switzerland and will be in Newcastle to present a workshop and masterclass in vocal production and the functional anatomy of breath support.

To participate in this workshop, please contact Michael Power, michael.power@live.com.au

Observer tickets: www.trybooking.com/ZQVR

Cathy Aggett Workshop

Fee: $40 MTA & UMTA members and $55 non-members
The MTA acknowledges the generous sponsorship of Pamela Hinde

This session will offer performers and teachers strategies for learning and teaching Australian Classical piano repertoire. As performers and teachers, it is always tempting to only learn and teach repertoire with which we and audiences are familiar. Performing repertoire that is less well known can be seen to be a risk when programming a concert or including it in any performance program.

Unfortunately, Australian repertoire often fits into that category. Australian piano works that are listed in various teaching syllabi will be presented, along with Larry Sitsky’s collection for piano, “Century” as a means of demystifying the process of learning and teaching unfamiliar repertoire. Participants will be given the opportunity to try the practical strategies during the workshop, with discussion following activities to consolidate people’s experiences. Accessing resources online, especially recordings, has become the norm when both selecting new repertoire and preparing it for performance. Australian piano repertoire is often in the categories of less or unknown, forcing those interested in a work to purchase a copy of the score without fully knowing what it will sound like.

The body of available recordings of Australian piano repertoire is always growing, but many works remain unrecorded and at times,
available only as handwritten scores.

Participants will be given a comprehensive handout of the strategies used and discussed, with available resources listed to assist them on their (possibly new) exploration of Australian piano repertoire.

Following the workshop the 2019 Annual General Meeting will be held.  Afternoon tea will be served prior to the meeting.

The 2019 Annual General Meeting will be held immediately following the Professional Development Session “Strategies for Learning and Teaching Australian Classical Piano Repertoire” with Dr Cathy Aggett.

Afternoon tea will be served.

The Wendy Ireland Award

for young cellists

Saturday 25th May, 10am

Newcastle Conservatorium of Music

Laman St, Newcastle

The Newcastle Branch is proud to present the inaugural Wendy Ireland award for young cellists in 2019. Wendy Ireland was a leading Australian teacher, pedagogue, cellist and composer who devoted much of her career to the teaching of young musicians in Newcastle, many alumni who are now in significant music positions and orchestras around the world. Wendy developed successful programs at the Newcastle Conservatorium, Newcastle Grammar School and more recently at Queenwood School for Girls.

Competitors are required to present two contrasting works in a live, public audition, and must be 18 years or younger at the time of performance (recommended minimum 5th grade or equivalent). Audience attendance is free.

Competitor Registrations: www.trybooking.com/ZQVR

MTA NSW Piano Scholarships

sponsored by the Newcastle Branch

Saturday 17th August 2019, 10am to 1pm

Harold Lobb Concert Hall, Newcastle Conservatorium of Music

Laman St, Newcastle

The Piano Scholarships include the awarding of both the Nan Price Memorial Scholarship and the Joyce Blewitt Award, providing two competitive sections for young pianists. Nan Price was a renowned pianist, teacher and examiner who performed often as an accompanist and was an exceptional sight-reader. A graduate of the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Price went on to teach at the Conservatorium of Music in Newcastle, having lived there as a child. Following the establishment of Newcastle’s branch of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW, Price conducted numerous workshops and masterclasses for the association, which were highly sought after amongst the music community. Her explicit teaching and high standards were key to the success of the workshops. Price was also well-respected for her expertise in performing works by Beethoven. In Price’s legacy, the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW (Newcastle Branch) established an annual award in her name, awarding over twenty successful recipients since her passing. Alumni of the award include pianists Frances Ross, Michael Power, William Cesta and Nicholas Kennedy who have all gone on to pursue careers in music. In 2019, The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW is proud to present the piano scholarships as part of the Newcastle Music Festival program. Details of the two divisions and performance requirements are available via the Newcastle Music Festival and MTA NSW websites. The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW will welcome a guest pianist, Maria Raspopova to adjudicate the competition and announce the award winners for 2019. Attendance is free and all members of the public are welcome.

For entrant registration, visit: www.trybooking.com/ZQVR
For more information, contact Michael Power (michael.power@live.com.au)

Music Teacher Festival

Saturday 12th October, 9am-5pm

Hunter Valley Grammar School

Norfolk St, Ashtonfield (East Maitland)

Upskill your teaching and join a number of guest presenters who will lead hands on workshops, forums and seminars in repertoire, pedagogy and industry specific topics for the instrumental music teacher.

Save the date! Program details and online registration information to follow.

Registrations will be available online: www.trybooking.com/ZQVR