AUSTA NSW Double Bass Day

Sunday 17th September, 2.30 pm – 5.30pm

Santa Sabina College
90 The Boulevarde, Strathfield NSW

An afternoon of inspiration, workshops and masterclasses for double bass players.
Kees Boersma and Alex Henery from the Sydney Conservatorium and the Sydney Symphony lead the learning: Improve your playing … learn now!

Program (draft)
2.30 pm Technique Workshops
3.15 pm Masterclasses
4 pm Afternoon Tea Break
4.20 pm Double Bass Ensemble rehearsal
5 pm Final Performance(s)

ONLINE REGISTRATION HERE

String Seminars at the King’s school 2023

Presented by Dr Goetz Richter, AM.
Goetz is Associate Professor at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and President of the NSW chapter of AUSTA

Each seminar includes a masterclass with three performers, followed by a presentation and discussion focussing on the evening’s topic and any ideas arising from the masterclass. This interactive series is for players, teachers, and parents who want to improve their teaching and learning strategies, support their students, explore the playing of strings, and to share and learn about the journey of music teaching and playing.

1. Tuesday 8th August, 6:30pm- Foundations of String Playing – Streaming link will be sent on the day if selected. 

2. Tuesday 5th September, 6:30pm- Developing technique efficiently 

3. Tuesday 17th October, 6:30pm- Preparing for Performance 

4. Tuesday 14th November, 6:30pm Motivation and Practice 

The King’s School Music Department
87-129 Pennant Hills Road,
North Parramatta.

Enter via The King’s School Main Entrance on Pennant Hills Road.
Continue straight past first roundabout, then take slight left into the large carpark at the second roundabout. The Music School is the large grey building adjacent to the carpark. Walk around to the front for the entrance.

The Austa NSW String Festival gives young players the opportunity to perform in friendly, non-competitive and supportive environment. Participants are invited to play one piece either solo or with an accompanist to the best of their ability. Performers will play one by one in a small group with other players of a similar age and ability.

Unlike an eisteddfod there are no section winners and no first or second places. All participants will leave with a Certificate of Participation, a trophy and an adjudicators report. Each session is expected to take around 45-60 minutes. Hugely popular and successful event for Austa (NSW)… book early!

Instrumental Workshops for players, teachers and parents of all ages

Presented by Dr Goetz Richter, AM.

Goetz is Associate Professor at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and President of the NSW Chapter of AUSTA

To access your FREE AUSTA MEMBER LIVE STREAM access to these workshops, visit the MEMBERS ONLY SECTION HERE.

Saturday 4th November, 2:00 – 3:30pm: Motivation and Practice….. really… do I have to?

This workshop explores an interactive dialogue about a mysterious topic: individual practice! Why do we do it? Is it necessary? Why do teachers insist on it? Could we enjoy it? Is it effective and if so why and how?Pedagogy insists that it is a game changer- Carl Flesch famously says that 80% of students’ challenges would be met if students only practiced properly. Fritz Kreisler thinks practice can be dangerous and too much can be bad for you. Students find it hard to figure it out consistently. So, what needs to go on in practice to make it work? Goetz will explore this topic as comprehensively as possible in dialogue with students and teachers. Students: please bring instruments and prepare some music (half a page) of something that you find boring or impossible…. I want us to end up with something very useful and immediately productive in response. No one will leave without ideas for improvement … money back guarantee…

Saturday 4th November, 3:45 – 5:15pm: Developing Technique Efficiently

So, what then is Technique? We are supposed to have a good one. But when we invoke “technique” it does rather sound like we are supposed to be robots that produce stuff quickly and efficiently, flamboyantly and successfully. What is the point of that when music is human and all about feeling?

In this workshop I want to introduce a concept of technique as condition and fitness (rather like sports…) and suggest that our aim is to play (not produce). If technique, actually, is our fitness to play we might need to learn it in a quite specific way, think about it with particular awareness (as condition, rather than tool) and consider in turn more carefully why playing is disrupted and our (analytic) consciousness might interfere when we think of ourselves as producing performance. (PS. For those wondering whether this is rather abstract… there will be plenty of examples of useful and quick exercises for players to wake up and get attention flying…for all instruments, including erhu and ukele…)

From New England Conservatorium of Music, Armidale, NSW

Free Attendance for AUSTA Members on Zoom

To access your FREE AUSTA MEMBER LIVE STREAM access to these workshops, visit the MEMBERS ONLY SECTION HERE.