AUSTA NTH QLD

AUSTA NTH QLD News 2026

Stop Nagging, Start Teaching

April 10th, 2026 by Laura Carr

Fix Bow Holds Without the Burnout

We have all been there. You started teaching because you are passionate about the violin, but six weeks into a new term with a group of energetic beginners, you realise you have spent 90% of your time stuck on repeat. You do all the voices: kind, gentle, funny: trying to curb your inner frustration....

2026 AUSTA VIC Reading Day – Review

April 4th, 2026 by Prudence Jury

AUSTA VIC Reading Day 2026

Our 2026 Reading Day was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and explore a wide range of repertoire for string players and ensembles. It was fantastic to see such strong attendance (including five double basses!), with teachers sharing ideas, discovering new works, and engaging in thoughtful discussion throughout...

Instrumental Music Specialist- Sunshine Coast Grammar School

March 10th, 2026 by Cara Taggart

Sunshine Coast Grammar School is currently seeking experienced Instrumental Music Specialists to join our team of tutors. Situated in the heart of Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Grammar School is a leading independent, Christian co-educational school providing outstanding contemporary education from Prep to Year 12. Our vibrant music program is an important part of school life, and we are committed...

Austa NSW String Ensemble Reading Day 2026

February 27th, 2026 by Sandi Oh

🎻AUSTA NSW STRING ENSEMBLE READING DAY 2026

Remembering Lyndal Edmiston

January 29th, 2026 by Celia Egerton

11 February 1933 – 26 November 2025

With the passing of Lyndal Edmiston, Australia farewells one of its most quietly influential musicians, a devoted teacher and a compassionate advocate whose life shaped generations of young musicians. Born in 1933, Lyndal grew up in St Lucia, Brisbane, where she...

String Note Tutor and String Position Pro

January 11th, 2026 by Lachlan Dent

Gimmick-free apps that support teaching and home practice for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass.

“Is there an app for that?” was the question I so frequently encountered from parents when discussing fingerboard mapping and note reading. In other words, they recognised the need for daily reinforcement of what had been covered in the lesson, but felt they lacked the...

Lower Strings Specialist (Cello, Double Bass) Wanted Sunshine Coast

January 6th, 2026 by Cara Taggart

Sunshine Coast Grammar School is hiring Casual/Vacation   The position is on payroll 3 hours per week for immersion and an ensemble, and then there are around 15 private students needing lessons as well, all 30 mins each. In total, around 1.5-2 days, with the private teaching days being flexible.   Lower Strings (Cello, Double Bass): We have a vacancy for a Lower Strings Specialist...

Celebrate AUSTA’s Birthday with Music – and Win Fantastic Prizes!

November 4th, 2025 by Cara Taggart

As part of our AUSTA Birthday celebrations, we’re excited to launch the AUSTA Birthday Video Challenge – a fun, creative way for string players across Australia to share their music and connect with our vibrant national community of string educators and performers.

This challenge invites players of all levels to record a short performance...

Quintessentially Queensland: String Repertoire That Celebrates Our Unique Soundscape

November 4th, 2025 by Cara Taggart

In celebration of 50 years of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA), the AUSTA Q committee and six of Queensland’s most esteemed composers have come together to create a truly special gift for our members — a collection of new works titled Quintessentially Queensland.

This commemorative project honours AUSTA’s half-century...

Customizing Exercises on MusicTheory.net

October 24th, 2025 by Cara Taggart

Customizing exercises on MusicTheory.net is an excellent way to tailor practice sessions to specific learning goals, whether you're a student honing your skills or a teacher crafting targeted assignments. The Exercise Customizer tool allows you to create permanent links to personalized exercises, which can be particularly beneficial for reinforcing concepts in a focused manner.

1. Access the Exercise Customizer

    ...

AUSTA National Executive Committee 2025 AGM

October 17th, 2025 by Cara Taggart

The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Strings Association Limited (AUSTA) will be held on Wednesday November 19 at 8.00 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time.   Notice is hereby given that the 2025 Annual General Meeting will be held online via Google Meet on Wednesday November 19 at 8:00 pm AEDT.   Members who would like to participate should contact Cara (AUSTA National...

Find the Emotional Connection

September 1st, 2025 by Soon Hee Newbold

As the school year draws to a close, daily routines, tests, and rehearsals for upcoming concerts will no doubt take up the majority of our time and thoughts. It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae of everything, so I’d like to present a few thoughts on finding the emotional connection with music—and remembering why we love what...

How to Maximise Resonance of Tone with Minimum Effort – Frances Gall

July 29th, 2025 by Frances Gall

At the recent AUSTA National Conference, I had the pleasure of sharing a presentation that explored the many insights I’ve gathered over the years on the art and technique of bowing. Throughout my journey as a violinist and violist, I’ve been fortunate to learn from inspiring mentors such as Kato Havas, Shinichi Suzuki, Fintan Murphy, Janet Mason—who...

Empowered Note Reading – Angela Harman

July 24th, 2025 by Cara Taggart

If you haven’t yet discovered the brilliance of Angela Harman’s work, you’re in for a treat. Angela is widely known for her innovative, classroom-tested strategies that make string teaching more engaging, effective, and joyful. In today’s post, she dives into one of the most vital—and sometimes overlooked—skills for young musicians: note reading. With her signature blend of practicality...

App-solutely Essential: TechTools for the Instrumental Music Classroom

July 10th, 2025 by Cara Taggart