Stephen Chin

Scales for Violinists and Violists – Creating and Building Relevance

In this presentation, I will be exploring the concept of the nurturing aspects of scales, including body memory and how various aspects of technique, relevant temperaments, musicianship and expression can be developed. Publications including those of Geminiani (1751), the Franco-Belgian School through to Flesch, Galamian, and more recent offerings will be briefly reviewed. The notion of using scales to build a technique and also choosing scales relevant to current repertoire will be examined.

Please feel free to bring your instrument for a fun hands on experience.

About Stephen Chin

As a founding member of the Sydney Youth Orchestra, Stephen’s interest and enthusiasm for music led him to undertake formal training at Sydney University in both violin and composition with John Harding and Peter Sculthorpe respectively.  Stephen also attained a Master of Music from Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University, under the tutelage of Michele Walsh, specialising in violin performance and pedagogy. Stephen has been invited to perform with such groups as The ABC Sinfonia, The Badinerie Players, The Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, The Queensland Symphony Orchestra, The Queensland Pops Orchestra and a number of professional chamber ensembles. He is also an examiner for the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB).

Under the banner of Everything String Pty Ltd, Stephen publishes a number of string compositions and arrangements which have been used as test pieces for a number of competitions throughout Australia. Notably, in both 2015 and 2016, Stephen was commissioned by the NSW Arts Education Unit to write works for several Sydney Opera House performances involving eight thousand primary age musicians throughout NSW.  As a gesture of good will and to promote strong international relations, Everything String has also donated music to a number of international organisations such as Serendip (Sri Lanka), the Ghana String Project and the Yew Chung International School (Hong Kong).

Stephen’s compositions and arrangements are presented as examination pieces in the in the AMEB books for violin, viola cello and double bass. He has been invited many times to adjudicate various eisteddfods and competitions throughout Australia. He is also in demand as a string and orchestral clinician, regularly conducting a number of workshops and festivals both nationally and internationally. From 2013 – 2015, Stephen lectured in String Pedagogy and Practicum at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University and was the conductor of the BEL faculty Chamber Orchestra 2008 – 2013 at the University of Queensland. He has also written articles for journals such as The Strad and Stringendo. Stephen was the Queensland State President of The Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) 2011 – 13 and National President for AUSTA 2014 – 2016. As a Past National President of AUSTA, Stephen continues to be involved in the Consultation Committee and is the International Tour Organiser. In 2022, Stephen was awarded the National Award by the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) in recognition for an outstanding contribution to the string community throughout Australia.  This award is given only once every three years. Presently, he is Principal String Teacher and Director of Orchestras at Brisbane Grammar School.