AUSTA News 2025

Rodney Wikstrom

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Rodney Wikstrom

Session2.2: Using technology in string education

Session: This presentation will focus on what and how to use technology in string education. The use of technology in string teaching can enhance the enjoyment of learning, improve the quality and effectiveness of...


Robert Harris

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Robert Harris

Session 2.6: Cafe Viola: playing and pedagogy with viola ensemble Session: Robert Harris brings his ANZ Viola Society Cafe Viola workshops to AUSTA National, not only to focus our attention on the viola but also to support our middle-voice violist friends in their alto clef endeavours. All attending are encouraged to...


Moirsheen Kelly-Keesing

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Moirsheen Kelly-Keesing

Session 1.5: Suzuki Method in 21st Century Australia

Session: Known for its success around the world, this influential method has developed a great deal over the decades. This lecture/performance includes the following, with a focus on string instruments in modern Australian Suzuki Method:
  • Suzuki philosophy, language acquisition, and creating the environment
  • ...


Miriam Morris

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Miriam Morris

Session 2.5: Making the Switch to a New Instrument

Session: This presentation deals with the challenges of being a multi-instrumentalist, and outlines the differences between the varied musical styles, ranging from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods. The pedagogy of the viol family and its repertoire with...


Lorraine Chai

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Lorraine Chai

Session 3.6: Creating Responsible, Professional Students

Session: In this generation, as educators, we cannot always rely on parents to help students through their practice. Most parents are too busy to remember everything. Students have to learn how to be responsible...


Loreta Fin

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Loreta Fin

Session 1.2: SING and STRING - Teaching Group Beginners Without The Book

How to free up your classroom - no books, no stands, no clutter. This is aimed at Year 2 or 3 beginner classes of mixed instruments and can be used alongside any method...


Laura Case

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Laura Case

Session 3.5: From the Parlour to the Pub; A Social History of the Violin in Australian Society

Session: Since the First Fleet arrived on Australian shores, the violin has been a constant presence in various facets of Australian life....


Laura Carr

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Laura Carr

Session 2.2: Teachers' Toolkit for Early Childhood Teaching

Session Time: Sunday July 3, 12.00

Session: Are you on the lookout for innovative, meaningful and playful ways to engage with your younger learners? If your goals are to nurture, inspire...


Karen North

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Karen North

Session 2.2: “Fun & Games” for String Teachers

Session: Are you looking for new ideas for your Beginner to Grade 3 string students? Or seeking inspiration for fun ways to teach skills such as note reading, fingering and practice...


Karen Kyriakou

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Karen Kyriakou

Session 1.6: Connect & Engage. Inclusive aural activities for the string class

Session: There are many advantages to implementing aural-based games and creative activities in the string class and ensemble; they increase student enjoyment and interaction, they allow students to...


Josephine Vains

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Josephine Vains

Session 3.5: Speaking through music - finding the rhetoric in persuasive musical performance

Session: Josephine is a passionate believer that musicians of all levels can, with a little knowledge of musical language and rhetoric, build on their natural communicative instincts and engage directly with their audiences...


Jeremy Woolstenhulme

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Jeremy Woolstenhulme

Session 1.2: Back to the Basics: Teach and Re-teach

Session 1.5: Ideas for Teaching Group Vibrato in the String Classroom

Session 2.3: Building Rhythm Accuracy in the Orchestra

Session 1.2 (Back to Basics): Reinforcement is the name of the game, no matter the advancement level...


Julie Hewison

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Julie Hewison

AMEB Session One: Consolidating Fundamentals

This session is sponsored by AMEB Julie Hewison, Level 1 syllabus consultant for AMEB’s new Violin syllabus, is presenting a workshop on how the material in the Level 1 books aims to help reinforce and...


Caron Chan

April 6th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Caron Chan

AMEB Session Two: Developing Artistry in the Level 2 Repertoire

This session is sponsored by AMEB In this masterclass Caron Chan, Level 2 syllabus consultant for AMEB’s new Violin syllabus, Chief Strings Examiner for AMEB (NSW), and violinist for Opera...


Workshop in bow-guiding

April 1st, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Workshop in bow-guiding

Presenter: Yvonne Frye  In this workshop participants will experience very practically, how to established a balanced bow hand (violin) by manual work of the teacher. In an almost physiotherapist way of working, we will look into different supporting grips. With the help of those grips, the student will be able...


Teaching Boys and Girls, do they Learn Differently?

April 1st, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Teaching Boys and Girls, do they Learn Differently?

Presenter: Yvonne Frye This lecture brings to the focus the question:  when boys and girls learn differently, how should the teaching strategies be changed? We will have a look into the different brain structure and also how hormones effect learning. Often, educational institutions are more...


Musical Talent – What is it?

April 1st, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Musical Talent – What is it?

Presenter: Yvonne Frye The word talent in music is sometimes used with very fixed ideas of what it is. Often labels are put to children in classes: talented – not so talented. But music ability is consisting of so many different layers like deliberate practice, an...


Ibby Mikajlo

March 30th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Ibby Mikajlo

Lyndall Hendrickson: multi-sensory pedagogue

Session: Australian concert violinist, Lyndall Hendrickson AM (1917 - 2017) was a developer of multi-sensory teaching methods. Her career included achievements as a concert violinist, war-time performer, commercial artist, violin instructor, lecturer, journalist, and teacher of...


Heather Lander

March 30th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Heather Lander

  Session: As a teacher I encourage students to engage in improvisation and composition. This presentation will feature ways in which I include improvisation in my lessons and how I have used this as a basis for students to compose their own works. From using this process,...


Fintan Murphy

March 30th, 2022 by AUSTA Conference

Fintan Murphy

 Developing Rhythm in Solo Playing and String Ensembles

AMEB Session 3: Approaching New Repertoire

Session (Developing Rhythm in Solo Playing and String Ensembles): Good rhythm depends on fluent, coordinated string playing, good musicianship and aural skills. Preparing...