Inaugural Autumn Piano School

Piano+ and the New England Conservatorium of Music invite pianists of all ages and skill nationally, to participate in the inaugural Autumn Piano School, a new five-day program to be held at the New England Conservatorium of Music in Armidale from 17 to 21 April 2024. Enrolments are now open until March 31 or until courses reach capacity.

Six streams are on offer: Beginner and Junior streams, Intermediate and Advance Streams, and an Adult Amateur Stream, with all ages welcome and enrolment based on skill level. There is also a specialist Pedagogy course for studio piano teachers, with a series of lectures and workshops that focus on the method and practice of teaching.

Leading piano teachers from around the country will provide one-to-one-lessons, workshops and masterclasses, sharing their expertise and highlights from their careers.

Specialist teachers include:
• Dr James Cuskelly OAM an Immediate Past President of the International Kodály Society and Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland (School of Education). He is internationally recognised for his ability to enthuse and educate students of all ages and has led teachertraining programs around the world.
• Samantha Coates an internationally regarded piano pedagogue and presenter, and well known as the creator and publisher of the music education series BlitzBooks.
• Dr Bernadette Harvey a renowned Australian solo pianist, chamber musician and master teacher at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, NSW.

All teenage and adult participants will be invited to perform in daily recitals, while primary-school aged children will get to perform in their own concert. Three public evening concerts will also be held, each presenting one of our internationally acclaimed performer-teachers.

Studio piano teachers who join the Pedagogy stream will learn from outstanding Australian pianists, piano pedagogues and music educators. This school is also an opportunity for teachers to connect with colleagues to share teaching techniques and experiences. Early career teachers and music students interested in becoming studio teachers are especially welcome.

The dedicated Beginner and Junior streams provide one-on-one and group classes led by instructors who specialise in teaching young children. Morning sessions will cover a variety of different activities, including Kodaly and Orff methods, Music Theory and small-group performance classes.

Accompanying parents and guardians are invited to observe all classes for free. For pianists seeking to refine their skills and excel in examinations, Intermediate and Advanced Streams will challenge and inspire. If you’re looking to study music at a tertiary level, this course is an invaluable opportunity to meet and learn from several of Australia’s leading tertiary piano teachers all in the one place.

The Adult Amateur Stream is suited to adult pianists who play for leisure. Daily workshops will cater to all levels of playing in a friendly and supportive environment.

The Autumn Piano School is open for enrolments until March 31 and features course-only packages. At conclusion all participants will receive a Participation Certificate. Class numbers for the six streams are limited: Pedagogy – 25, Beginner – 22, Junior – 40, Intermediate – 30, Advanced – 12 and Adult Amateur – 8.

For more information on courses visit pianoplus.com.au
For Enrolment Enquiries and Course Information please phone Piano+ 02 9241 3291 or email jen@pianoplus.com.au