CONCERT NEWS: ​ The end of semester 1 concert was a wonderful success, with some students performing for the very first time. It was great to hear the achievements of the young group class students along with students who have been learning for many years now. Well done to all! A highlight was the group singing item which was the first time students have come together to perform as a choir. An African folk tune in 3-part harmony was chosen, which students learnt their parts for individually in lessons and then sang together on the day. A wonderful presentation, I look forward to planning the next singing item for the end of year concert - please save the date Sunday December 2, at 4pm.

AMEB CORNER: I am pleased to report the following students successfully passed their exams (July 2017-June 2018) with great results!  ​ Alex - Grade 6 Traditional (B) Vivian - Grade 5 Leisure (A+) Josephine - Grade 5 Leisure (B+) Alex - Grade 5 Leisure (B+) ​Rachel - Grade 5 Leisure (B) Jordan - Grade 5 Leisure (C+) Harriet - Grade 4 Leisure (B+) Armaan - Grade 3 Leisure (B) Jack D - Grade 3 Leisure (A) Kashi - Grade 3 Leisure (A) Ashleigh - Grade 3 Leisure (A) Dylan - Grade 3 Leisure (B+) Daniel - Grade 1 Leisure (B)

RACHAEL’S NOTES ​Composition.. for those who enjoy creating their own sounds at the piano, or using programs such as GarageBand to create their own music.  One of my students, Jordan, had the opportunity to take a lesson in the last term break with Melbourne pianist/composer Nat Bartsch, who recently released her latest album Forever, and No Time At All (available for streaming on Soundcloud and Spotify). It is my new favourite go-to album for relaxation!  ​ In this lesson Jordan took along some of the melodic motifs he had been working on, along with some chord progressions he had created. Nat was able to provide suggestions as to where to go next with these ideas.

​Jordan came away with many new ideas to try and when asked what was the highlight of the experience, said that it helped him learn to create new pieces, build on ideas, and made him realise his skills as a composer. My personal highlight was hearing Jordan improvise melodies while Nat accompanied him using the riff of one of her compositions! I am very keen to offer opportunities like this to students who are interested, and to provide masterclasses with other teachers so that students can experience feedback from other teachers, an important experience in learning. If you are interested in participating in something like this please let me know and I can plan an event.​​​

CONCERT NEWS: ​ The end-semester concert will be held on Sunday June 18 at 4pm at the Kew East Uniting Church, 142 Normanby Rd Kew East (there is ample street parking). ​ If you would like to play 1-2 favourite pieces of your choice, please RSVP with the $10 participation fee and the names of your favourite pieces by Saturday June 3. ​​

AMEB CORNER: I am pleased to report the following students successfully passed their exams with great results! Congratulations to all involved. Alexandra - Grade 6 Traditional (B) Maella – Grade 6 Leisure (B+) Jack - Grade 4 Traditional (A) Ithara - Grade 4 Leisure (A) Ashnela - Grade 3 Leisure (B+) Ethan - Grade 3 Leisure (B+) Dylan - Grade 2 Leisure (A) Kashi - Grade 2 Leisure (A)

RACHAEL’S NOTES ​With many students enrolling yearly for exams I thought it would be a good idea to re-visit the purpose of these as part of overall music tuition. Exams can provide useful external feedback as to how students are going across a range of musical areas (technical development of scales and posture at the piano; playing of repertoire pieces with increasing technical challenges, and including overall musicality and expression; sight-reading; aural skills; and general knowledge of music related to the composition and theoretical aspects of pieces played). However, I strongly feel that exams should only be secondary to the goals of learning music. After all, the point of learning is firstly to ENJOY music! And also to develop a range of musical skills through learning and understanding a wide variety of pieces/musical styles, which is underpinned by theoretical knowledge, and a secure technique.

​​​It can be easy to get bogged down with perfecting the three pieces chosen to present at exams. However, if other pieces aren't also learnt during the preparation for exams, the overall goal of learning music is hindered. Without regularly working on new material, students are not working on reading new notes and developing knowledge of, and the ability to master, new skills/styles. And of course, they are probably not enjoying the endless repetition of those 3 pieces! I have created a cycle (below) that I feel sums up how learning music works: regular Practice (meaning minimum 5 days a week!) leads to Achievement of skills; providing the Progress that then Motivates you to Practice more! And so on.. This being so, for those who wish to sit exams, a commitment to thorough preparation of all areas is required in order to attain a good result - so be sure to include scale practice, sight-reading, theory, and listening to professional recordings as part of your daily music practice!

CONCERT NEWS: ​ The end-year concert will be held on Sunday December 4 at 4pm at the Kew East Uniting Church. If you would like to play 1-2 favourite pieces of your choice, please RSVP with the $10 participation fee by Mon 31 Oct. ​ Let's celebrate a fun year of learning!

AMEB CORNER: I am pleased to report the following students successfully passed their exams with great results! Congratulations to all involved. Anna – Grade 2 Leisure (A) Shwen – Grade 3 Leisure (A) Josephine - Grade 4 Traditional (A) Alexander - Grade 4 Leisure (A) Vivian - Grade 4 Leisure (A) Nicholas - Grade 3 Leisure (A) and Theory of Music Grade 2 (95%) Darius - Grade 3 Leisure (A) Harriet - Grade 3 Leisure (B+) Atara - Grade 2 Leisure (B+) Ethan - Grade 2 Leisure (A) Jack - Grade 2 Leisure (A)

RACHAEL’S NOTES ​ ​As your child is progressing it may be time to  consider what instrument they are developing their skills on.. while a keyboard is a great start for their first 2 years, and a digital piano (with weighted keys) is a great tool to advance their technique as they move into AMEB level 1-2 exams, if your child has goals to continue learning piano at the grade 3+ levels, it may be time to consider upgrading to an acoustic piano. The feel of the keys is considerably different and allows a greater range of tone and expression, as well as sounding full and rich!

​Of course there are other considerations when purchasing a piano, such as placement on an internal wall away from drafts and heating ducts, the acoustics of the room (if you have wooden floors you may need to consider adding furnishings such as rugs to absorb the sound), and the need for tuning (every 1-2 years for maintenance). There are some reputable second hand dealers who sell on high quality instruments that are in great condition - and sometimes an older Japanese built piano will be a better investment than a brand new piano constructed elsewhere. Please speak to Rachael if you would like any further information.

CONCERT NEWS: ​ The mid-year concert was a great success with 16 performers.  The next concert will be scheduled for the end of Term 4. During Term 3, think about how you can encourage your child to 'practice' performing - in informal scenarios - to help build up their confidence. This may include playing for friends, family members, at a school assembly or soiree, or a masterclass. Positive experiences of performances go a long way towards reducing nerves around formal exams and concerts!

AMEB CORNER: I am pleased to report the following students successfully passed their exams in Term 2 with great results! Congratulations to all involved for their hard work and preparation. Armaan – Grade 3 Leisure (B+) Liam – Grade 3 Leisure (A) Exam Session 5 (3 Oct – 13 Nov) *If you become aware of a clash in the period e.g. camp, scheduled school exam, or excursion, please contact the AMEB immediately as rescheduling fees apply once exams have been scheduled.

RACHAEL’S NOTES ​ ​As your child progresses, have you considered how much time to dedicate to musical learning each week? As pieces become longer and the technical requirements increase, the amount of time required for daily practice also increases. On average I recommend on 5 days of the week: Preliminary - 20 mins ​Grade 1 - 25 mins Grade 2 - 30 mins Grade 3 - 40 mins Grade 4 - 50 mins Grade 5 - 60 mins. It is a good idea to split practice time into 15-20 minute chunks to maximise productivity, and remember to include time for theory, sight-reading, and listening to recordings of pieces and other piano works to develop musical style.

CURRENT LISTENING: ​Did you know that you can access recordings of the AMEB works online in iTunes? Perfect for purchasing single recordings of pieces that you may be learning from alternate books! Search under "AMEB Leisure" and discover even more fun pieces, such as 2 of my favourite ragtime style pieces Jelly Bean Rag, and Ragtime on the Typewriter. All available for just $1.69 per track.

CONCERT NEWS: ​ The mid-year concert will be happening again at the end of Term 2. If you would like to participate please register your interest by the end of May. ​Concerts are a great opportunity to share pieces, have a ‘practice performance’ before an exam, or simply to enjoy hearing some new music! Concert date: Sunday June 19, 3.30pm Venue: Kew East Uniting Church, ​142 Normanby Rd Kew East Participation fee: $10 ​​

AMEB CORNER: I am pleased to report the following students successfully passed their exams this term with great results! Congratulations to all involved for their hard work and preparation. Ithara – Grade 3 Leisure (B+) Jack – Grade 3 Traditional (A) Alexandra – Grade 5 Traditional (A) Exam Session 4 (8 Aug– 3 Sept): book by 28 May Exam Session 5 (3 Oct – 13 Nov): book by 16 July *If you are aware of a clash in the period e.g. camp, scheduled school exam, excursion, please let Rachael know prior to booking so a ​Dates to Avoid form can be filled out.

RACHAEL’S NOTES ​ HAPPY PIANO DAY!! Yes, I’m serious! There actually is such a day…held on the 88th day of the year (can you guess why?), this new international holiday was founded by young German composer Nils Frahm in 2015. Piano Day aims to promote piano-playing across all musical genres, transcending culture, age, and ability. ​In Melbourne an event was held at Bennett's Lane Jazz Club with 4 pianists playing original solo piano music. Entry was by donation to supportEntertainment Assist, an organisation supporting the mental health of Australian entertainment industry workers.

CURRENT LISTENING: ​Melbourne pianist Luke Howard’s new solo piano EP “Forgotten Postcards” is out on 1631 Recordings. A collection of ambient piano music, the perfect antidote to a stressed day! ​ One of my all-time favourite albums is Luke Howard's inaugural solo release "Sun, Cloud" that was long-listed for the 2013 Australian Music Prize. Drawing upon a minimalist approach, the music conjures "rich, cinematic soundscapes".  His newly released album "Two Places" continues his exploration of piano, strings and electronic music. ​