Category: Uncategorized

Here are the group lesson and concert dates for Term 4:

Tuesday 27th October, 4.30 to 5.30pm – Violin group lesson
Tuesday 17th November, 4.45 to 6pm – Concert for everyone, violin & piano,
followed by dinner at Nep Vietnamese restaurant, Castlemaine
Tuesday 8th December, 4.30 to 6pm – Group lesson/party for everyone

TERM 4 is from 5 October to 11 December (10 weeks)
I will be teaching on request from 14 to 18 Dec, this will be charged separately.

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List of violin & piano review pieces – to be advised
Book 1: Twinkle to Perp.Motion, Allegretto, Minuet 3, Happy Farmer
Book 2: Chorus, Hunters Chorus, Mignon Gavotte
Book 3: Gavotte in G minor, Humoresque, Becker Gavotte
Book 4+: Vivaldi A minor -3rd movt, Perpetual Motion
Celtic folk tunes: Tripping Up the Stairs, Teddy Creighton’s Step Dance
(See Music Performances and Scores)

Piano duets, for all piano students – dates to be advised

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Lesson schedule
Mondays
4.00 pm Lisa
4.30 pm Vivien
5.00 pm Jude (20 mins)
5.30 pm Abigail & Carlee (45 mins)

Tuesdays (afternoon lessons changed to Thursdays, or as arranged, on Group Lesson weeks)
10.00 am Sophie
4.15 pm Isabelle (45 mins)
5.00 pm Jaantje
5.30 pm Jesse (1 hour)

Wednesdays
9.30 am Manny, Noah and Liz (90 mins fortnightly)
11.00 am Vivienne (60 mins)
12 pm Ada (dates as arranged)
1.30 pm Kitty (45 mins)
3.30 pm Tate
4.00 pm Alex (45 mins)
4.45 pm Elsie (45 mins)
5.30 pm Perryn

Zoha – by arrangement

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Violin group lessons & Piano duets
Group lessons are
– for all violin students
– usually two Tuesday afternoons a term, 4.30 to 5.30 pm
– at Buda Garden Room, 42 Hunter St, Castlemaine
Piano duets are
– for all piano students
– take place in the normal lesson time of one of the students in the duet
– one week in each term is piano duet week

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How to purchase recordings
Audio recordings of Suzuki repertoire can be purchased in many different formats from Alfred Publishing

https://www.alfred.com/suzuki-method/suzuki-audio-downloads/

Some YouTube performances are good, please ask in lessons. However I don’t recommend Spotify.

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How to listen to recordings
Just listen to the recording of the whole book, no decision to make
or Current piece
or Current piece plus two before
or Current piece plus two after

Start listening to the next book when about halfway through the previous book.
Active listening and passive listening are both valuable so mix it up!
Active listening – moderate volume, listening for style, maybe following the score. This is recommended too when you have access to different performances.
Passive listening – low volume, you can carry on a conversation easily, it’s in the background. Choose a good recording and listen to the same recording.

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Zoom lessons
In-person lessons should be replaced with Zoom online lessons whenever anyone (including me) has cold or flu symptoms. Please try to give 24 hours notice regarding a switch to Zoom. Please update Zoom and use an external microphone for proper immersive online lessons. Audio settings must be musicians’ settings (otherwise I can’t hear your music!).

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Here’s where you find the most up-to-date news plus other important information.

Group lessons for violin students (Books 1-5 and primary school age) are in March.
The dates are: Tuesday 10th March and Tuesday 24th March.
See below in this News for more info.
Please review – Book 1, Twinkle to P.Motion, Etude, Happy Farmer, Gossec Gavotte.
Book 2: Hunters’ Chorus, Waltz, Lully Gavotte in A minor
Book 3: Bach Minuets, Gavotte in G minor
Book 4: Vivaldi A minor concerto, 1st movt
Folk tunes: Lannigan’s Ball (new version), Top of Cork Rd, Tripping Up the Stairs

The 2026 Suzuki International Festival is in Glen Waverley from 16th to 18th April, plus registration and opening play-in on the afternoon of Wed 15 April.
The closing date to register is Sunday 22nd February.

This is an international Suzuki festival, it will be excellent for inspiration and education. Learn from fantastic local, national and international teachers. Meet up with old friends and make new ones from the Suzuki music family.

There’s lots of info at https://suzukimusic.org.au/international-suzuki-festival-2026/
– and from that webpage you can join the Festival Facebook page for updates.

Sunday 22 February – Closing date for enrolments
Sunday 1 March – Closing date for ensemble auditions
There will be ensemble concerts like last year’s ensemble concert. We could form an ensemble if three or more students attend the Festival.

Other news:
Resonance String Orchestra is having a Big String Day on the morning of Saturday 28th March.
It’s a single half-day event, highly recommended, at Castlemaine Town Hall. When you register, you get the music to learn before you go (bring to your lesson!), to have the best experience on the day playing in a large string group.
https://events.humanitix.com/big-string-day-with-resonance-string-orchestra

Lesson schedule
Mondays
4.00 pm Lisa
4.30 pm Vivien
5.00 pm Jude
5.30 pm Abigail & Carlee (45 mins)

Tuesdays (afternoon lessons changed to Thursdays on Group Lesson weeks)
10.00 am Sophie
1.25 pm Gwen (fortnightly)
4.15 pm Isabelle (45 mins)
5.00 pm Jaantje

Wednesdays
11.00 am Vivienne (60 mins)
1.30 pm Kitty
3.30 pm Manny (or 10.30 am)
4.00 pm Alex (45 mins)
4.45 pm Elsie (45 mins)
5.30 pm Perryn

Zoha – by arrangement

Group Lessons in 2025
Group lessons are
– for violin students in Books 1-5
– two Tuesday afternoons a term, 4.30 to 5.30 pm
– at Buda Garden Room, 42 Hunter St, Castlemaine

How to purchase recordings
Audio recordings of Suzuki repertoire can be purchased in many different formats from Alfred Publishing

https://www.alfred.com/suzuki-method/suzuki-audio-downloads/

The best recordings for Suzuki method are by Dr Suzuki himself, and these are available for Books 1, 2 and 3 for violin.
Otherwise please purchase the ISA (International Suzuki Association) recommended recordings, they are the most up-to-date, but any recording listed here is good, they were all authorised by ISA previously. It helps to tell me which recording you’re listening to. Though I don’t recommend David Nadien for Book 4 violin (too fast!).

How to listen to recordings
Always listen ahead of the current piece. e.g. two pieces ahead.
Ideally, listen to the whole of your current book every day.

Please start listening to an authorised version of the next book when your child is halfway through the previous book. Please don’t leave this too late, remember listening is the key to success. And it will be a nice change from the current book, you could alternate books each day.
Active listening and passive listening are both valuable so mix it up!
Active listening – moderate volume, listening for style, maybe following the score. This is recommended too when you have access to different performances.
Passive listening – low volume, you can carry on a conversation easily, it’s in the background. Choose a good recording and listen to the same recording.

Zoom lessons
In-person lessons should be replaced with Zoom online lessons whenever anyone (including me) has cold or flu symptoms. Please try to give 24 hours notice regarding a switch to Zoom. Please update Zoom and use an external microphone for proper immersive online lessons. Audio settings must be musicians’ settings (otherwise I can’t hear your music!).

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Have a great holiday season! It’s been a really good year, well done everyone.

This summer I’m offering holiday lessons in January.
The dates are Wednesday 14th and Wednesday 21st January. To book, send me an email or text message by the Sunday before, and state your preference for a morning or afternoon lesson.

Suzuki Autumn Festival dates in 2026 are: 15th to 18th April (most students attend for 3 days, more details later but please save the dates)

Lesson schedule

Mondays
time to be confirmed Gwen
1.00 pm Zoha (60 mins)
4.00 pm Lisa
4.30 pm Vivien
5.00 pm Jude
5.30 pm Abigail

Tuesdays (changed to Thursdays on some Group Lesson weeks)
time to be confirmed Ada
4.15 pm Isabelle (45 mins)
5.00 pm Jaantje

Wednesdays
11.00 am Vivienne (60 mins)
1.30 pm Kitty
3.30 pm Manny
4.00 pm Alex (45 mins)
4.45 pm Elsie (45 mins)
5.30 pm Perryn

Group Lessons in 2025
Group lessons are
– for violin students in Books 1-3, (and Bk 4 if your child is primary school age)
– two Tuesday afternoons a term, 4.30 to 5.30 pm
– at Buda Garden Room, 42 Hunter St, Castlemaine

How to purchase recordings
Audio recordings of Suzuki repertoire can be purchased in many different formats from Alfred Publishing

https://www.alfred.com/suzuki-method/suzuki-audio-downloads/

The best recordings for Suzuki method are by Dr Suzuki himself, and these are available for Books 1, 2 and 3 for violin.
Otherwise please purchase the ISA (International Suzuki Association) recommended recordings, they are the most up-to-date, but any recording listed here is good, they were all authorised by ISA previously. It helps to tell me which recording you’re listening to. Though I don’t recommend David Nadien for Book 4 violin (too fast!).

How to listen to recordings
Please start listening to an authorised version of the next book when your child is halfway through the previous book. Please don’t leave this too late, remember listening is the key to success. And it will be a nice change from the current book, you could alternate books each day.
Active listening and passive listening are both valuable so mix it up!
Active listening – moderate volume, listening for style, maybe following the score. This is recommended too when you have access to different performances.
Passive listening – low volume, you can carry on a conversation easily, it’s in the background. Choose a good recording and listen to the same recording.

Zoom lessons
In-person lessons should be replaced with Zoom online lessons whenever anyone (including me) has cold or flu symptoms, has Covid, or is a close contact. Please try to give 24 hours notice regarding a switch to Zoom. Please update Zoom and use an external microphone for proper immersive online lessons. Audio settings must be musicians’ settings (otherwise I can’t hear your music!).

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Violin pieces for group lessons and concert
Book 1 – All pieces from Twinkle to Perpetual Motion, Etude, Minuets 2 & 3, Gossec Gavotte
Book 2 – Handel Bourree, Witches Dance (with dance), Beethoven Minuet in G
Book 3 – Minuet by Bach, Becker Gavotte
Book 4 – 2nd Seitz concerto (Conc. No.5, 1st movt)
Folk and fiddle
Lannigan’s Ball and John Ryan’s Polka, (Violin duos by M. Harvey)
Pirates Crossing and Something Fishy, (‘Possums at Sea’ by E. Teychenné)

All Folk and fiddle pieces are on the ‘Music Performances and Scores’ page for you to enjoy and learn from, also the Witches’ Dance dance, and slow Gossec Gavotte.

Dates in Term 3

Group lesson dates are Tuesday 19 August and Tuesday 2 September
(Tuesday students have lessons on Thursday in both of those weeks in Term 3)
Term 3 ends Friday 19 Sept

Dates in Term 4

Term 4 starts Monday 6 October, ends Friday 12 December
Group lesson dates are Tuesday 7 October (note this is in Week 1 of Term 4)
and Tuesday 2 December
(Tuesday students have lessons on Thursday in Week 1, that is on Thurs 9 Oct)

The Studio concert date is Saturday 25 October
The performance will be from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, with a rehearsal from 1.30 pm.
It’s at the Anglican Church (Christchurch), cnr Kennedy and Forest Sts, Castlemaine

Lesson schedule

Mondays
1.00 pm Zoha (60 mins)
4.00 pm Gwen
4.30 pm Vivien
5.30 pm Abigail

Tuesdays
3.45 pm Ada
4.15 pm Isabelle (45 mins)
5.00 pm Jaantje

Wednesdays
11.00 am Vivienne (adult, 60 mins)
1.30 pm Kitty
3.30 pm Manny
4.00 pm Alex (45 mins)
4.45 pm Elsie (45 mins)
5.30 pm Perryn

Group Lessons in 2025
Group lessons are
– for violin students in Books 1-3, (and Bk 4 if your child is primary school age)
– two Tuesday afternoons a term, 4.30 to 5.30 pm
– at Buda Garden Room, 42 Hunter St, Castlemaine

How to purchase recordings
Audio recordings of Suzuki repertoire can be purchased in many different formats from Alfred Publishing

https://www.alfred.com/suzuki-method/suzuki-audio-downloads/

The best recordings for Suzuki method are by Dr Suzuki himself, and these are available for Books 1, 2 and 3 for violin.
Otherwise please purchase the ISA (International Suzuki Association) recommended recordings, they are the most up-to-date, but any recording listed here is good, they were all authorised by ISA previously. It helps to tell me which recording you’re listening to. Though I don’t recommend David Nadien for Book 4 violin (too fast!).

How to listen to recordings
Please start listening to an authorised version of the next book when your child is halfway through the previous book. Please don’t leave this too late, remember listening is the key to success. And it will be a nice change from the current book, you could alternate books each day.
Active listening and passive listening are both valuable so mix it up!
Active listening – moderate volume, listening for style, maybe following the score. This is recommended too when you have access to different performances.
Passive listening – low volume, you can carry on a conversation easily, it’s in the background. Choose a good recording and listen to the same recording.

Zoom lessons
In-person lessons should be replaced with Zoom online lessons whenever anyone (including me) has cold or flu symptoms, has Covid, or is a close contact. Please try to give 24 hours notice regarding a switch to Zoom. Please update Zoom and use an external microphone for proper immersive online lessons. Audio settings must be musicians’ settings (otherwise I can’t hear your music!).

//\//\

Here are some photos from the recent Suzuki Music Festival at MLC school in Kew. Congratulations to the five students from our studio who attended this year. They were Elena, Gwen, Alex, Kitty and Zoha. They participated in tutorials, repertoire classes and the final concert. We also attended lots of inspiring concerts, both solo and ensemble. Alex and Zoha played in one of the string orchestras which started at Book 2 level this year.

Next year there will not be a Festival in autumn. Instead there will be a national conference from July 8-12, 2025. This is just like a festival except there are students and teachers not only from Victoria but also from the rest of Australia and possibly overseas, please consider going.

Enjoy listening to the solos and group items from this concert held at Buda Garden Room. Thanks to Liz Wilson, cello and John Tungyep, piano, for adding their musical talents and encouraging our students to enjoy their music.

Concert Wednesday 1st December
at Buda Garden Room
The concert was a great success, we appreciated coming together in person and hearing the progress of our students, plus a guest performance from cellist Liz Wilson who plays with the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra and brilliant piano playing including exciting improvisations in various styles by John Tungyep.

See Studio Concerts page for the audio recordings.

Term 4 ends on December 17th, and Term 1 in 2022 starts Mon 31 January.

‘Recording yourself with piano accompaniment‘.
Most students have now made a recording with piano accompaniment, well done everybody.

The listening piece is ‘Peter and the Wolf‘ by Sergei Prokoviev (Russian composer 1891-1953). Which character’s theme do you like? and why?
Update – please listen to the whole piece played by a different orchestra (search on YouTube or maybe you have a CD at home?)

Acknowledgement to Katie Wardrobe, Midnight Music, for this excellent guide to getting the best audio in a Zoom music lesson:

https://midnightmusic.com.au/tag/zoom/

This site has info for iPhones and Android phones:

https://wirralmusicfactory.com/blog/2020/4/9/zoom-how-to-turn-on-original-sound-on-iphone-ipad-and-android-phones

Microphones

Using an external microphone for your computer greatly improves the sound at my end and this makes for a better music lesson.

Recommended USB microphones:

Blue Snowball
Blue Yeti

Recommended microphone/recorder:

H2N Zoom