If you love the piano, Autumn Piano School is for you!

Piano+ and the New England Conservatorium of Music invite you to the inaugural Autumn Piano School. A five-day immersion in the joy of piano, Autumn Piano School is open to piano-lovers at all levels of expertise and takes place in beautiful Armidale from 17 – 21 April 2024.

There’s so much on offer in the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of The Autumn Piano School. From one-to-one-lessons to workshops and masterclasses, you’ll get to meet and work with some of the best teachers in Australia. They’ll be sharing their experience and expertise, as well as, no doubt, some great teaching moments from their international careers.

The Autumn Piano School is designed to accommodate every level of piano, from Beginner to Advanced, Amateur to Pedagogue.

Pedagogy Stream

Studio piano teachers are encouraged to join the Pedagogy stream. Learn from outstanding Australian pianists, piano pedagogues and music educators, and connect with colleagues to share teaching experiences and tips. Early career teachers and music students interested in becoming studio teachers are especially welcome.

Topics covered will include teaching beginner, junior, intermediate and advanced students, teaching children with learning difficulties, how to inspire and motivate, exploration of Australian repertoire, and guiding students to develop healthy technique. Classroom music teachers may also be interested in attending selected sessions.

Half day pedagogy and full course opportunities are offered to suit busy lives and budgets.   

Beginner and Junior Streams

For the young pianist and budding maestro’s, the Beginner or Junior streams are the perfect place to learn new skills and and create shared experiences. The Beginner Stream welcomes primary-school aged students who have had less than three years of formal piano lessons. The Junior Stream is designed for children and young teenagers who are working at AMEB Preliminary to Grade 4 level (or equivalent).Morning tea for the students is included each day. Parents and/or guardians are welcome to sit in on any of their children’s classes or there will be a space on site at NECOM to wait.

Intermediate and Advanced Streams

For pianists seeking to refine their skills and excel in examinations, the Intermediate and Advanced Streams will challenge and inspire. If you’re thinking of studying music at tertiary level, you will have the opportunity to meet and learn from some of Australia’s leading tertiary piano teachers from the larger Conservatoriums.

Adult Amateur Stream

For adult pianists who play for pure joy.

Enjoy high-quality instruction from supportive teachers in a relaxed and encouraging environment. Whether you’ve never pursued a professional musical career or are simply looking to reconnect with your love for the piano, daily workshops will cater to all levels of playing, and no question goes unanswered!

There will be entertaining afternoon blackboard soirees and three full-length evening concerts open to the public, all performed by our superb performer-teachers.

Enjoy the autumnal colours in Armidale, soak up the friendly, relaxed country atmosphere and be immersed in the piano-loving community, all united by a passion for this marvelously expressive instrument and its extraordinary repertoire.

Pedagogy:            Studio Teachers, Classroom Music Teachers

Designed to provide professional development for studio teachers.

Options are now available for full or half (morning) day enrolments.

Registration is at 3pm on Wednesday 17 of April allowing time for travel and maybe some sightseeing: a chance to take in the beautiful Armidale autumn colours.

After registration join us and our tutors for afternoon tea. As well as networking with other piano teachers and participants in the adult amateur stream. This chance to talk directly with some of Australia’s finest piano talent does not happen often.

Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 11 am hear seminars covering topics such as techniques and resources for teaching beginners, teaching neurodivergent children, developing student potential, teaching healthy piano technique and using Kodaly methods in the studio. Our lecturers include:

• Samatha Coates (Blitz Books)
• James Cuskelly
• Bernadette Harvey

Then enjoy morning tea (supplied by us) against the stunning backdrop of Armidale as offered from the balcony of NECOM (or through the window overlooking the balcony if we’re unlucky with the weather).

On Thursday after morning tea, Samantha Coates will present a seminar for parents and teachers. Following this, and directly after morning tea Friday to Sunday, observe either a masterclass of the intermediate or advanced streams or a workshop of either the beginners or juniors. Witness different techniques across all levels of teaching or focus on an area of speciality.

• Tutors and teachers are:
  • Bernadette Harvey
  • Clemens Leske
  • Edward Neeman
  • Stephanie Neeman
  • Konstantin Shamray

After lunch (Thursday to Saturday) share in a “Pedagogy Postcard” presented in the NECOM auditorium; a 20-minute intensive (topics to be announced). Follow this up with further observation and/or participate in a Kodály Workshop with James Cuskelly or a jazz piano workshop with Sharny Russell.

Next, afternoon tea (provided) and chance to chat and network.

The day rounds out with the daily Blackboard Soirees. Perform or enjoy as an audience member while other older Autumn Piano School participants share their passion and skill.

Thursday through Saturday, come back after dinner for the evening recital. Receive a discount for yourself and family and friends when booking tickets to the evening concerts.

At 1pm on Sunday, after the last seminar, there will be a feedback and farewell session, finishing at 2pm.

Beginners & Juniors

The Beginner Stream welcomes primary-school aged students who have had less than three years of formal piano lessons. The Junior Stream is designed for children and young teenagers who are working at AMEB Preliminary to Grade 4 level (or equivalent).

Registration is at 1pm on Wednesday 17 of April allowing time for travel and maybe some sightseeing. At 2pm take a guided tour of NECOM. A chance for parents and students to know exactly where to go for each class and ask any and all questions.

Thursday to Saturday mornings are filled with workshop activities (9am to 1pm). Working in groups of 12 – 14 the mornings will build performance presentation, aural skills and rhythmic coordination through:

• Orff Improv Group Class
• Movement/Dance Class
• Theory Group Class
• Kodaly Group Class with James Cuskelly
• Piano Class in groups of three to four

Beginners finish at 1pm each day. Parents should plan to collect their child at 1pm, as we cannot provide supervision in the afternoon.

Students in the junior stream will have a one-to-one lesson between 2pm and 4pm on either Thursday, Friday or Saturday. This timetable will be released a little closer to the time.

At 11:30am on Sunday there is the Final Concert. A chance for students to apply and share the learnings from the five days with family and friends. The morning starts at 9:45 am with rehearsal. Then at 11:30 up to 4pm, Final Concerts run simultaneously where every beginner and junior students will perform a solo piece in a supported environment. The Final Concert is followed by feedback and farewells, with the day, and the school, complete by 1pm.

Morning tea for the students is included each day. Parents and/or guardians are welcome to sit in on any of their children’s classes or there will be a space on site at NECOM to wait.

Thursday through Saturday, come back after dinner for the evening recital. Receive a discount for yourself and family and friends when booking tickets to the evening concerts.

Intermediate & Advanced

ADDITIONAL PLACES AVAILABE IN THE AVANCED STREAM

The Intermediate Stream is for children and teenagers who are working at AMEB Grade 5 to 7 (or equivalent). The Advanced Stream is for teenagers and adults who are working at AMEB Grade 8 and above (or equivalent). If you’re in years 11 or 12 preparing for an HSC/VCE Performance exams, you should enrol in this stream.

Registration is at 2pm on Wednesday 17 of April allowing time for travel and maybe some sightseeing: a chance to take in the beautiful Armidale autumn colours. At 3pm take a guided tour of NECOM to know exactly where to go for each class and to ask all questions.

Thursday to Sunday from 9 am until morning tea (11:00am) there will be

• One-to-one lessons. Each students receives 2 x 30 minutes one-to-one lessons with either
  • Bernadette Harvey
  • Clemens Leske
  • Edward Neeman
  • Stephanie Neeman
  • Konstantin Shamray
  • (Enrol before 31 March and you will be able to nominate two preferred piano tutors and we will do our best to accommodate one of those options. There are still more tutors to announce. We will email everyone who has enrolled with the full list of tutors, once available, and ask for your preference)

• seminars covering topics such as techniques and resources for teaching beginners, teaching neurodivergent children, developing student potential, teaching healthy piano technique and using Kodaly methods in the studio. Our lecturers are:
  • Samatha Coates (Blitz Books)
  • James Cuskelly
  • Bernadette Harvey

After morning tea (provided) participate in a masterclass taught by one of Australia’s best piano tutors. Each student receives 2 x 30 min masterclasses on a repertoire of their presentation. When not partaking in a masterclass, sit and observe fellow participants.

• Piano Tutors are:
  • Bernadette Harvey
  • Clemens Leske
  • Edward Neeman
  • Stephanie Neeman
  • Konstantin Shamray

After lunch (Thursday to Saturday) share in a “Pedagogy Postcard” presented in the NECOM auditorium; a 20-minute intensive (topics to be announced).

Follow this up with further masterclass work and/or participate in a Kodály Workshop with James Cuskelly or a jazz piano workshop with Sharny Russell.

Next, afternoon tea (provided) and chance to chat and network.

Then share your passion and skill and perform in the daily Blackboard Soirees.

Thursday through Saturday, come back after dinner for the evening recital. Receive a discount for yourself and family and friends when booking tickets to the evening concerts.

At 1pm on Sunday, after the last seminar, there will be a feedback and farewell session, finishing at 2pm.

Adult Amateur

ADDITIONAL PLACES AVAILABE

Designed for those who play for the sheer joy of music-making, older teenagers and adults playing at any level can choose to enrol in the Adult Amateur Stream.

Registration is at 3pm on Wednesday 17 of April allowing time for travel and maybe some sightseeing: a chance to take in the beautiful Armidale autumn colours.

After registration join us and our tutors for afternoon tea. As well as networking with other piano teachers and participants of the adult amateur stream. This chance to talk directly with some of Australia’s finest piano talent does not happen often.

On Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 11 am participate in:

• seminars covering topics such as techniques and resources for teaching beginners, teaching neurodivergent children, developing student potential, teaching healthy piano technique and using Kodaly methods in the studio. Our lecturers are:
  • Samatha Coates (Blitz Books)
  • James Cuskelly
  • Bernadette Harvey
• one to one lesson
  • Bernadette Harvey
  • Clemens Leske
  • Edward Neeman
  • Stephanie Neeman
  • Konstantin Shamray
  • (Enrol before 31 March and you will be able to nominate two preferred piano tutors and we will do our best to accommodate one of those options. There are still more tutors to announce. We will email everyone who has enrolled with the full list of tutors, once available, and ask for your preference)
• drop-in workshops to work on a repertoire of your presentation. When not partaking, sit and observe fellow participants.
  • Piano Tutors are:
  • Bernadette Harvey
  • Clemens Leske
  • Edward Neeman
  • Stephanie Neeman
  • Konstantin Shamray
  • (These workshops will only be observed by other participants in the Adult Amateur or Pedagogy streams)
• If not participating in, or observing a workshop, Adult Amateur students can observe one of the (world class/Australia’s best) piano tutors teaching master class to either the intermediate or advanced students.

After lunch (Thursday to Saturday) share in a “Pedagogy Postcard” presented in the NECOM auditorium; a 20-minute intensive (topics to be announced). Follow this up with further observation and/or participate in a Kodály Workshop with James Cuskelly or a jazz piano workshop with Sharny Russell.

Next, afternoon tea (provided) and chance to chat and network.

The day rounds out with the daily Blackboard Soirees. Perform or enjoy as an audience member while other older Autumn Piano School participants share their passion and skill.

Thursday through Saturday, come back after dinner for the evening recital. Receive a discount for yourself and family and friends when booking tickets to the evening concerts.

At 1pm on Sunday, after the last seminar, there will be a feedback and farewell session, finishing at 2pm.

Where is Autumn Piano School Located?

Autumn Piano School will take place at the New England Conservatorium of Music, located in Armidale, NSW, 6 hours north of Sydney.

Is accommodation provided for the school period?

No, here are some options for accommodation in the Armidale Region: https://www.visitarmidale.com.au/stay

Is catering provided while attending Autumn Piano School?

No, participants will need to provide their own lunch while attending the school however a morning and afternoon tea will be provided to participants while on site.

Are bursaries or scholarships available to subsidise the cost of the school?

No, we are unable to offer scholarships or bursaries in 2024.

We hope for the Autumn Piano School to become an annual event, in future years we aim to seek philanthropic or funding support to enable us to be able to offer scholarships or bursaries.

Are concession prices available for school enrolments?

No, as courses are streamed into skill and age level groups, prices have been set with consideration toward concession and kept simple as a flat fee for each individual course.

Can I choose my one-to-one lesson teacher?

Enrol before 31 March and you will be able to nominate two preferred piano tutors and we will do our best to accommodate one of those options. There are still more tutors to announce. We will email everyone who has enrolled with the full list of tutors, once available, and ask for your preference)

Can I attend multiple streams at the same time?

You can only enrol in a single stream, if you are unsure which stream will be best suited to your needs please contact Jen Cramer, E: jen@pianoplus.com.au T: (02) 9241 3291

Does my enrolment guarantee me a place in the school program?

Yes, until the stream is full. Once a stream is full, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a place becomes available.

Can I participate in individual master classes but not enrol in the full three-day school program?

Unfortunately, due to the limited capacity of the master classes, they will be only open to participants who have enrolled in the full Autumn Piano School program.

When do enrolments close?

Enrolments close on 31 March unless streams capacities are reached before this date.

I have paid the 20% deposit of my fees, when is the full amount required to be paid?

The full enrolment fee must be paid no later than Friday 1 March 2024.

Will Autumn Piano School cater to people with access needs?

Yes, the Armidale Teachers’ College has disability access at the back of the building (South-East corner), and a disability toilet, both on the ground floor. There is also a stair lift to access the Auditorium and first-floor rooms. We ask that people let us know in advance if they will need assistance with accessibility and that they arrived at least 30 minutes before an event.

For all questions about the Autumn Piano School please phone Piano+ 0412 827 672 or email jen@pianoplus.com.au