Book an Appointment
Join us for a fun day of reconnecting with friends, acquiring new skills, and reigniting the passion for inspiring the next generation of musicians.
This year we’re excited to welcome three incredible presenters—Goetz Richter, Andrew Baker, and Thomas Price—who will be delivering engaging talks on technique, rosin, and instrument maintenance.
WHEN: Sunday, 16 March
WHERE: 314 High St. Chatswood NSW
TIME: 10:00am-2:30pm
DOORS OPEN @ 9:30am - Please arrive by 9:45am
COST: FREE!
Morning tea and lunch will be provided
Bookings are essential as spots are limited
Session 1: 10:00am - Beyond Mind & Body: Teaching Technique with Music in Mind - Enabling students to play expressively from the start.
With Goetz Richter - Associate Professor in Violin at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
My mother who is heading for her first century, God bless, often says ..."Es faengt ja alles im Koppe an..." ("it all starts in the head"). For this session, I want to look at the fundamentals of string playing (something we have become used to calling 'technique') and the way such fundamentals manifest themselves in development. What is technique? Is it all in the head? How can we develop it so that the player plays rather than merely functions? Reminding ourselves that attention gives us agency transforms playing and our work. I propose a practical session, this won't be a highfalutin talk, and I encourage everyone to bring instruments and bows to try things out. *Cellists, please remember to bring a rock stop.
Session 2: 11:30am - Getting a Grip on Rosin: Fine-Tuning Sound with the Right Formula - A guide to choosing a rosin that will elevate your sound and promote better technique.
With Andrew Baker - Violinist, Pedagogue, & Founder of Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin
Rosin can often be overlooked in the teaching studio as a tool that can make a big impact on the student's learning experience. Their "techno-musico-anxiety" manifests the very first time bow meets the string, and the sound that greets them is not quite the glorious singing tone just heard from their teacher. So how can rosin help? There are many aspects of sound and response that rosin can individually control, and the right rosin can dramatically affect the interplay of bow and string, particularly when technical finesse is at the beginning of its long journey. This presentation will discuss how rosin is made, how different ingredients affect sound, and how to navigate the mysterious world of rosin jargon to choose a rosin that will, well, make your students sound better.
Session 3: 1:30pm - Seasonal Shifts: Tackling Weather-Related Bridge & Peg Problems How to identify, solve, and prevent small issues from escalating.
With Thomas Price - Head Luthier at The Sydney String Centre - Delivered in our BRAND NEW workshop space.
"My pegs have popped out! My bridge has fallen down! My violin has exploded for no apparent reason, call 000!" Sound familiar? While it’s not an emergency, it can often feel like one to students who don’t know why this is happening to their beloved instrument. In this hands-on session, head luthier Thomas Price will guide you through the most common issues caused by seasonal changes: pegs slipping, bridges tilting, and more. You’ll learn how to quickly diagnose and fix these problems before they escalate, so there’s no excuse to skip lessons or get out of practice. By the end of this session, you’ll be ready to help students address these issues swiftly and keep lessons running smoothly!
In addition to these presentations, there will be 20% OFF sheet music, goodie bags, lucky door prizes and your chance to WIN a Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin, D'addario Nexxus 360 Tuner, set of Corelli Strings or a GEWA Violin Space Bag!
Andrew Baker will also be available for free rosin consultations after his session. Please register your interest via the RSVP form.
Please note that you must be a registered teacher in our system to attend this event. Click here to register as an SSC teacher.
presenters
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Meet the Presenters
Goetz Richter is a violinist, teacher and thinker with a dual background in music and philosophy. He is currently Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music where he co-ordinates performance studies for violinists. Previous positions include a fifteen-year tenure as Associate Concertmaster with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (1987-2002) and early career positions as Associate Principal Violin II with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1986-87) and Concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra (1985-1986). As a violinist Richter has appeared as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. He has given concerto performances with Australian Orchestras and has been a leader and guest leader of a number of Australian Orchestras. Chamber music collaborations include performances with Herrmann Baumann, Gerard Fauth, Bernhard Greenhouse and others. With pianist Jeanell Carrigan he has a long standing duo partnership that has included recital performances throughout Australia and in Europe, appearance for Musica Viva and broadcasts for the ABC. As an orchestral musician, principal and leader Richter has worked with eminent conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Neeme Jaervi, Yuri Temirkanov, Edo de Waart, David Zinman, Mariss Jansons, Vladimir Ashkenazy and many others.
Andrew has always been excited by the colours, textures and aromas of the violin-making tradition. Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin evolved out of this passion, offering string players a means to directly inform and shape their rosin experience. Andrew believes the relationship between client and maker is just as relevant for rosin as for instruments and bows. With many years experience as a professional performing violinist, pedagogue, researcher and manager, Andrew wishes to continue contributing to the experiences of string players through a product that enhances their playing and indulges their senses. A graduate of Sydney Conservatorium of Music (performance) and the Australian National University (string pedagogy), Andrew has received numerous awards and prizes during his school years. He has lived and studied solo performance, chamber music and baroque music period practice in Amsterdam studying with some of Europes finest teachers. He has worked as Head of Strings and Director in regional conservatoriums, and as concert master and soloist with a number of orchestras in regional Australia.
Thomas Price graduated from the Chicago School of Violin Making in 2015, after 3 years of study. During this time he made 6 instruments; 4 violins, a viola and a cello. After graduating, Thomas gained experience working on set-ups and repairs at 'Guarneri House', a string instrument shop in Michigan.
Thomas moved to Australia in 2017 where he began working at The Sydney String Centre under the guidance of David Glanville. Thomas is now Head Luthier and specialises in complex repairs and restorations.