2025 Teacher Professional Development Day

Join us for a fun day of reconnecting with friends, acquiring new skills, and reigniting the passion to inspire young musicians!

Can you believe this year marks our 16th Annual Open Day? And what an event it will be! 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.

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.

Bookings are essential as spots are limited. Please RSVP by 14 March. DOORS OPEN AT 9:30AM. PLEASE ARRIVE BY 9:45AM TO SET UP YOUR INSTRUMENTS FOR SESSION 1. CELLISTS, PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR ROCK STOPS :-)

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.* Click here to learn more about Goetz.

MORNING TEA - 11:00-11:30am

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. Click here to learn more about Andrew.

Lunch - 12:30pm-1:30pm - Enjoy an array of delicious sandwiches and salads, and pop next door to Adlib Music's new home at 328 High St. for 20% OFF sheet music. During this time, Andrew Baker will also be offering one-on-one rosin consultations. To reserve your spot, please register via the RSVP form and bring your instrument if you'd like a personalised consultation.

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! Click here to learn more about Thomas.