The Orange Regional Conservatorium is excited to announce two days of HSC Music Student Workshops and Teacher Professional Development, facilitated by Sydney Conservatorium of Music lecturer and Program Leader, Dr Jim Coyle.

The student sessions on Thursday, 8 May, will give Year 11 and 12 students a competitive edge in their Aural Papers and Compositions, offering insights and skills to optimise their results.

HSC Music teachers are invited to attend on Friday, 9 May, for a series of sessions covering the Music 1 Aural Paper, Viva Voces, Music 2 Repertoire Choice, Composition, Sight-Singing, and Dictation—plus a songwriting session! We also invite all instrumental and peripatetic teachers to join us and gain valuable skills to help HSC students in individual lessons.

We are also able to offer all these workshops and professional development opportunities FREE OF CHARGE, at the Orange Regional Conservatorium, 73a Hill Street, Orange.

Dr Jim Coyle is a lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he is the Program Leader of the Music Education Division. He is also a dedicated composer and, occasionally, a conductor. Much of Jim’s music-making is with community groups, teenagers, and children. He is in demand as a leader of professional development for music teachers and as a mentor to young composers. He has particular expertise in the NSW Higher School Certificate course.

Jim holds degrees from the Universities of London and Sydney and is actively involved in school and community music-making throughout New South Wales and beyond.

Dr Coyle will be based at the Orange Regional Conservatorium for two days in May—one day dedicated to professional learning for teachers and the other to an HSC Music seminar for students.

There will be a session for students on the Music 1 Aural Skills Paper, focusing on preparation and strategies to optimise the limited time available to answer questions. Additionally, a composition masterclass will cover works in progress for all HSC courses. Students are invited to submit scores in advance for feedback during the session. A third session will focus on the Music 2 Aural Skills Paper and effective preparation strategies.

For teachers, there will be a session on the Music 1 Aural Skills Paper and Viva Voces. Another session will be dedicated to Music 2, covering repertoire study, composition, sight-singing, and dictation. A final hands-on session will focus on the teaching of songwriting.

FOR STUDENTS

HSC Music 1 and 2 Workshops with Dr Jim Coyle
Thursday, 8 May 2025

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Music 1 Aural Paper Skills
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Composition Masterclass (Music 1 & 2)
1:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Music 2 Aural Paper Skills

FOR TEACHERS

HSC Music 1 and 2 Workshops with Dr Jim Coyle
Friday, 9 May 2025

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Music 1 Aural Paper Skills and Viva Voces
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Music 2 Repertoire, Composition, Sight-Singing, and Dictation
1:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Songwriting