Thursday, May 31, 2012

A Japanese Music Lesson

Sally Nguyen in Osaka, 2012
Mitchell Conservatorium piano student, Sally Nguyen enjoyed her visit to Japan, made during the school holidays. Her host family kindly took her to a koto class, where she was able to hear this special instrument being played by an ensemble of keen students.

If we tell you that a koto is a little like a zither, you may still be wondering about it, because you won't see many zithers in Bathurst, either.

But this amateur Youtube video, made by another student from another school during a trip to Japan, might be worth watching, and better than any verbal description we could supply.



Many Australian composers have become fascinated with the music of our Asian neighbours and have incorporated some of the music in their writing. Peter Sculthorpe has even written pieces for piano called Koto Music I and II. The Australian Music Centre has a short sample here. You will notice that the performer is playing inside the piano, not on the keys.

If you would like to try this, please ask the piano owner's permission first: it can damage the strings.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Talented Artist and Musician

Emily Calder with her daughter Ellianna


Emily Calder is a versatile artist and musician. Since the age of four, she has been working her way down through the string section of the orchestra. Emily began exploring violin via the Suzuki Method. Her first teacher was former Bathurst resident, Janice Donaldson.

At the age of thirteen, she began lessons with Mitchell Conservatorium's Nicholas Newell, who introduced her to the viola when she was fifteen.

She is currently studying cello with Mitchell Conservatorium's Sybbi Georgiou.

Emily has the University of Queensland's Diploma of Music Teaching, which is a tertiary accreditation for teaching instrumental music, and is currently working towards the Bachelor of Music degree, awarded by the University of New England.

Emily enjoys many different styles of music, and is as happy playing gypsy violin as she is in performing the great classical violin repertoire.

At Mitchell Conservatorium Emily teaches violin and also directs two string ensembles for primary school students.

Mitchell Young Strings



On Wednesday afternoon, she enjoys teaching Mitchell Young Strings to play various stringed instruments. On Thursday, she leads Fiddlesticks, which is a NSW government assisted ensemble for students from Department of Education primary schools. Thanks to their support, lessons only cost $2 per session.

She teaches the students in these two groups the basics of playing an instrument in the violin family in an ensemble, and also uses her knowledge of conducting to show them the ropes in that area also. Emily enjoyed being part of Jerry Nowak's conducting classes when the world-renowned director and musical arranger visited Australia last year.

Pastel by Emily Calder
Emily is also a visual artist. She favours working with pastels, which she finds challenging and rewarding.

You can hear Emily playing Summer, from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and a movement from Mozart's Violin Cocnerto No 5 in A Major in a free concert on Sunday, 20th May at 4 PM in The Orchard Room at Mitchell Conservatorium, West Wing, Bathurst Court House in Russell St. Emily will be accompanied by pianist, David McKay. Her brother, Jared Killey will perform some beautiful classical guitar music.