2024 Sydney Music Educators Conference – Session Abstracts

Below you will find the confirmed session abstracts for the 2024 Conference. We will add to these abstracts as they become available.

How we teach is as important as what we teach: 20 ways to energize your rehearsals
Dr Peter Boonshaft

This session offers ways to improve and focus our rehearsing and teaching, offering specific techniques to solve everyday concerns. A practical look at what, why and how we can teach to achieve better results faster, easier and more efficiently. Useful for teachers and conductors of any level and type of ensemble.

How do I get them to watch? How do I get them to listen?
Stephen Williams

Being an accomplished and musically sensitive ensemble player centres around the two essential elements of watching and listening. In this practical session Steve offers many strategies to enable you to have real control of your ensemble, while also teaching your players how to take more responsibility with the music they are playing and their role within the ensemble.

Conducting Calisthenics
Dr Peter Boonshaft

This session will explore how we can become better at the technical and expressive aspects of conducting through a series of exercises and short excerpts we will conduct as a group. This fun and enjoyable approach offers ways to further develop our hands, face, and body language to be more effective and efficient in rehearsals, as well as help our ensembles achieve even greater musical goals.

Improving Your Band One Instrument At A Time
Mandy Fara Boonshaft

Each of us has instruments that we teach more confidently than others. This session aims to provide band directors with valuable tips and techniques to enhance every section of the band. It covers advice on tone development, posture, playing position, technique and other essential aspects.

Fun With Flutes
Mandy Fara Boonshaft

Working with a group of volunteer, novice flute players, this practical session covers aspects of teaching beginner flutists.  This hands-on session will cover everything from producing the first sounds, assembling the instrument, to the basics of playing. This will help teachers to see, first-hand, effective ways to start off their beginners to make sure they meet with success, as well as troubleshooting problems encountered by young and developing flute students.