The Value of Musical Theory - A Real World Example

Mark is currently Musically Directing a production of an Australian play with music called “The Heartbreak Choir”. The script gives freedom for each production to choose (and, importantly, license!!!) their own music based on some broad parameters, and our production has chosen to feature Australian pop music. In arranging five songs for an a capella (unaccompanied) group of up to 7 singers, backed by a 20 person choir, its amazing how much of the musical theory Mark learned in his teens is still facilitating and informing his arrangements!!

Mark teaches all three of the AMEB syllabi in this area - Music Craft (which he recommends as the most practical stream for the performer), Musicianship and Theory - and recommends that all his piano students consider studying in one of these streams to supplement and support their practical study.

An Annual Tradition...

A week before Christmas, we attended our 10th (we think!) “Noel! Noel” Christmas concert by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir with guest soloists, in the beautiful St Patricks Catholic Cathedral in Parramatta. Every concert covers at least 400 years of Christmas music, diverse and often obscure, but always concluding with “Silent Night” in multiple languages followed by a rousing “O Come All Ye Faithful”. Every year, this concert recharges the batteries dulled by Christmas commercialism with the joy of music superbly performed on Baroque period instruments and expertly curated by Paul Dyer and the company. Highly recommended - for us, an annual must see.

AMEB Examinations end 2025

Congratulattions to all my students who completed Piano Comprehensive or Piano for Leisure exams recently. Your results were an accurate assessment of your achievements this year, congratulations and I’m very proud of all of you!!!