Violin- Southern Highlands
Despite early promise and success as a violinist, a strong altruistic streak lead Helen to begin her tertiary studies with a B Medicine, B Surgery. After some years, however, she transferred her studies back to music, initially completing studies in violin teaching (Assoc Dip of Music Teaching – Violin), then on to performance (B Mus), at Sydney Conservatorium.
Helen studied pedagogy with Phillippa Paige (Syllabus Consultant, AMEB), and violin with Vojtech Hlinka, Laszlo Kiss, Perry Hart, and finally with Janet Davies, with whom she maintains a close working relationship.
An ongoing interest in pedagogy led Helen to active participation with the Aust String Teachers’ Assoc (AUSTA) for many years, where she organised and attended pedagogy workshops given by teachers such as Sheila Nelson, Mary Cohen, Shirley Givens, Coosje Wijzenbeek and Geza Silvay.
Helen has extensive experience teaching violin in both private and institutional settings, and enjoys working with interested students of all ages. As well as maintaining an active studio, she has taught violin at Sydney Conservatorium (Extension Studies), acted as guest lecturer there, teaching pedagogy, and has taught Chamber Music at the Sydney Conservatorium High School.
After several decades teaching violin at the International Grammar School in Sydney, Helen has relocated to Kangaroo Valley, and is looking forward to contributing to musical life in the Southern Highlands, whilst maintaining her Sydney teaching practice.
When not teaching, Helen enjoys practising and learning new repertoire, ice skating (figure and dance), skiing, riding her bicycle around, spending time with her family, and being with her dog.
What do you teach at the Con?
Violin
What genres do you teach?
‘So-called’ classical
What is it that you love about teaching music?
Seeing people achieve more than they ever expected, or thought they could.
Please share a particular career highlight and why it's special to you
Every time I start a new student- the look of wonder when they play their first note!
What's one piece of music that you'd recommend people listen to?
This is a really tricky question, as it’s so influenced by what I happen to be working on. Probably last movement, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, played at volume and preferably on decent equipment so that you can hear the rumble of the bass. For violin music, try Prokofiev Violin Concerto No 1, Op 19, maybe with Hilary Hahn playing. Have a listen to the second movement if pushed for time!
