Workshops

In October 2017 we spent a happy weekend at the ESTA Deutschland Kongress in Mainz, meeting teachers there and presenting our ideas.  Thanks to all for making us so welcome.

In August 2017 we had a very enjoyable workshop with teachers at the ESTA Summer School in Chichester who sight-read beautifully a new string quartet arrangement we’ve made of ‘Latin nights’ from Cello Time Sprinters.

In May 2017 we were again with ESTA at the Nicola Benedetti weekend in Saffron Walden, where we were thrilled to receive an award from ESTA UK in recognition of exceptional services to string teaching. Thank you ESTA and Nicola!

In April 2017 we had a great time in Lisbon and Porto, working with teachers from ESTA Portugal and making lots of new string teaching friends. We heard some lovely playing from students there and enjoyed the food and wine of this beautiful country! Try a Portuguese duet here.

In March 2017 we presented workshops to Dutch string teachers in The Netherlands, looking at the teaching ideas and pieces in our books, and playing a range of our ensemble pieces. Two teachers – Marijn Drolsbach and Petra Flipse – kindly sent us their Dutch translations of songs from our Starters books, and these are on our website (here). We also arranged two Dutch children’s songs for duet and string ensemble – download them free here!

Testimonials

‘Thank you for the most outstanding workshop in Kentisbeare yesterday. We all had a lovely time, and all the students I taught today were full of enthusiasm for what they had learnt and had told all their teachers! You are both an inspiration to teachers and pupils, and the whole afternoon was such fun!’
Sue Rivett (ESTA UK South West)

‘Kathy and David’s ideas and approach had the ESTA members frantically trying to scribble them down, in the hope that they could remember all of their words of wisdom and put them to good use in their coming weeks of teaching. All the teachers were delighted when they discovered that most of these ideas could be found in the new Starter book.’
Samantha Laverick (Workshop in Leeds, Sept. 2012)

‘It was great to meet you – the writers/composers of so much of the music we listen to daily in our teaching! I know many people enjoyed the workshops immensely.’
Ian Russell (Manager, South DECS Instrumental Music Service, South Australia)

‘Within minutes Kathy had the whole room marching, singing, moving and counting to beginner chants and games. . . . it was great to see so many people becoming involved!’
Melissa Franks (AUSTA National Conference, Fremantle, Western Australia, July 2009)