Music Teachers' Association of NSW

11/10/2026

Calling All Young NSW Composers (Ages 8–18)!
Got an original piece of music waiting to be heard?

The Music Teachers' of NSW 2027 Composer Competition officially opens today, October 12, 2026!

To support young talent everywhere in the state, we are running TWO parallel competitions:
*Metropolitan Section (Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong)
*Regional & Rural Section (All other areas of NSW)

Prize Categories (In Both Sections):
Ages 8–11 (Beginner • Max 2 mins) ➔ $100 Prize
Ages 12–15 (Intermediate • Max 4 mins) ➔ $200 Prize
Ages 16–18 (Advanced • Max 5 mins) ➔ $300 Prize

Why Enter?
Open to students of all music teachers
Works can be written for solo piano, voice, choir, ensemble, or percussion
Every entrant receives a written report & certificate
Winners will be celebrated live at the 2027 MTA NSW State Conference on Monday, July 5, 2027!

Applications Open: October 12, 2026
Entries Close: April 30, 2027
Full Competition Rules & Entry: https://mtansw.org.au/mtansw-composer-competition/

Teachers, parents, and young musicians—tag someone who should write a piece for this!

25/09/2026

The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW warmly welcomes the launch of Time for Music: 10-Year Plan for Music Education in NSW Public Primary Schools.

MTANSW was pleased to contribute to the consultation and Roundtable process informing the development of the Plan, represented by our Chair, Max Holzner.

The Plan sets out an ambitious long-term framework for strengthening music education across NSW public primary schools - supporting teachers, expanding access to sequential and high-quality music learning, strengthening instrumental and vocal opportunities, and building greater connections between schools and the wider music education profession.

We particularly welcome the recognition that delivering equitable access to quality music education requires investment not only in curriculum and resources, but in teacher capability, specialist expertise and partnerships with the broader music education sector.

For an Association representing music teachers and pedagogues across NSW, this is an important moment. The challenge now is implementation - and MTANSW looks forward to continuing to work constructively with the NSW Department of Education and colleagues across the sector as the Plan develops over the coming decade.

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing Time for Music to this point.

🔗 Time for Music: https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/time-for-music
John Graham Prue Car MP

We commit to ensuring that our teachers are well supported and confident in delivering this high-quality music education for every public primary and preschool student in NSW.

10/09/2026

ATTENTION PIANO TEACHERS & ADVANCED STUDENTS IN SYDNEY!

Ever wondered how top international competition judges diagnose technical hurdles and unlock artistic projection in real time?

Ahead of the SIMC Australia Live Rounds this October, the Singapore International Music Competition (SIMC), in collaboration with the Music Teachers' Association of NSW and Penrith Selective High School, is hosting an exclusive Live Piano Masterclass & Pedagogy Workshop!

Watch distinguished international jury members conduct 6 live 1-on-1 coaching sessions, followed by an exclusive Observer Q&A session.

✨ Why Attend the Masterclass?

Master Real-Time Diagnostics: See how world-class minds spot bad habits and fix mechanical obstacles instantly.

Expand Your Teaching Toolkit: Gain fresh drills, communication cues, and interpretive ideas for your own studio.

Competition Fine-Tuning: Gain behind-the-scenes insights into international performance standards and memory security.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, 7 October 2026

⏰ Time: 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

📍 Location: Penrith Selective High School Hall (Entry via High Street, opposite McDonald's)

🚗 Parking: Free on-site parking bays

🎟 Tickets:

• Teacher & Student Masterclass Pass: $55

• Parent Observer Pass: $15

👉 Book your masterclass pass now:

30/08/2026

Upcoming MTANSW PD Session: Accompanying Young Beginners 🎵

Ever had to accompany a beginner student on an instrument you don't actually play? It can be tricky to balance keeping the beat, guiding their phrasing, and adjusting to their unique instrument quirks!

The Music Teachers' Association of NSW invites you to our upcoming workshop: "Accompanying Young Beginners When You’re Not the Instrument Specialist."

Lorraine Chai will cover:

Practical ways to support young musicians on non-native instruments

Strategies for adjusting tempo, dynamics, and cues without overwhelming the student

Tips for building student confidence and ensemble listening skills from day one

🗓 When: Thursday, September 3, 2026

🎟 Where: Online via Zoom

Tag a fellow music teacher who would love this session!

👉 Save your spot today: https://mtansw.org.au/events/first-thursday-accompanying-young-beginners-when-youre-not-the-instrument-expert/

27/08/2026

MTANSW Junior Music Festival – Burwood is Coming Up!

Don't forget—the 2026 MTANSW Junior Music Festival in Burwood is just around the corner! Grouped by grade level rather than age, JMF sections give every student a fair, encouraging space to perform, receive expert feedback, and celebrate their hard work.

Dates: Sunday 6 September & Sunday 13 September 2026
Location: Woodstock Community Centre & Fitzroy Hall, 22 Church St, Burwood
Special Highlight: Day 1 includes the $150 Miriam Hyde Piano Award!
Registration Closing Soon: Day 1 Entries Close: Sunday 30 August Day 2 Entries Close: Sunday 6 September

Tag a fellow teacher or parent to make sure their students don't miss out!

👉 Secure your entries here: https://mtansw.org.au/whats-happening/

04/08/2026

BIG NEWS for Music Educators!

The 2027 Music Teacher Matters: Setting Students Up For Success Conference is taking shape, and we have some huge announcements to celebrate!

🌟 KEYNOTE ANNOUNCED:
We are thrilled to welcome the brilliant Evan Connell to the stage! Securing Evan Connell is a major coup for our organisation. Known for groundbreaking work and visionary insights in AI, education and technology, Evan will be delivering an exclusive keynote session that you won't want to miss.

CALL FOR PRESENTERS: Contemplating submitting a presentation or workshop idea? Applications close August 23! https://sessionize.com/2027MTANSWConference

REGISTER TODAY https://www.musicteachermatters.com.au/2027-events-page

Visit Evan Connell, Chief Executive Officer, Mulwaree Life Skills Association, Inc
www.mulwaree.org

03/08/2026

What an incredible weekend at the Advanced Scholarship Challenge!

We are thrilled to celebrate the resounding success of this weekend's event! From piano and strings to winds and beyond, our talented musicians blew us away with an extraordinary variety of instruments and truly outstanding performances.

A massive thank you to our esteemed adjudicators, Andrew Rumsey and Anthony van den Broek, for sharing their expertise, invaluable feedback, and dedication to inspiring the next generation of performers.

Bravo to every participant who took the stage, and a heartfelt thank you to all the teachers, families, and supporters who came out to cheer them on!

05/07/2026

Happy Monday, NSW music community! 🎹🎻 Ready to give your students a major competitive edge this term?

The MTANSW is excited to provide two premier Sunday events designed for both teachers and students alike, across NSW.

📅 July 26 | The 2026 Music Performance and Feedback Program
The ultimate exam prep masterclass. Students perform their repertoire and receive live, expert feedback from Karen Carey OAM to refine their performance technique before exams.

📅 August 2 | The Advanced Scholarship Challenge 2026
An incredible opportunity for advanced young musicians to gain elite stage experience, perform complex repertoire, receive feedback from adjudicator Andrew Rumsey and compete for exclusive scholarships.

Don't miss this chance to step out of the private studio and into a supportive, professional performance space.

👇 Secure your tickets today: https://mtansw.org.au/whats-happening/

22/06/2026

CALL FOR PRESENTERS: Let’s shape the future of music education together!

Are you an educator or researcher helping shape the next generation of musicians? Whether you lead a thriving private studio, design university curricula, or inspire students in K-12 classrooms, your expertise matters.

The Music Teachers' Association of New South Wales is officially inviting session proposals for our 2027 State Conference — Music Teacher Matters: Setting Students Up For Success.

Let us share diverse perspectives, foster collaboration, and elevate music education across all sectors.

Conference Dates: July 4 & 5, 2027
Call for Presenters Open: Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Deadline for Submissions: Sunday, 23 August 2026 (11:59 PM AEST)
Presenters Notified: Wednesday, 28 October 2026

If you have insights, research, or practical strategies that can inspire your fellow educators across the sector, we want to hear from you!

Submit your proposal via https://sessionize.com/2027MTANSWConference

Visit the conference website: https://www.musicteachermatters.com.au/

25/05/2026

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

You do not want to miss these two incredible upcoming experiences. Whether you're looking to soothe your soul with timeless classics or unlock the deep physics of sound, we’ve got you covered.

Here is what’s coming up next:

May 30 – Harmonize with Wolfgang and JSB
Get ready for an evening of pure, elegant harmony. We're diving deep into the brilliant minds of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach. Perfect for classical music lovers and anyone looking to unwind.
https://mtansw.org.au/events/harmonise-with-wolfgang-and-jsb/
Time: 230pm
Location: St Francis Xavier School Hamilton

June 4 – The Science & Power of Rhythm
Ever wondered why a beat can completely change your mood? Join us for an interactive exploration into the fascinating science, psychology, and undeniable power behind rhythm.
https://mtansw.org.au/events/first-thursday-the-science-and-power-of-rhythm-and-movement-for-development-and-wellbeing/
Time: 1030am
Via Zoom

Spaces are filling up fast!