Build musical and technical skills on the violin through improvisation, composition, games and a broad range of repertoire. Repertoire includes Blues, Jazz, Cajun, classical and many more inspiring musics.
Heather Stewart is a specialist violin and voice teacher. She has extensive training and 12 years teaching experience of beginners to advanced musicians with blues, jazz, cajun and classical repertoire, Rolland and Sheila Nelson-based technical development, and improvisatory teaching techniques. Heather currently teaches students of all ages from 4 to 62 from beginners to tertiary levels. She also works with performers and professional teachers. Heather strives to enable string players to build and develop their improvising skills, aural skills and independent learning that can open the doors to a broad range of music and playing styles. Vocal lessons by audition (Jazz and Blues).
In 2010, Heather completed her research Masters developing a string program that integrates improvisation and gameplay. She continues this research privately within teaching, papers and workshops. Heather teaches in schools, privately from her home studio in Coburg, Melbourne and conducts workshops around Australia.
Send an email to Heather from the Contact page of this website
Email: info@heatherstewart.com.au  |
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I completed a Masters thesis in 2009: "Incorporating Improvisation into Beginner String Pedagogy: A Primary School String Case Study."
In the interests of sharing information freely for all, it is available to read through the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aRwtEDwLrKItuCciQWFr4_6jMDxw_ErvvSvY1ULdk6U/edit The ideas presented are offered in the spirit of seeking further knowledge and enjoyment for violin students and violin teachers alike. I had fun learning and applying lots of different ideas, and continue this journey through my playing and teaching and workshops. If you have comments or questions, email or enter them on the CONTACT page. |
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Turra: blues fiddle & improvising
I'm just back from Turramurra music camp (Otways) and thoroughly enjoyed teaching Blues Fiddle workshops. I learnt so much from the incredibly talented musicians there through jamming and hearing so many great people that my practice is more inspired than ever!
I'll answer some of the questions posed in the workshops about blues fiddle and improvising: Blues form: there are many types of blues forms: the "12 bar" which two version of are I I I I IV IV I I V IV I I or I IV I I
IV IV I I
V IV I I
This means (in c major): C C C C F F C C G F C C and the second one just adds the IV or F chord to the first line. BUT DON'T read this and freak. Listen to Jelly Roll Morton recordings - listen and play along with the chords and hear the movement. Play a single note or make a two-note chord and comp along, then listen to the timing and note choices played in the melody. When you feel comfortable with comping the chords, learn the melody. Learn the timing, the breaks, try to imitate the feel and sound of the instrument - either piano, or a horn or vocalist. Then you'll learn the ornaments and groove that makes this style. Next update soon! PS: when listening to Jelly Roll Morton - don't be freaked out by the frequently explicit lyrics. ;) There's loads of instrumental tracks, but the lyrics often give you that sense of the strength, bitterness, pain, humour and irony that exemplify the Blues. Here's a link to an interesting website with detailed info on Jelly Roll, you all know how to "search engine" him yourself if interested!! http://www.perfessorbill.com/pbmidi18.shtml On TeachingCopyright to all material on this page is owned by Heather Stewart.
May 2011 Autumn this year brings more students, workshops, teaching opportunities and music projects. I will be heading to the Border Music Camp in July as a tutor - a camp that helped and inspired me as a country teenager. Austa WA (Perth) workshops are coming up on June 12th and there will be many performances before that trip. Leigh Barker & the New Sheiks will be featured at the Stonnington Jazz Festival in Melbourne 27th May. Sold out shows at Melbourne's Paris Cat May 7th. Harmony in Strings project in Fitzroy is amazing and inspiring. Lots of singing, dancing and improvising in our string learning makes for an exciting program! 26 Feb 2011
A new year begins and I'm working on a range of new projects this year. I am currently planning and developing a string program for The Song Room. It's a new string program to be based on the Tower Hamlets Project in London led by renowned string pedgogue Sheila Nelson. We'll be building the curriculum, writing music, inviting guests and aiming to inspire and encourage the program students to engage in enjoyable musical learning and social interactions. Dec 2010
Summer holidays are almost here for our music programs in Australia. Winding up the year has been an interesting process. I have found many students to finally be achieving a sense of progress and awareness that makes it sad to stop lessons for a long break - in some schools almost 3 months! I hope that like happened this year, my students take their instruments home and find ways to create and play so that coming back to school in 2011 they are filled with ideas and questions. Workshops are beginning to happen for next year so if you are interested, please get your requests in fast. That way I can allocate a definite weekend date for your school/string program/community group. August 2010
Some of you know Heather Stewart as a violin teacher, researcher and workshopper. She finished a research Masters last year examining and implementing improvisation in beginner string training. She began sharing some of this info at the 2009 National Austa Conference (Australian Strings Association). Her presentation and workshop detailed major aspects of her research study and then introduced over 70 students from young children, teenagers and other string teachers to improvisation games and the rhythmic accompaniment, melody and basic ornaments for Cajun tune "Port Arthur Blues". Heather has recently taken workshops in Canberra and Melbourne and invitations are starting to come from all over the country. Austa Canberra had three workshop groups with children up to "Grade 4", intermediate teens and adults and finally tertiary performers and teachers. Each workshop concentrated on varying aspects of improvisation, game play, exploration of the instrument, and introducing approaches for beginning to play Blues, Cajun and Jazz repertoire.
Heather is currently working on turning her completed masters thesis into a book. "I was planning on sending the thesis out for interested people to read, but would like to produce a more concise version with additional links and information on this site. I am more than happy for people to email me questions or come for private lessons.
Copyright to all material on this page is owned by Heather Stewart.
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Quotes from Workshops "Heather's approach to teaching Jazz improvisation techniques on the violin and other stringed instruments is made easy and fun for classically trained string teachers and their students alike. By learning these Jazz styles, it's a great way to explore your instrument and make it swing!!" Vivianne Anthrak - Violin Teacher, Canberra "I had a great time. She got all 40 of us playing Cajun rhythm and melody almost immediately. Her way of teaching gives you a new way in to contemporary music, and makes you want to keep going. I’d love to go again." Gillie
"Thank you for your fantastic workshops at the 2009 Austa National Conference. Your generous contribution of time and expertise was instrumental to the success of the event and is greatly appreciated." Andrew Patrick - 2009 National President and Conference Convener, Australian Strings Association Ltd (AUSTA)
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