We are thrilled to announce that
for the 3rd year in a row
AMS
is the WINNER of the
AMEB Shield
for Theory and Musicianship grades 1-4

Congratulations students, parents & teachers!

Congratulations to all our
2009 Junior/Super Starter Piano Eisteddfod
Contestants who played so beautifully
on Sunday 27 September.
Here are the results:

10.30 Junior Section
1st Luke Boutros
2nd Son Tran
3rd Henry Lamont
H/C Dillon Bouchier
H/C Sophie Greenfield

11.30 Junior Section
1st Jack Lin
2nd He-Shyan Balnave
3rd Max Pomirski
H/C Holly Barnes

1.30 Junior Section
1st Nicholas Everett
2nd Sam Dunn
3rd Arash Farbeh

12.30 Super Starter Section
1st Emily O’Reilly
2nd Brenda Lo
3rd James Boyd-Clark
H/C Kai Adam
H/C Emma Starkey

Congratulations to all our
2009 Duet Piano Eisteddfod
Contestants who played so beautifully.
(It was our very first Duet Section)
Here are the results:

1st Remi and Rafi Owen
2nd Mouli Ghosh & Cato Ayyar
3rd Amina and Nejra Salihbegovic
H/C Mouli Ghosh and Anna Laoledchai

Extension Piano Eisteddfod 2009
This year's AMS Extension Eisteddfod was held on 29 August and the Grand Final the following day. There were many wonderful comments from teachers, parents and our adjudicator. Students performed well and the dynamics & musicality overall was exceptional. Getting up and playing on your own in front of an audience is an exciting and sometimes challenging experience for anyone. Thank you to all students who participated. The grand finalists were as follows:

Junior Plus	Extension	Spectrum/Advanced
Keke Luo 2nd place	Cami Hirsch	Alexandra Rigotti
Jessica Wong	Genevieve Clerke	Vincent Huynh 3rd place
Talia Greenfield H/C	Amber Boyden 3rd place	Mouli Ghosh
Mark Agyagasi	Shivanee Gopal	Liam Strang 1st place
Georgia McKern	Lydia Schulze	George Machado
Tilly Madder 1st place	Kyran Lynch	Mikayla Wilcox
Paolo Tecson 3rd place	Kenisha Koh 1st place	Isaac Madder 2nd place
Evan Keith	Samuel Sperling H/C
	Shio-Shuen Yan
	Melissa Yahyaoglu
	Molly Jones 2nd place

AMS Performance Award 2009 - (AMS shield & $150) -went to LIAM STRANG

Congratulations and thank you to our performers and their parents!

Former AMS teacher, Tami Gadir, was an AMS student in class with Miss Samantha at AMS Randwick and went to the Conservatorium High School before studying at the University of New South Wales. In 2008 she was awarded The Fellowship of Australian Composer's Award for best original composition in 2nd or 3rd Year of her BMus Degree. At the end of 2007 she gained a High Distinction for her final piano performance and composition recital. Tami maintained a High Distinction average of marks throughout her course at UNSW, in 2006 she received the “Richard Munz Scholarship for Music” in recognition of this.

Michael Azzopardi began music at AMS Randwick at age 7. Michael came to lessons at AMS for the next 8 years - in class with Miss Michelle and Miss Samantha and in private lessons with Miss Anna. During those years Michael completed Grade 7 AMEB Piano and Grade 6 AMEB Musicianship. In 1998 Micael was awarded the Overall Performance Award in the AMS Eisteddfod. Here, Michael brings us up to date with his musical career:

Michael attended Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, becoming School Captain in 2002. This gave Michael an opportunity to perform at places like the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House and tour the country with various school ensembles. Michael's interest in jazz and popular music led him to start studying Jazz piano at the Sydney Conservatorium. By age 16 Michael was already playing with some of Sydney's best Jazz and session musicians.

In 2003, Michael began studies at the Australian National University School of Music in Canberra to complete a Bachelor of Music (Jazz). The next year Michael was offered a position in the orchestra of the hit Broadway musical "Saturday Night Fever" touring Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. In 2005 Michael returned to university and won the Michael Foster Scholarship for excellence in Jazz.

The same year, Michael began performing with American bass lecturer Eric Ajaye and formed the trio "Straight Up", touring nationally and recording 2 albums - "The Flow" (2005) and "Another Year" (2006), both receiving critical acclaim and airplay on national radio.

Michael graduated from ANU in 2006 and has since been in demand as a pianist with many artists of different genres, including Marcia Hines, Don Burrows, Bob Mintzer, Joan Rivers, Lucky Oceans, Miroslav Bukovsky, John Mackey and many more. In 2007 Michael performed with "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - The Musical" at the Lyric Theatre - Star City, and will be joining the interntional tour in 2008 as Assistant Conductor.

"Azzopardi shows once again that he is a young man going places in jazz."

John Sharpe - Canberra Times (review of Straight Up! album "Another Year")

"The outstanding performance of the night was undoubtedly pianist Michael Azzopardi. His enthusiasm was intoxicating and when given the nod by Mintzer he took off, drawing in the entire rhythm section and bringing the energy in the room to the highest it had been all night.

Mintzer, who said little throughout the performance, came up to the microphone clearly impressed and said "Wow! That was good"

AMS students Ben and Ariella Adler have enjoyed great success in the world of music. Both began at AMS Randwick at an early age - Ariella was 4, Ben was 3. Individually and as a duo, Ben and Ariella have won numerous competitions and awards including the Warringah Mall Junior Talent Quest, and various eisteddofd sections.

Ben was twice awarded the AMS Overall performance award and the AMS shield and this year won the Newington Concerto

Competition, performing on the violin. Ben is concertmaster of the Newington school orchestra & chamber orchestra, is leader of the string quartet and has been awarded the performance award at school for 2 consecutive years. Both Ben and Ariella haveperformed live broadcasts on 2MBS-FM - Ben on both piano and violin as well as their own compositions on piano. The nextbroadcast is 12 noon June 17 when Ben will perform the 1st movement of Mendelssohn's violin concerto as well as Monti's Czardas.

Ben is pictured here perfoming with Ariella at a recent AMS concert.

Former AMS student Tristan Coelho has been awarded the University Medal at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Tristan was taught by Miss Samantha (private) and Miss Michelle (class) for many years and attended the Conservatorium high school (and AMS classes) with Mr Elias and Miss Marnie. Tristan (pictured here performing with Elias in an AMS concert) then went on to tertiary studies in composition and piano at the Conservatorium and is continuing to have great success. What a fantastic achievement! Congratulations Tristan

TESTIMONIALS

I just wanted to say thank you and well done for the Eisteddfod on Sunday.
I enrolled my daughter to try to build her confidence, as she is very reluctant to talk, play or sing in front of people. I was a little unsure whether Maddy would actually get up on the day, but Miss Elisha did great work with the class in the weeks leading up to the Eisteddfod to build all the childrens confidence.
We were wonderfully surprised by Madelyn when she got up on the stage, gave a huge smile, sang the song, and finished with a lovely confident curtsey. That in itself made my husband and I so proud, and then for her to be placed 2nd in her group was just amazing!
We are hoping this whole experience has helped Madelyn and shown her, even if you're nervous, if you give something a go you may be surprised by the results.
Regards
Karen

I sit in on my daughter's lessons (she is 8 and is in Super Starter 2) and I love the way you teach them. Not only to play a piece but listening skills, understanding rythmn, fine music appreciation, and reading the musical notes. It's very thorough and your format really dials in with the best way kids learn at that age.
Please pass this along to relevent people so you know what a wonderful job AMS does in bringing music to and enriching the lives of its pupils.

All the best,
Matilda Reich

Thanks Keryn

Look forward to reading the newsletter.

I can’t tell you how much they love the classes and get out of it!

We were very chuffed with Sirena’s report – not quite as chuffed as her nan (but that would be hard!)

You are an exceptional teacher and I feel very lucky for my kids to have you as a regular part of my kids’ week.

Liz

Dear Sandi, Jodi, Miss Michelle and all the AMS staff,

We just wanted to thank you for the most amazing concert yesterday at the AMS camp. It was outstanding!

The children did an incredible job in such a small amount of time. Which can only mean one thing... they had a ball learning it.(I had tears in my eyes it was so good)

This was Liams first time away like many of the other kids, and when we left in the car he said "that was the best camp we had so much fun I'll never forget it and I definitely want to go back again next year."

All the staff are so energetic and friendly.You're all a truly great team.

Thanks again,

Love Tracey, Derek & Liam Strang. xx

Dear AMS staff,
I would just like to say how impressed with AMS we are.
The program is wonderful and even I am learning about this mysterious world of music.
Keryn is the most wonderful, patient and encouraging teacher. Danielle and Brendan love the music program and love the music.
Thank you for making their start in music such a positive experience.
Regards,
Mary-Anne

Guy Gross - Film Composer / Melodic Stylist / Harmonic Sculpture / Rhythmic Architect

“My kids were fortunate to grow up with AMS. If only I were so lucky. Their grasp of the basics of music theory and piano was achieved in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere where they actually thought they went along for a good time. Little did they know that effortlessly, they were absorbing wonderful life skills, love of music and technical proficiency that will be with them for years to come. Whether they use this knowledge in a career in music or not, the experience has been invaluable.”

Elisha Keen – AMS teacher / AMS vocal workshop coach

“I am the new addition to the AMS team and consequently have a unique insight into not only the journey students are taken on at this school, but also into the teachers themselves. The amount of experience and knowledge each teacher brings to their position is staggering. The students who learn from them could not possibly be in better hands, and I am truly proud to work amongst them.” We are privileged to have Elisha on staff and get lots of comments on her classroom vocals – apparently “she sounds like an angel”.

Samantha Coates - AMS teacher / AMS parent / Author of the highly successful "BLITZBOOKS" music textbook series

"I have been teaching at AMS for 15 years and I absolutely love it. Having learnt in the traditional Russian piano method myself, I cannot believe how much I missed out on in my own musical upbringing.

It wasn’t until my ninth year of teaching that my 4 year-old son Thomas started at AMS. I knew how much I loved to teach the courses, but suddenly I realised that here was to be the proof in the pudding: will I be as convinced as a parent? Well, I became more convinced than ever. Thomas is now 10 and the skills he has on the piano far surpass what I could do at his age.

The thing I love about AMS is that it’s not just about piano teaching; it’s about creating well-rounded musicians who will enjoy music for life. As a teacher and a parent, what more could one ask for?"

“Blitz for Beginners, the set theory text at AMS and written by our very own Miss Samantha, was selected as a finalist for Best Australian Product at the 2007 Australian Music Association Awards.

Mychelle Rossi - AMS teacher / AMS parent

“After all these years teaching at AMS it is so exciting to finally have my own child taught in the best music program around. Starting early is wonderful – the earlier the better – Gia is 2 in July. She is having a ball and I can see all the benefits well into the future. She has learned so much and become so much more involved after just one term of the Tiny Musos Course. We both love it.” Mychelle is our long term Dulwich Hill teacher adored by parents and students alike.

Tami Gadir - AMS teacher / pianist / composer

"As an ex-student, I have been a part of the AMS family since I was seven years old. All of the following points are directly attributed to my AMS education: I loved and lived music as a child, won AMS piano eisteddfods, went to the Conservatorium High School, received the University Women's Award for performance and music studies, and received a scholarship for my tertiary music studies. Most of all, I truly believe that I have the best job in the known universe - being an AMS teacher."

Rachel Adler - AMS parent

"Being there long term certainly makes the student a very well rounded musician as AMS encompasses all aspects of music. It develops performance, aural, reading, vocal, theory, musicianship, composition and improvisation skills in a fun and exciting way. It's experiential and it's alive, the music at AMS. There is opportunity for solo, duet and ensemble music making as well as concerts, eisteddfods, camps etc, all of which my children loved. The talented teachers impart a love of music to their students and after a few years one begins to feel part of the AMS music family. These music lessons were a highlight of my children's week and when they outgrew them they felt that their week was not complete. Even I, as a mum, miss the times at AMS." Rachel's children, Ariella and Benjy have continued in music with excellent results.

Kate Lidbetter - Music Industry Professional / AMS parent

"Having watched AMS grow and achieve results over more than a decade, I was delighted when my own children were old enough to start Mini Musos. Since then, even younger children are able to experience the joy of music through this wonderful program. Music, like any language, encourages brain development and communication. AMS teaches a system that allows kids to develop at their own pace, but also extends them and shows them how to create as well as interpret. I believe AMS is the best way for my children to learn music and I love attending class with them each week."