The 2021 National Online HIP Professional Development program was a unique opportunity for Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra to present an innovative and immersive online course for professional musicians and music educators who logged in from London, The Hague, NSW, ACT, SA, VIC & QLD over two days in October to gain knowledge, inspiration and expertise from specialists in HIP, music education and the digital realm.
Co-artistic directors Rachael Beesley and Nicole van Bruggen began the proceedings with a session on teaching and integrating HIP concepts on modern instruments in primary, secondary and tertiary contexts, sharing their knowledge, passion and experience of teaching HIP to young music students around the country through the Young Mannheim Symphonists programs. Guest speaker Dr Charles MacInnes then investigated music education resources, supporting the work of teachers in classrooms and online, offering the example of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra’s Voyage of Musical Discovery education kits.
We welcomed internationally respected experts – guest speaker Prof Neal Peres Da Costa who engages in cutting edge research into Classical and Romantic performance practices and presented information about where students can go to study HIP to enhance their portfolio career pathways, while guest speaker Elizabeth W. Scott shared her expertise in Audio/Visual Digital Content and proposed how teaching about performance content production can engage digital natives and provide essential skills for students on and off the stage.
Q&A sessions were held throughout the program with the co-artistic directors and the guest speakers, and there was engagement and animated interest from many musicians and music educators during the course of the evenings presentations.
Participants’ responses to the 2021 National Online HIP Professional Development Program:
“[Rachael and Nicole] you both did an amazing job presenting NOSA and NOPD! So amazing that ARCO is producing so much digital content during these challenging times! Brava!”
“It’s fascinating to see how HIP has evolved, even over the last 15 years!”
“It’s been fantastic to connect with you all! Thank you!!”
“[It’s] encouraging to know that investigations in the area of HIP are worthwhile, being noticed, and considered lifelong learning”
“The speakers and topics confirmed the important contemporary relevance of bringing HIP into current education … Thanks for organising it!”
“The different sessions really put HIP into a contemporary context.”
A number of fascinating resources were discussed and shared during the course including links to Early Music Sources and cutting edge sources and concepts about music education, HIP and audio/visual formats.
In the inspiring words of our founding artistic director, the late Richard Gill AO:
We teach music because it is unique and good. We teach music so that children can make their own music. We teach music because it acts in a unique way on the heart, mind, soul and spirit of the child, stimulating thought and imagination in very special ways. These are the real reasons for teaching music.
Presentations & Presenters
Teaching and integrating HIP concepts on modern instruments in primary, secondary and tertiary contexts
Speakers: Rachael Beesley & Nicole van BruggenInvestigating music education resources (including the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra’s Voyage of Musical Discovery education kits)
Guest speaker: Dr Charles MacInnes
HIP study (Courses & Summer Schools) and Career pathways (Orchestras & Festivals) in Australia, Europe & USA
Guest speaker: Prof Neal Peres Da CostaWhat does Audio/Visual Digital Content mean for today’s music students: How teaching about performance content production can engage digital natives and provide essential skills for students on and off the stage.
Guest speaker: Elizabeth W. Scott