Teacher as Artist, Artist as Teacher
Jumpstart your 2016 at the Arts Up Front Conference
Saturday 27 February 2016
ANU School of Music and School of Art
The conference will provide a program of professional learning workshops for
Arts Educators, Generalist Primary and Early Childhood teachers from
government and non-government schools in the ACT and regional NSW.
 Develop, refine, reinvigorate, innovate your practice
 Collaborate and connect with colleagues
The conference program will consist of:
 a keynote address
 2 x 2 hour workshops
 7 separate strands – Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Media, Primary Arts
and Early Childhood Arts
Cost: Teachers (permanent, part-time & contract) - $130
Casual relief & pre-service teachers - $65
Registration:
http://goo.gl/forms/YbkwFcF7Sb
(Workshop descriptions below)
Further information:
cheryl.diggins@ed.act.edu.au
ph. 6205 8269
ARTS UP FRONT 2016 Schedule
Registration
9.00 - 9.20
Entrance courtyard
Session 1
1.1
9.20 – 10.20
Welcome and Keynote address
Linda Lorenza
Morning tea
10.20 – 10.45
Session 2
10.45 - 12.45
Level 4
2.1
Steel drums
Groove Warehouse
2.4
Gif Animation
ANU School of Art
2.7
Portrait drawing
ANU School of Art
2.10
Primary music madness
ORFF
Lunch
12.45 – 1.30
Session 3
1.30 - 3.30
2.2
Dance and ideas
QL2
2.5
Textiles: Shibori dyeing
ANU School of Art
2.8
Give your kids Every chance
to dance
Kulture Break
2.11
Fun with drama in an early
childhood setting
Sydney Symphony
2.3
Directing in Detail
Sophie Benassi
2.6
Artist’s books with no glue
ANU School of Art
2.9
Practical and sustainable
approaches to art in the
primary setting Lyn Gascoigne
3.2
Tap, Jazz, Funk +
encouraging boys to dance
Ausdance
3.5
Ceramics
ANU School of Art
3.8
Drama across the primary
curriculum Lynn Petersen
3.11
Fun with singing and dance
3.3
The impractical beauty of
Artaud’s dilemmas
Shadow House PITS
3.6
Pressless printing
ANU School of Art
3.9
Starting STOP.MOTION.NOLAN
Canberra Museum and Gallery
3.12
Beyond the pencil
National Portrait Gallery
Level 4
3.1
Music composition
Musica Viva
3.4
Screen Motion Graphics
AIE
3.7
Portrait drawing
ANU School of Art
3.10
Starting and building choir
programs
Instrumental Music Program
ANU Music Engagement Program
ARTS UP FRONT 2016
WORKSHOP S AND PRESENTERS
1.1 Keynote : Implementing an Aspirational Arts Curriculum - Process, Perceptions and Practice
This presentation connects evidence of teachers’ experience and perceptions from recent research case studies with the
new Australian Arts Curriculum. Linda Lorenza’s recent doctoral research findings into teacher backgrounds, views of the
value of arts education and their understandings of curriculum and policy, provide a platform to discuss how teachers
connect their daily practice with the demands of curriculum. The discussion explores transformative pedagogies opening
up alternative assessment approaches through the new digital curriculum. The presentation looks at some developing
samples of work from schools around Australia, exploring potential for the Australian Arts Curriculum to unlock capacity
for teachers and learners to build intelligence, aptitude and inquisitiveness. Research findings, demonstration of the
Australian Curriculum website and video examples of student work demonstrating the achievement standards in the
Australian Arts Curriculum encourage divergent thinking about learning and assessment in the Arts. Can the new
curriculum be a game changer enabling a positive shift in how we view and measure student achievement in the Arts?
Linda Lorenza, BA Grad Dip Ed MA (Theatre) COGE, is a passionate vocalist and educator. She studied linguistics and
worked in speech technology research before undertaking years of operatic training and performance locally and in Italy.
She also trained in education and has taught Drama, Music, English and voice in schools. As Head of Education for Bell
Shakespeare for five years, Linda expanded the reputable Education program into a Learning program for schools and
communities, before joining Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) in 2010 as Senior
Project Officer, the Arts to facilitate the development of the Arts in the Australian curriculum. Linda has tutored in
Education at the University of Sydney and lectured in Drama Methods for the University of Western Sydney. In 2015,
Linda won the position of Director of Learning and Engagement at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She is currently
concluding her doctoral research in Arts education at The University of Sydney.
2.1 An introduction to steel drums
Secondary focus
A hands-on workshop for teachers exploring the rich world of the Steel Pan with an emphasis on music reading as well as
aural learning, improvisation and creative expression. This ensemble will perform on the Groove School's set of Tenor,
Guitar, Cello, and Bass Steel Drums custom crafted in Trinidad.
Gary France is a Drummer, Percussionist, Composer, Teacher, Sound Artist and Producer. As a Drumset Artist he has
performed with Bennie Maupin, James Morrison, Richie Cole, Nat Adderley, Dale Barlow, Jim McNeeley, Urbie Green,
John Clayton, Emily Remler, Peter Leutch, Phil Wilson, Clifford Jordan and numerous others. As an Orchestral
Contemporary Percussionist he has performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonic,
the Nova Ensemble, the West Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras, the Dallas Brass, the Doddworth Saxhorn Ensemble,
the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. As an International Clinician for Yamaha
Musical Products, Remo, the Sabian Cymbal Company and Innovative Percussion Products he has toured presenting
master classes, concerts and workshops throughout the U.S.A, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, India,
Brazil and New Zealand, Mexico and most recently Cuba.
2.2 Dance and Ideas
Secondary focus
This is a technical and creative contemporary dance workshop that opens new ideas for facilitating excellence and
fostering the young artist in your students. The first hour will focus on contemporary dance technique, complemented in
the second hour by creative tasks to inspire new teaching approaches for improvisation, composition and performance.
Alison Plevey graduated from WAAPA with a first class honours degree, Bachelor of Arts - Dance, in 2009. She is a dance and
physical theatre artist, choreographer, teacher, improviser and site dance maker. Alison has made solo and group work in
Canberra for the past five years following her interest in communicating contemporary issues, human stories and exploring
the interface of performance in non-traditional theatre spaces and environments. She is an active youth arts creator, working
closely with QL2 Dance as Tutor, Education Project Manager and Choreographer and with Canberra Youth Theatre Company
as Movement Tutor and Director.
2.3 Directing in Detail
Secondary focus
This workshop will focus on key components you can use in the classroom to help bring out the best in your students,
whether the students are working on monologues, scripts or devised group projects. We will have a hands-on look at
exercises that help the student achieve their personal best. The techniques explored will also encourage the students to
feel confident and supported in their environment while providing clear guidelines that help in play building and acting
techniques. This workshop will be run in the style of a masterclass with high school students on the floor demonstrating
the process.
Sophie Benassi has a Bachelor of Arts (Acting for Screen and Stage) and a Diploma in Education specialising in drama.
For the past eight years Sophie has been a full-time high school drama teacher, actor, director and producer for a range
of productions. She has also worked with 16th Street Actors Studio and performed in Professional Masterclasses with
Larry Moss, Ivana Chubbuck, Ellyn Burstyn and Anthony Wong. Sophie has also had private tuition with NIDA’S Tony
Knight and was a Canberra Area Theatre Award Judge in 2014/ 2015 seeing a range of shows across the ACT and
surrounding regions. Sophie is currently focusing on her directing and working as a Tutor for Canberra Youth Theatre
teaching the teen acting ensemble and running the By Design program for Blue Gum School. Sophie has a passion for
directing and devising original work with students.
2.4 Gif animation using Photoshop and other image-editing software
Secondary focus
In this computer laboratory-based workshop, participants will engage with Photoshop’s animation and video editing
tools in the production of an animated Gif. A brief introduction will cover the history of animated gifs and the diversity of
contexts in which they are now published, exhibited and disseminated. A number of technical demonstrations will detail
the production and publication process in the making of a “Cinemagraph" Gif. A variety of source material will be
provided, although the workshop also demonstrates how to source, capture and edit online video. A basic knowledge of
Photoshop or similar image editing software is assumed.
Max class number: 12
Dr Lucien Leon lectures in 3D animation and digital visual effects at the ANU. His PhD topic investigates the evolution
of political cartoons from print media to new media. Lucien’s political animations have been published on ABC’s
Unleashed website, Crikey.com and News Ltd’s The Punch website; and also broadcast on ABC TV’s Q&A program and
in documentaries on Taiwan and Dutch national television.
2.5 Between order and chaos: experimental textile design with indigo dyeing and screenprint
Secondary focus
This class will use a range of simple screenprint stencil techniques to lay down printed pattern on fabric and then work
with a range of shibori techniques to over-dye the printed layer with indigo to achieve a range of experimental fabric
design outcomes. This is a low tech class which can easily be replicated in the class room with both secondary and upper
primary school students. Participants will leave with a range of samples and finished textiles to take back to the class
room.
Max class number: 10
Please bring/wear covered shoes and old clothes (this class can get messy!)
You may also bring white or light coloured hankies, pillow cases, shirts etc to experiment with although all fabrics
required will be supplied.
Dr Al Munro is an artist and researcher whose interests span textile, print and drawing based practices to explore
contemporary and historical mapping of the natural world. Her research draws on fields such as mathematics, the
history of science, philosophy as well as visual culture to explore the relationships between visual practices and media
and epistemologies more conventionally understood as belonging to science.
Al has exhibited widely throughout Australia and internationally. She regularly contributes to natio nal and
international fora related to her research interests, and represented by Brenda May Gallery, Sydney.
2.6 Portrait drawing
Secondary focus
Participants will learn techniques of observational drawing to help bring out their portrait subject's individuality and
personality with a humble stick of charcoal. The strategies learnt in this class can be used to make preliminary portrait
studies for later works or to produce finished portrait drawings. Participants will start learning these strategies with more
conventional, close-up 'head and shoulders' portraits before moving on to see how much more a full body portrait can
express about the subject.
Max class number: 12
Dr Tony Curran is a practicing artist and has exhibited nationally and internationally in drawing, painting, installation and
sound art. His research has investigated the role of participation in portraiture and figurative art by producing in-situ life
drawing performances at Australia’s National Portrait Gallery, the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery the Museum of the Riverina
and Fraser Studios. Tony’s work was selected for the 2015 Archibald Prize and touring exhibitions. Curran lives and works
in Canberra where he teaches sessionally in Painting and Foundation Studies at the ANU School of Art.
2.7 Artist's books with no glue
Secondary focus
This workshop introduces participants to making creative book structures with simple folds and stitches. You will come
away with a selection of technical samples that can be used to extend a student's artistic ideas, or to teach maths
principles, or to just have fun with paper.
Participants are welcome to bring decorative papers to work with. You won't need much, so don't go crazy buying
anything. Examples are: wrapping paper, magazines, sheet music, brown paper (paper bags are good), sewing patterns,
newspaper, old printmaking proofs. You can also bring scraps of fabric and colourful threads if you have some. Feel free
also to bring a few drawing/stamping materials.
Ampersand Duck (aka Caren Florance) is a Canberra-based artist who uses traditional printing and book making
techniques in her work. Caren has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from ANU and is currently undertaking a PhD at the University
of Canberra. She is a sessional lecturer at the ANU School of Art and conducts public workshops in book arts and
letterpress by request. Caren is regularly invited to participate in significant exhibitions both nationally and internationally
and has work in the following collections (amongst others): National Gallery of Australia; National Library of Australia;
State Library of Queensland; State Library of Victoria British Library, UK.
2.8 Give your kids Every chance to dance
Primary focus
Know the positive benefits of dance but feel out of your comfort zone when it comes to delivering dance and movement
in your school? This workshop will step you through our new EC2D (Every chance to dance) online resource and lesson
plans so you can confidently deliver an effective and engaging dance program every week for a whole year. It's never
been easier to save hours of time and effort, build your teaching capacity across year groups, increase your student’s
enjoyment in the arts and utilise a resource aligned with the Australian Curriculum.
Francis Owusu is an entrepreneur, dancer, empowerment coach and leading communicator in cultural change. He is
also the Chief Executive Officer of Kulture Break, a charity youth services provider with a community arts focus. Kulture
Break has been the launching pad for some of Australia’s most successful performing artists including Timomatic and
Solo from Justice Crew. Francis is also the creator of Every Chance to Dance, Australia's first online dance curriculum
teaching video resources for primary schools. During his career, Francis has worked with major recording artists including
Marcia Hines, Guy Sebastian, Jon Stevens and Timomatic. He was the recipient of the 2013 Australian of the Year ACT
Local Hero Award, ACT Public schools Alumni, ACT Human Right Diversity Champion and nominated Australian of the
Day 2016.
2.9 Some practical and sustainable approaches to ‘open-ended, individually expressed’ Visual
Art in the Primary classroom.
Primary focus
This workshop will provide an approach and strategies for teaching visual arts: the language of visual art; the teacher’s
role in an art class - organisation, motivation, critique, reflection and praise; organisation and understanding of materials
and setting up opportunities for children to do the artwork and express or interpret a topic in their own way. Examples
and samples of approaches will draw from painting, junk construction, mask-making with paper-mâché and simple
printmaking.
Lyn Gascoigne has been a Primary School Visual Arts specialist teacher for over forty years and is passionate about an
expressive individual approach to art with her students. Lyn is currently the visual arts specialist at North Ainslie IB PYP
Primary School. She has a Masters of Art Visual Arts (ANU), as well as tertiary qualifications in commercial photography
and cultural heritage management. Lyn has also held positions as an art consultant in the Tasmanian Education
Department and a tutorship at the University of Tasmania.
2.10
Primary Music Madness
Primary focus
In an overcrowded curriculum how do you add music in, in practical and fun ways?
This workshop is for Primary Classroom teachers and will include activities and games based on the Orff approach to
teaching music as well as ideas for assessment.
Susan Curbishley has a passion for both teaching and music! She shares her love of both with children at Mother Teresa
Primary where she teaches Preschool to Grade 6 on a fulltime basis. Susan also heads up the ACT Orff team and is a
committee member of NSW Orff. In 2010 she was awarded an Excellence in Music teaching award from ASME. Susan has
a very patient husband and four children who she practices ideas on constantly!
2.11 Fun with drama in the early childhood setting
Early Childhood focus
This workshop will explore approaches and strategies for teaching drama in the early years. Capitalise on opportunities
for children to learn as they discover, create, imagine, improvise.
Linda Lorenza, BA Grad Dip Ed MA (Theatre) COGE, is a passionate vocalist and educator. She studied linguistics and
worked in speech technology research before undertaking years of operatic training and performance locally and in Italy.
She also trained in education and has taught Drama, Music, English and voice in schools. As Head of Education for Bell
Shakespeare for five years, Linda expanded the reputable Education program into a Learning program for schools and
communities, before joining Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) in 2010 as Senior
Project Officer, the Arts to facilitate the development of the Arts in the Australian curriculum. Linda has tutored in
Education at the University of Sydney and lectured in Drama Methods for the University of Western Sydney. In 2015,
Linda took up the position of Director of Learning and Engagement at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She is currently
concluding her doctoral research in Arts education at The University of Sydney.
3.1 Unlocking Creativity : Music Composition
Secondary focus
Composition is the logical summation of music education. Through it students are encouraged to take an existing
understanding of music skills, genres and experiences, and transform them into imagining their own unique sound world.
This workshop aims to present a variety of track-tested composition strategies, tasks and ideas that will fire the
imaginations of our budding composers, and funnel these through proven composition techniques and structures so that
students feel secure to find their voice and to have something really worth saying in their works. Areas covered include:
form and structure, the role of music as conversation, and learning to internally hear music before committing it to paper.
Stephen Leek is an extensively commissioned freelance composer, freelance conductor, educator and publisher. He has
taught at, lectured at, presented workshops and master-classes, and directed numerous schools, universities, music
camps and events specifically for young Australians including the Australian Voices Young Composers School, and the
Gondwana International Young Composers School. He has been Composer in Residence to countless primary and
secondary schools, universities, colleges, conservatoriums and community groups throughout Australia and the world,
where sharing the skills of new music and nurturing creative ideas has been central to his educational activities.
As Composer/Conductor, Stephen has long associations with some of the finest and most innovative choirs around the
world including Gondwana Voices (Australia), the Tapiola Children’s Choir (Finland), Kamer…Choir (Latvia), The Formosa
Singers (Taiwan), and his own choirs, vOiCeArT and The Australian Voices, that he co-founded and conducted for 16
years until 2009. As a conductor, Leek is in demand to work as guest conductor around the globe. As a composer he
writes in his own distinctive contemporary style. His works have broad appeal and are performed by a wide selection of
choirs throughout the world. He has been commissioned by some of the leading choral groups world-wide. Having
written 13 operas, numerous orchestral and chamber works, music for education and dance, yet, Leek is often credited as
the “founder of Australian choral music” through his composition of over 700 innovative choral works which explore a
uniquely “Australian” colour and texture. A Churchill Fellow, Leek has received many national and international awards
including the prestigious “Robert Edler International Choral Prize” for his contribution to the development of global
choral music. He is currently Vice President of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), and in 2012/13, was
the Artistic Director of the Shanghai Youth Choir and in 2015, Conductor of the Asia Pacific Youth Choir. He continues to
pursue his hectic freelance activities throughout the world.
3.2 Tap & JFH - Encouraging boys to dance
Secondary focus
In this workshop will teach the basics of Tap dancing and JFH (Jazz Funk Hip Hop). Learn tap steps & rhythms to use in
the classroom and ways to incorporate tap into lessons. Learn Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop techniques and combos to
incorporate and choreograph for students and encourage student participation and choreography with a focus on boys’
dance education.
Kym Degenhart has been teaching Dance for the past 18 years and is the principal/Director of Bom Funk Dance Studio
in Jerrabomberra. She has a Bachelor of Journalism, Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education
specialising in Dance. She holds Australasian Dance Association Teachers Tap and Jazz certificates. She has had a 10 year
international professional dance career, most notably as a Cancan dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris from 2004-2006 &
as principal dancer at Zenboo in Tokyo. She has also lived and danced in shows in Hong Kong, Wakura Onsen (Japan)
and Sydney and toured to Rome with the Moulin Rouge, USA with Australian Dance Ensemble and Edinburgh with
Extensions Youth Contemporary Company. Kym was principal Tap, Jazz & Hip Hop teacher at GADA in Hong Kong in
2008-2009 before moving to Canberra. Kym spent the last 4 years running the Calwell High School Dance program. While
Kym enjoys teaching all styles of dance to the young and old, she has a particular passion for sharing her expertise in tap
and cabaret. She has a passion for teaching boys dance education and has had great success running boys-only
programs in Queensland and ACT. She currently manages J4 Crew, Canberra's largest all-male hip hop crew and J4
Junior, their training crew.
3.3 The Impractical Beauty of Artaud's Dilemmas
Secondary focus
Artaud can be a dangerous person to muck around with! This workshop will provide you with the necessary sense of safe
space and objectivity needed to venture into the more dangerous territories associated with Artaud's ideas and concepts.
He provided very little by way of strategies and techniques. Rather he provided a challenge and another way of
conceiving that is more relevant now than at the time of his writing.
Participants should be prepared to move, lie on the floor, sing and play while returning to stillness and silence. While the
workshop is more about approaches than technique, some first steps in accessing the impractical beauty of Artaud will be
opened for application in secondary classrooms and community theatre.
Joe Woodward is an independent theatre producer, writer, director and teacher. His first professional theatre
appointment was as an actor / Educational Officer at La Boite Theatre in Brisbane, where he continued training as an actor
and as a director. He was subsequently appointed Coordinator of the professional theatre-in-education company the
E.C.D.P. based at the theatre. Later positions include: Artistic Director of The Jigsaw Theatre Company (Canberra) in 1980;
Producer/director/entrepreneur as part of David Bates and Joe Woodward (1980 - 1981); Co-Owner/Manager (with David
Bates) of Pie In The Sky Theatre and Bar (PITS) 1981 - 1984; Director / Executive Officer of Stage Coach Theatre School
(1985 - 1994). From 1986 to 1989 he was a member of the ACT Arts Development Board and Co-Chair in 1988/89 of the
Performing Arts Committee with Anne Edgeworth. He is currently Coordinator of Performing Arts at Daramalan College in
Canberra while still working as Artistic Director of Shadow House PITS, an essentially experimental theatre group
influenced by Antonin Artaud. With over twenty-five produced plays to his credit, his texts are now being produced in
locations around the globe.
3.4 Screen motion graphics using After Effects
Secondary focus
In this tutorial you will learn how to use motion graphic techniques to create a professional TV commercial. Using the
animation and effects tool-set contained within Adobe After Effects, you will learn how to bring simple static elements to
life. The techniques you will learn in this session will open up loads of opportunities for your own creative endeavours.
Dave Scotland has over 14 years of CG production knowledge and experience, working for some of the biggest clients in
the entertainment industry including, Disney, Warner Bros. Plastic Wax and Liquid Animation, just to name a few. A
regular author for 3D Artists Magazine, Dave is dedicated to bringing CG knowledge to anyone interested in learning...
He started out in production as a 3D Animator and Technical Director before moving into the world of Compositing,
Digital Visual Effects and Motion Graphics. Throughout his career, Dave has been drawn to the process of sharing his
knowledge with others and has a definite gift for teaching quite technical procedures and techniques to both
experienced and novice operators.
3.5 Ceramics
Secondary focus
This course will teach basic wheel throwing skills, including centring and pulling up. The cylinder will be the first point of
entry for beginners. We will also look at bowl, plate and unconventional wheel thrown forms. Participants will go away
with skills and ideas for future exploration and practice.
Max class number: 12
Kelly Austin is an emerging contemporary ceramic artist living in Canberra, ACT. She completed a Bachelor of General
Fine Arts from the Emily Carr University in Vancouver, Canada and is currently half way through a Master of Philosophy,
Practice-led Research within the ceramic workshop at the School of Art at the Australia National University. Her research
investigates the potential for movement and stillness in groupings of wheel thrown ceramic vessel forms. Kelly has been
exhibiting work since 2008 and has been involved in group and solo exhibitions in Canada, USA and Australia. She has
also been involved with collaborative works, recently working with some of Canberra’s best restaurants to produce
contemporary tableware. Most recently, Kelly was selected to participate in CraftACT's Emerging Contemporaries, an
exhibition that showcases some of the best up and coming craft and design work from across the country in a range of
mediums.
3.6 Pressless printing and stencil making
Secondary focus
Participants will learn two printmaking techniques: monotype, which produces strong designs from hand-worked hard
surfaces, and pochoir, which produces strong bold colours from stencils.
Max class number: 12
John Pratt, a senior lecturer at ANU, is a consummate printmaker, painter and drawer, who is primarily concerned with
tenuous states of being and mind-states evoked by physical surroundings. In his images, the boundaries between the
figure and its environment are dissolved, each serving as a visual metaphor for the existence of the other. John is
highly regarded as both an educator and artist. He has an extensive exhibition record and his work is held in major public
collections including the National Gallery of Australia.
3.7 Portrait drawing
(repeat of morning session)
Secondary focus
Participants will learn techniques of observational drawing to help bring out their portrait subject's individuality and
personality with a humble stick of charcoal. The strategies learnt in this class can be used to make preliminary portrait
studies for later works or to produce finished portrait drawings. Participants will start learning these strategies with more
conventional, close-up 'head and shoulders' portraits before moving on to see how much more a full body portrait can
express about the subject.
Max class number: 12
Dr Tony Curran is a practicing artist and has exhibited nationally and internationally in drawing, painting, installation and
sound art. His research has investigated the role of participation in portraiture and figurative art by producing in-situ life
drawing performances at Australia’s National Portrait Gallery, the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery the Museum of the Riverina
and Fraser Studios. Tony’s work was selected for the 2015 Archibald Prize and touring exhibitions. Curran lives and works
in Canberra where he teaches sessionally in Painting and Foundation Studies at the ANU School of Art.
3.8 Mile Wide, Inch Deep: Drama across the curriculum
Primary focus
Let’s face it – the curriculum is packed! How can we possibly address it all – and in a real way? One approach is to use
drama pedagogy to explore concepts drawn from other KLAs. In this way you can explicitly develop students’
understandings from a range of different perspectives in subjects such as English, Science, HSS… (you get the picture - I
could list all 8 plus their subsets here) as well as explicitly teaching and developing students’ understanding, knowledge
and skills in drama. By doing this, we are simultaneously deepening students’ experience and development in multiple
curriculum areas. In this workshop we will: explore a range of different drama techniques that you can adapt for use in a
range of KLAs, make links between these techniques and the Australian Curriculum and consider (and find potential
remedies for) any worries or problems you have encountered when using drama in your classroom (so make sure you
bring your questions!)
Lynn Petersen has trained and performs in improvised theatre, most recently in Home Front at the Street Theatre. The
show appeared in the Adelaide Fringe Festival and toured regional NSW. Lynn is a sometime tutor for Impro ACT, and a
member of the Canberra Theatre Centre Advisory Committee, chairing their Education Reference group and developing
teacher guides for a number of their productions. Lynn has a Masters in Education – with a research focus on using
drama pedagogy to develop students’ literacy skills. Lynn has held many leadership roles within the ACT Department of
Education including Principal, Deputy Principal, Executive Teacher for the Arts and a Quality Teaching Coordinator. Her
major focus in each of these roles was working with colleagues to explore practice together and asking: How can we do
this better? How can we build on our strengths?
3.9 Starting and Building Choir Programs in the Primary Setting
Primary focus
In this workshop Katharine will lead participants through the steps involved in starting a choir program in the primary
school. She will also include helpful information for teachers currently working with primary school choirs at beginning
and intermediate levels of development.
Topics covered will include warm ups, repertoire choice, performance readiness, choral techniques, ideas and
opportunities for promoting your choir. Katharine will also offer some strategies for teachers who are unable to read
music but who love to both sing and encourage children to sing and perform.
Katharine Finlayson has been a Primary School Music Specialist teacher for 30 years. She is passionate about Choral
music and performance for children and young people. She has prepared students to perform in concerts and
eisteddfods since her first years of teaching in Queensland in the 1980’s. Katharine is currently employed as the Executive
Teacher, Professional Practice for Music and the Arts in the Belconnen Network of schools. She is based at the ACT
Instrumental Music Program where she is the conductor of the ACT Primary Concert Choir. Katharine is the President of
the ACT branch of the Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia.
3.10
Fun with singing and dance
Early Childhood focus
This course is built around a range of dances and dancing games that are suitable for early childhood and primary age
students. It is designed to show particularly how to combine singing and dance so that students can provide their own
music. It will, however, include some instrumental accompaniments and the sources for these. The aim is to have fun with
singing and movement in a way that combines different art forms and contributes to physical fitness and development of
movement skills.
Susan West is Associate Professor and Artistic Director of the Music Engagement Program (MEP) at the ANU School of
Music. She is a performer, composer, arranger, and educator and her work in the MEP has resulted in numerous personal
and team awards.
3.11
Starting STOP.MOTION.NOLAN for Teachers
Primary focus
Participants will use stop motion animation techniques, iPad and App technology to access and engage with the
paintings and stories in the Nolan Collection at CMAG. Stop motion animation is a fun and creative means of combining
technology and the visual arts in a way that is engaging and meaningful for students. Once the basic skills and
techniques of stop motion animation are understood, students can then apply this knowledge to bring any subject area
to life.
Kay Whitney studied printmaking, photography and visual art education. She has extensive experience as a secondary
school teacher of visual art, design, drama, ceramics and music in NSW, SA and the ACT. She has also worked as an
educator in various museums and galleries across Canberra, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian
War Memorial. In 2008, she commenced her role as the Nolan Access and Learning Officer at Canberra Museum and
Gallery, where she designs, develops and delivers learning programs inspired by the Nolan Collection for preschool and
primary school students, art activities for children and families and printmaking workshops for adults and teachers.
3.12
Beyond the pencil – Visual Art
Early Childhood focus
Participants will spend the first hour exploring the National Portrait Gallery in a facilitated program followed by an hour
of experimentation and creating. The Gallery component will focus on developing visual thinking strategies and the
power of portraiture to tell a myriad of stories. The workshop will allow participants to develop a portfolio of activities
and art projects for use in the Early Childhood classroom.
Sally Adair is an artist and arts educator based in Canberra, Australia. She is currently employed as a Learning Facilitator
at the National Portrait Gallery and a tutor in Creative Industries at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Experienced in
delivering a range of workshops for both children and adults, Sally encourages participants to experience Art as means of
exploring, thinking and responding to the world around them in a supportive and engaging environment.