I am a firm believer in the philosophy that anyone can learn to play music, and also that everyone deserves a chance to learn music whatever their circumstances. Whether playing is done with the intent of making a career out of music, or simply as a fun pastime, everyone should experience the sensation of making music at some point in their life. The benefits of music are endless, with countless studies proving the positive psychological impact of playing music, there is no reason for it to not have at least a minute role in everybody’s life. I bring a highly enthusiastic energy to the teaching room, encouraging pupils to explore and engage with music of any style. I also take great pleasure in being organised and punctual in order to ensure that my pupils receive the most beneficial learning experience I can possibly provide.
I strive to promote an equal blend of technical learning and enjoyable music-making with my students. Teachers generally tend towards either end of this scale to varying extents: some focus too much on technique and ruin the enjoyment of playing music, while others encourage the fun of making music to the extent that little progress is made. I aim to reach a balance between these two approaches, however, every student is learning music for a different reason and I endeavour to constantly adapt my teaching methods to fit the needs of each individual student.
My teaching experience consists of two years as a private music teacher in Bellingen, NSW. In this position, I worked as a private teacher, a group tutor for Bellingen Youth Orchestra, and offered sit-in consultations for my colleagues’ teaching sessions. I also received my LMusA in viola in 2016. With this experience, I bring a considerable amount of knowledge to this position, however, I am also eager to learn more as I continue to teach. I believe that the teaching process goes both ways, as both the teacher and the student can benefit greatly and learn much from each other.
Liam is an enthusiastic young musician who brings an engaging and emotionally resonant performance style to the concert stage. He has a passion for new music and regularly performs new or atypical works in addition to traditional viola repertoire. Liam has been commended numerous times for his emotional engagement with his performances, as well as his enthusiasm to engage his audiences in informative discussions of the works he presents. He has had an extensive performance career thus far, highlights of which include appearing as a concerto soloist on the Sydney Opera House stage in 2016 and performing in the finals for the Richard Pollett Performance Prize in 2019.
Liam’s greatest musical passion is as a performer of chamber music; for which he regularly performs as a member of the Sunrise String Quartet and Pulse Chamber Orchestra. He has often been praised for his energetic vibrancy and his enthusiasm for communicating through both physical and musical expression. In performance, he is known for his tendency to put aside his sheet music in favour of communicating more directly with both the audience and his fellow performers. In 2018, Liam performed live on radio as part of the 4MBS Musica Viva Sid Page Memorial Prize as a member of the Sunrise String Quartet.
Liam also has substantial experience as a private music teacher and group tutor. His teaching methods foster a love of music, and an appreciation of music of all types. His teaching philosophy is that everyone can play music, and therefore everybody should be given the opportunity to learn music. He has also acted as a sit-in consultant for other teachers, providing feedback on their teaching style and providing technical advice. Liam has a representation as a teacher who readily adapts to the requirements of his students, and one who understands the importance of establishing rapport between the teacher and student in order to ensure the most enjoyable learning experience possible.