Natalie Blanch's Piano Studio

Wednesday, January 18, 2023 by Natalie Blanch | Exams

Entries open 22 January and close 22 March, for the Border District Eisteddfod. This is held in Stanthorpe, with the instrumental dates likely to be May 21-24th.The programme will be released 15 April 2024, pieces need to be finalised by the end of Term 1, so I can post copies of the music to the committee by the end of April. 

Encore Star Competition - recording from May 

Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) exam dates:

Video Repertoire Exams, for both Piano and Piano for Leisure. 

Session 74 - enrolments close on 15 May (please enrol by May 12). Video submissions can be recorded from May 18, finalised and uploaded by June 7 for submission to be then completed by teacher.  

Session 78 - enrolments close 28 October, video submission can be recorded from 3 to 25 October, finalised to then be completed by teacher.

In person exams

DARLING DOWNS - Session 11 Toowoomba - Enrolments close 27 March, examinations May/June session

DARLING DOWNS - Session 12 Warwick - Enrolments close 28 August, examinations from 12 October to 3 November

Further dates available in Brisbane and Ipswich, for examinations from March to December.

St Cecilia’s School of Music

• March (14-25 March) Closing Date for Entries:  February 22nd
• June (1-30 June) Closing Date for Entries:  April 22nd 
• August/September (19 Aug - 27 Sept) Closing Date for Entries:  June 22nd
• November (1-30) Closing Date for Entries:   August 22nd
• December (1-15 December) Closing Date for Entries:   September 22nd

In 2024 I am hoping to host online St Cecilia exams in the March and November sessions. 

Australian Guild of Music & Speech

Recording Artist exams available year round.

International Virtual Festival - entries close June 25

Thursday, December 3, 2020 by Natalie Blanch | Exams

The end of 2020 is nearly here, and what a year it's been! It has been a privilege to teach piano to an amazing group of students at Scots PGC, Warwick Christian College, and at my home this year. I've enjoyed working with new beginner piano students through to more experienced pianists who started the year already working on pieces for their next exams. Some students only had one or two lessons in person with me before the challenges of online video calls began, and I was impressed by the commitment to practice and continuing their studies. Students and myself learnt a lot from video call lessons and practising at home, and while I hope we can teach in person from now on, it opened up options for when a student or myself has a cold, or even if the Condamine River floods again one day and we can't get to schools or each other. This has been a year of learning and embracing technology for me, and my teaching feels richer as a result. 

The Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) and St Cecilia's School of Music both extended their options for exams, and students adapted and excelled with the new offerings. Four students completed video repertoire exams for the AMEB, which involved recording their exams in their entirety, to submit to the examining board. The four students sat Grades 4, 6 and 7, and excelled themselves, receiving Distinctions and High Distinctions. Five primary age students also sat their first St Cecilia's exams, via a live video with the examiner from Tasmania. All students received A+/High Distinctions as well!! The results reflects their efforts and commitment to practice and lessons. Congratulations!!

Thank you to all my amazing students for sharing your love of music this year. I look forward to working with those doing holiday lessons over coming weeks, and to the remainder when school resumes in 2021, including new students!

Have a wonderful Christmas and holiday!