Guitar Teacher

Duncan Gardiner

Brisbane Classical Guitar Lessons

FUN, FRIENDLY, EXPERT TUITION… AT THE QUEENSLAND CONSERVATORIUM!

I am now part of the amazing teaching team at Queensland Conservatorium’s ‘Open Conservatorium’. Lessons and ensembles run on Saturdays throughout school terms.

YOUNG BEGINNER – a group guitar class for children aged 5-7. It’s an introduction to group playing and a chance for kids to enjoy playing guitar in a group with fun ensemble games and easy pieces. This class is for absolute beginners. Saturdays 11:00-11:45am

GUITAR ENSEMBLES – there are two guitar ensembles on offer, providing opportunities to develop musicianship and ensemble skills. Our ensemble musicians learn challenging and exciting repertoire, with a focus on playing together with style and enthusiasm.
• Junior Ensemble is suitable for children (AMEB grade 1-4).
• Senior Ensemble is suitable for teenagers and adults of any age (minimum AMEB grade 5). Saturdays 12:00-1:00pm

GUITAR LESSONS – personalised, individual classical guitar lessons at ‘The Con’. These lessons are open to players of all abilities. I work closely with Brisbane’s very own guitar super star, Karin Schaupp. Secondary students might see this as a natural stepping-stone to a tertiary music degree in classical guitar at the Queensland Conservatorium. Saturdays by appointment.

Please check out the online brochure for more information here:https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1071655/Young-Con-Brochure-2018.pdf

You can enrol online here: https://youngcon-ecm.secure.griffith.edu.au/

Learning through Open Conservatorium has many advantages, from regular performance opportunities at ‘The Con’ and Lady Cilento hospital, plus scope for collaboration with other musicians, to learning in world class facilities and much more.

All lessons take place at the Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank. Lessons and ensembles run on Saturdays throughout school terms.

My students will learn to:
· play beautifully, rhythmically and energetically.
· learn engaging music with refined technique.
· read music and understand theory.
· discover chords, strumming patterns and percussive effects.
· enjoy playing solo, and with me.
· develop confidence.

I have been teaching classical guitar for the over 15 years. I have taught one-on-one lessons, group classes, ensembles and workshops and performed music education concerts. I have taught children to read music before they could read words, taken students successfully through graded exams (AMEB), guided students into music courses at universities and helped children and adults alike realise their creative potential.

‘Professional Member’ of the Music Teacher’s Association of Queensland. Queensland Blue Card holder.

What you get is expert instruction from a seasoned professional.

“Duncan is passionate about teaching classical guitar. He is an extraordinary music educator and a wonderful human being.”

“Excellent! Duncan is a passionate, joyful and very experienced guitar teacher. My son Oliver and I always look forward to Wednesday lessons. We enjoy every lesson. I am thrilled with my son’s progress. I can only speak very highly of Duncan.”

Duncan Gardiner

Brisbane-based classical guitarist, composer, researcher and educator, Duncan Gardiner, has emerged as an innovative musician with expertise in many fields. Having released four studio albums, published a book of original compositions and toured internationally, Duncan has been described as “exceedingly talented” (Julian Day, ABC Classic FM) and as “an excellent ambassador for the classical guitar”. His playing has been described by audiences as “delicate, serene and magical”, while of his compositions, Neville Cohn (The West) said: “His works reveal evidence of a real creative gift. Whether lulling or emphatic, they delight the ear”. Duncan was honoured to be included in Ron K. Payne’s publication The Twang Dynasty, a history of notable Australian performers.

Duncan’s debut album Of Dreams and Fantasy impressed Chris Dumigan (Classical Guitar Magazine, UK) who exclaimed: “I must say that this is one of the very best CDs of guitar music to ever come my way… I have returned to this CD more than most others just for the sheer pleasure of it. This is a startlingly good disc!” It was voted ‘CD of the Week’ in the West Australian newspaper. In reviewing Incense & Arabie, Rosalind Appleby (Noted), stated: “the works are pensive, melodically exquisite and immaculately performed and produced”. Each of his albums receives regular national airplay on ABC Classic FM as well as a range of local stations.

Fresh from a feature performance at the inaugural Classical Guitar Festival Sydney, Duncan also toured extensively throughout Japan, Singapore, NSW, QLD and WA in 2017. Recitals across Hong Kong for Premiere Performances Hong Kong, WA’s Pilbara and Kimberley regions and Melbourne and regional Victoria for Musica Viva in Schools were highlights for 2016. In 2016 Duncan made his Japan debut with his duo mimi duo, and also performed with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra and WA Opera alongside recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey in the Perth season of Iain Grandage’s The Riders. Duncan has previously performed many of the great concertos, including those of Rodrigo and Villa-Lobos as well as Nigel Westlake’s Antarctica.

Duncan’s very own violin concerto was premiered by international soloist Alexandre Da Costa. His piano trio was performed by Magellan with review, Neville Cohn, (The West) stating: “Whether couched in gently melancholic terms or moments of intensity, it’s clear that Gardiner has something worthwhile to say. His music deserves to be taken up by other musicians. I’d like to listen to it again – and again.” He has been commissioned to write new music for The National Trust of Australia as well as Rossmoyne Senior High School. In 2014, the Western Australian Youth Orchestra’s Sinfonietta premiered his commission Sharp Light and Spirals at the Perth Concert Hall. His Dance (like nobody’s watching) was premiered by the Newman College concert band and choir at the Sydney Opera House and two of his orchestral suites were commissioned by the Fremantle Symphony Orchestra.

Duncan published a book of original works titled Of Dreams and Fantasy. Reviewer, Uroš Dojčinović, (SOUNDBOARD, USA) wrote “this is a very enjoyable collection with a wide range of different pieces, presented in a traditional way that can easily amuse not just the listeners but also the performers”. William Yeoman (The West), described this collection as “extraordinarily attractive” and “a pleasure to listen to and a delight to play”. Some of the pieces were chosen for the exam syllabi of the Australian Guild of Music and Speech.

Duncan is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the Queensland Conservatorium (Griffith University) studying under internationally renowned guitarist, Karin Schaupp, where he is researching guitar activities in colonial Queensland. He has played in masterclasses for Judicaël Perroy, David Leisner, Laura Young, Dale Kavanagh, Nicholas Goluses and Adrian Walter. In 2006 he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Music Performance from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where he was the recipient of the Helen Court Scholarship and the Faculty Medal. Duncan received the Licentiate of Music Diploma with distinction from the Australian Music Examinations Board, where he also won the J.B. Vincent Memorial Prize for being the most outstanding candidate.

Duncan is thrilled to be able to encourage the next generation of young guitarists through his work as an educator through his role as sessional classical guitar teacher at Queensland Conservatorium’s Young Conservatorium program. Duncan performs on guitars made by renowned luthiers Jim Redgate, Manuel Velasquez and Graham Caldersmith.

www.duncangardiner.com

Qualifications -

• Licentiate of Music Diploma (LMusA)

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