Phil has been teaching classroom music for over 20 years. It was while he was teaching class and instrumental music at Fairholme College. Toowoomba, QLD that he began the development of an innovative and effective class string-teaching program. He continued to develop and refine the program during teaching contracts at: the New England Girls’ School, Armidale NSW; The Cathedral School Townsville, Qld; Frensham, Mittagong NSW and most recently as Director of Ensembles at St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith, NSW.
At St Paul’s, while teaching Senior School Music and conducting and co-ordinating the school ensembles and performance program, he designed and implemented an award winning strings program in the Junior School which incorporated the Board of Studies Outcomes of the K-6 Music Curriculum. Phil authored a integrated text and backing CD and was delighted when the program was widely acclaimed, winning a Commendation in the ABC FLAME Music Education Awards in 2008. In 2008 Phil was also a finalist for the Golden Fiddle Awards for ‘Best Teacher’.
Alongside his teaching experience Phil continued to perform Jazz Violin at various venues including the Illawarra Jazz Festival and the Thredbo International Jazz Festival. He was the violinist with the Jazz Trio MIST based in the Southern Highlands of NSW from 1998 to 2001. He is often called on to teach Jazz Strings Workshops for both teachers of String and for students. His ‘workshop portfolio’ has grown over the years and Phil is available for Strings and Composition workshops, master-classes and in-service courses for music teachers. His ‘large group’ strings workshops for up to 50 students have been in demand and Ensemble workshops and innovative improvisation and ‘Composing to Image’ workshops provide a different dimension to his work.
As well as a degree in Music Education, Phil also gained a Graduate Diploma in Film & TV Music (Composition and Music Production) from Griffith University. Phil maintains his own comprehensive Production Studio and has composed music for TV documentaries and Short Films. His advice in the use of music technology in schools is regularly sort after. Phil is currently working on his Masters in Education by research at the Australian Catholic University. His area of interest is ‘Musical Literacy: engagement and motivation in Stage 4 Music’. Phil continues to make himself available as a session musician around Sydney. For instance, in 2008 he played fiddle on a new children’s TV show ‘The Kingdom of Paramithi’ produced by the Wiggles.
2009 saw Phil move away from work in individual schools to an exciting new position with Catholic Education – Western Sydney. Here, as a ‘teacher educator’ with a specialization in Music, he is leading an innovative Music Education program across a system of 76 schools. Two primary schools in the system have already implemented the ‘Fiddlin’ Phil Strings Method’ which sees 120 students playing stringed instruments in each school. There is an excitement and vibrancy about his work which is endearing him to staff and students alike.
Biography written and updated by Ann Schavemaker - 22/8/09
Lesley Rooke
Lesley, Phil’s life and business partner is, for many clients, the first point of contact at “Fiddlin’ Phil Productions”. It is Lesley who handles most aspects of marketing, promotions and accounts in the business. Lesley deals with school orders, bookings for workshops etc and all communications concerning sales and promotions.
Lesley is well experienced in the business side of things having begun her working career as a clerk with Lumley’s insurance and then worked as a trainee accountant with ICI in Sydney. Lesley has many years experience in managing Phil’s production studio, liaising with musicians, organizing gigs, maintaining the accounts and keeping the books for the production studio.
Aside from her experience in business management, Lesley has a passion for education, in particular for the early childhood years. She believes strongly in providing opportunities for young children in the performing arts. Lesley completed her Diploma in Child Care at the Barrier Reef TAFE College in Townsville and worked as a group leader at the James Cook University Student Union Child Care Centre. While living in Armidale, NSW she was the Co-Ordinator of After School Care at the New England Girls’ School and, while Phil was at St Paul’s Grammar School, Penrith, Lesley worked in the After School Care program.
With her well-developed skills set in business management and accounting, gained over many years managing musicians and the business side of music production, and her interest and experience in early childhood education Lesley provides a wonderfully balanced approach to the management of ‘Fiddlin’ Phil Productions’.
Biography written and updated by Ann Schavemaker - 22/8/09
