Held on the 24th Aug 2025
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Get the lowdown on new resources to support contemporary music teachers and learners.
Get ready to be blown away by an allstar band lineup featuring Hamish Houston on bass, Jamie Pregnell on guitar, and Casey Kostiuk on drums.
These talented musicians will perform recently released charts from the new Rockschool Grade books, showcasing everything from beginner to advanced levels across the diverse range of contemporary styles that Rockschool is renowned for. This is your chance to hear the music come alive and gain fresh inspiration for your teaching.
But that's not all! The workshop will also include engaging group discussions led by the musicians themselves, where you can share experiences with fellow teachers. Discover how you can use Rockschool resources to elevate your teaching and deeply connect with your students.
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to enhance your skills and network with other passionate educators. See you there!
Registration is FREE but ESSENTIAL.
Event details
SOUTH: nipaluna / Hobart
Sunday 24 August
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Hedberg: Salon
19 Collins Street, Hobart
Enter via the heritage façade on Collins Street.
FREE Admission but registrations essential to manage capacities.
Our friends from Modern Musician will be joining us with some freebies and lots of resources for sale on the day.
Please note: We’ll be taking some photos throughout the day to record the event, and post on social media. If you’re coming along and would rather we avoid any images of you, please let us know by 5pm Friday 4 May via infotas@ameb.edu.au.
Who is this event for?
Instrumental and vocal music teachers, tutors, and conductors. This content has a contemporary focus but musos of other genres are very welcome to come along to find out more.
You don't need to be an AMEB or Rockschool teacher, or even focus on exams with your students. This is really all about sharing new resources, ideas and approaches to help you take your teaching to the next level. Oh, and non-teachers are absolutely welcome, too! Here's a bit more information on what each session entails...
Allstar band demo
Our band will play some of the new charts recently released by Rockschool. But it's not just a gig - they'll talk about how the you can use the resources to take students on structured and supported a journey to learn new skills, explore different genres, and engage them in their own areas of interest. Keep scrolling to read about our musos.
Break out discussion groups
Take a deep dive on your instrument as our bandmembers lead individual discussion groups. You'll find out more about how Rockschool resources can support your students, and share your experience with your peers. Bring your questions and use this session to trouble shoot challenges you've faced in your teaching space. This is not only for professional development - it's a unique opportunity to network and build your community.
Meet Hamish Houston
Hamish Houston is a bassist from Hobart. As an electric bassist, he is a sought-after sideman, accompanying blues, soul, and funk bands throughout the state. His skill and musical forethought, however, are most apparent when he plays jazz and improvised music on the upright bass.
Hamish is a music educator at the UTAS Conservatorium of Music in Hobart. In 2017 he received an Arts Tas grant to study the upright bass under the mentorship of National Jazz Award-winning bassist, Sam Anning.
Hamish is currently a specialist Rockschool Examiner for AMEB Tasmania and is regularly coopted for our international AMEB examining.
Meet Jamie Pregnell
Jamie is an experienced musician and guitar teacher from Hobart. Jamie specialises in one-on-one private lesson tuition at all levels/styles, however can also work with small group lessons as well as ensembles. Jamie is currently teaching at St Virgil’s college and Hutchins school but has worked at numerous high schools and college around Hobart.
Some career highlights include attending the Siena Jazz International summer workshop in Siena Italy in 2023, receiving an Australia Arts Council career development grant to study with Australian Jazz great James Muller in 2017 and attending the Banff International Jazz workshop in Banff, Canada, in 2012. Jamie has just recorded two albums of original compositions, toured around Australia and played with some of Australia's jazz luminous including Sam Anning, Julien Wilson, Ben Vanderwal, Mat Jodrel.
Meet Casey Kostiuk
Casey is a professional drummer, educator and composer who has two decades of professional drumming experience. During this time, he has worked extensively in the field of music tuition including research into metacognition, auditory processing and biomechanics. Casey is also a highly sought after musician who continues to perform and record with some of Australia's leading artists and local Tasmanian talent
Casey is endorsed by Yamaha and Paiste Cymbals. He has run and managed various clinics and masterclasses for Yamaha Drums and has written for the Australian published Drum Scene Magazine.
Over the last 15 years, Casey has worked as a touring drummer throughout Australia and has recorded for several prominent artists. His list of credits includes Lee Kernaghan, The Wolfe Brothers, Shannon Noll, Kacey Chambers, John Williamson, James Blundell, Jasmine Rae, Tania Kernaghan, Angry Anderson, The McClymonts, Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley, Rick Brewster (The Angels), Gord Bamford (Canada), Joe Haley (Psycroptic), Jed Appleton, Mitch Tambo and Isaiah Firebrace.
Casey currently manages and teaches at his Hobart based drum school, Kostiuk Drums, and continues to perform live, and write and release his own music.
