Sydney Playing Days 2025
Provisional dates for Sydney playing days are listed below. These are subject to venue availability and may change. Please check back for updates.
| Date | Venue | Status | Registration due |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 March | Pymble Ladies College | Confirmed | 18 February |
| 4 May | Santa Sabina, Strathfield | Confirmed | 15 April |
| 12 - 13 July | Wollongong Conservatorium | Confirmed | 24 June |
| 14 September | Venue TBA | Provisional | 25 August |
Special Topic Session
Sydney playing days will include a session focussing on a specific area of chamber music. For the March 2025 playing day there will be a workshop on sightreading skills in Session 1 (10 am - 12 noon).
Too many of us think that sight-reading is playing a piece perfectly the first time you see it, whereas sight-reading is, in reality, the art of fudging (but fudging musically) and there are tricks to it that can be learnt.
We are offering a session on sight-reading (the first one at the next PD) with Jocelyn Fazzone imparting her wisdom on the subject. She understands from tutoring ACMS members in the past how some of us find this an exasperating undertaking and is only too happy to help.
Please indicate on your enrolment if you wish to join this group.
Note about Self-Organised Groups
- You may self-organise sessions, however we would prefer that you keep at least one session free. This is to allow for some mixing of players as well as avoiding extra constraints on the grouping process.
- Ensure that you confirm all nominated group members BEFORE completing the application form.
- Help using the online tools to organise groups is available on our Youtube channel.
Enrolment
Please enrol here: Members Area
Self-Grading: Please check here using the Interactive Self-Grader.
Cancellation
Players who do not turn up will inconvenience the other players in the group, in some cases making that group unworkable. It is, therefore, essential to inform Ian Butler on 0423 293 728 before the playing day of any unavoidable absences so that the committee can provide alternative solutions.
Timetable
| 9.30-9.50am | Player Registration |
| 9.50-10.00am | Briefing |
| 10.00-12.00pm | First Playing Session |
| 12.00-1.00pm | Lunch |
| 1.00-2.30pm | Second Playing Session |
| 2.30-3.00pm | Afternoon Tea |
| 3.00-4.30pm | Third Playing Session |
What to Bring
- All instruments (except pianos) that you have specified on the enrolment form.
- Music stand (pianists excepted)
- Music which you intend to play if you are organising a group
- Picnic lunch and tea mug.
What to do Before each Session
Before each session, please check the playing list to see:
- If any changes in groups have occurred.
- If you are designated to get the music for the group from the ACMS or other library. (Make sure that it is returned promptly after the session so that groups in the next session can use it.)
- If you are designated to check that the room is returned to its original condition after the playing session. This is an important task to ensure the ongoing use of our playing venues.
Tutoring
Tutoring is available at playing days. Inexperienced or timid players will be looked after and those attending for the first time will be made to feel welcome. Please tick the appropriate box on the Enrolment Form to request tutoring.
Details of Venues
- Pymble Ladies College (PLC): Avon Road Pymble
Close to Pymble Railway Station. The music building is located on the city side of the quadrangle. If travelling by car, enter via Gate 3 on Avon Road, park in the car parkand walk through to the Music Centre.
- Santa Sabina College, 90 The Boulevarde, Strathfield
The college is a short walk from Strathfield Station. The following streets border the college and have untimed parking on weekends: Jersey Road, Wentworth Road and Russell Street.
Note that there is no access to Santa Sabina from the main gates in The Boulevarde.
Entry to the college for us is via a small gate, about half way along Jersey Road. Once inside, proceed to the first large building you see, on your right. This is the facility we have hired. The veranda and adjacent grassed area are available to us for lunch.
- Barker College, The Avenue (off Unwin Street), Waitara. NB The Avenue is blocked off for vehicles at the moment while construction work is happening. Park in Unwin Street and walk in.
- Abbotsleigh School, Pacific Highway, Wahroonga
Free parking is available in Ada Avenue. For players with limited mobility, the Forum can have direct access from the senior management carpark (gate 2 off Ada Avenue). There is also one disabled parking space in this small carpark. There is one step into the Forum and Lecture Theatre. -
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, Gleniffer Brae, near corner Murphys Ave & Robinson Rd, Keiraville NSW 2500
There is parking in the Conservatorium car park and in the street.
- In-Home Playing Days
The basic idea is that players meet in members homes rather than at a single venue.
We have two sessions, 10 - 12 and 2 - 4 so there is time for lunch and to move between venues if needed. Some will need to change locations while others may be able to stay at the same location for both sessions.
Players enrol as usual. They are asked additional questions: Are you willing to host a group, do you have a piano, what size group can you accommodate.
Groups are then assigned with at an attempt to keep travel to reasonable limits based on locations of hosts. For players outside Sydney, they may need to travel from some distance to be participate but we will attempt to minimise travel between sessions.
Players who are travelling by public transport need to indicate this in their enrolment form so that it can be considered in assigning them to groups. Once the groups are formed they may find people in the group who can provide a lift, at least to some sensible public transport point.