The School of Creative Arts

26/07/2026

"Education and culture which confer confidence without developing equal measure of conscience is a recipe for disaster"
- from new book The Art of Violin by Rupert Guenther

26/07/2026

"Motivation is unreliable because it depends on feeling. Discipline is reliable because it depends on decision"
Wise words.

24/07/2026

“There is freedom waiting for you, on the breezes of the sky, And you ask 'what if I fall? ' Oh but my darling, what if you fly?”
- Erin Hanson, American artist

21/07/2026

MUSIC FOR WELLBEING vs ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
"Music affects us deeply, and massively influences our social and emotional wellbeing.
"But there is a lot of talk at the moment in an effort to legitimise education resources being put into music, pointing to how studying music produces better academic performance and improved learning skills.
"If any correlations exist between academic performance and a person's involvement in playing a musical instrument, then it is as at best a secondary side-effect of their better social and emotional wellbeing, not as a primary development marker.
"In a world beset by an ongoing and relentless crisis of social and emotional ill-health, focusing on promoting the value of music as a marker of improved academic performance instead of the spiritual-emotional-social healing magic that it really is, seems grotesquely misplaced, and distracts discussion away from the very sentiency and empathy which playing music can help us access and which humanity so desperately needs in order to address the problems we face." - Rupert Guenther
Rupert Guenther will be presenting at Camp Creative 11-15 January 2027 in Bellingen NSW see link below
https://www.campcreative.com.au/2027-course-program/p/string-orchestra-studio?rq=orchestra&fbclid=IwY2xjawTLv05leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFGUGhDZFRRUzRMVDJGNTh5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHv96z6mzr8zZ2a4OoAVFVYkQP4F0MW7R83YkNTwpvMRevQczkkCyHJRP04Wa_aem_DvXPxRSgrN9z0LH2Evvo2A
(photo: Rupert in concert with the 5-string Spur semi-acoustic violin. photo credit: Fiona Birt Photography)

17/07/2026

Take some time out to nourish you at our weekly meditation class at the School of Creative Arts. Details below.

17/07/2026

Hi Folks,
Tanya and I have a whole new series of meditation classes running for the rest of the year both online and in-person. We welcome musicians, mental health and healthcare professionals as well as the general public to come long and learn simple practical ways to better wellbeing.
We teach how to meditate using several different approaches, including simple resets you can use on-the-fly in a busy day, grounding yourself and staying really present, setting boundaries, how to self-regulate and heal unhelpful patterns in your emotional, mental and physical self, and simple ways to approach challenging situations more compassionately with self.

Discover simple and effective meditation and
self care approaches to help build resilience, self acceptance, kindness and enable you to maintain better boundaries.

Saturdays at 10 am - at The School of Creative Arts in Wangara
Tuesdays at 6 pm online

11/07/2026

String players you are invited to String Orchestra Studio
at Camp Creative in Bellingen NSW 11-15 January 2027.
Designed for intermediate to advanced string players (violin, viola, cello, and double bass), this course presents a rare and wonderful opportunity for string players to work under the guidance of Vienna-trained concert violinist Rupert Guenther.
Enjoy a friendly, supportive and low-pressure environment, and dive into diverse performance styles through an exciting and engaging 5-day schedule.
Key activities include:
Orchestral Work - Perform major string orchestra repertoire.
Chamber Ensembles - Gain insights into chamber music through quartets, trios, and duets.
Creative Sessions - Explore expressive playing & composition through improvisation.
Live Performances - Join in optional informal short concerts.
This series of daily workshops brings your music to life with new playing approaches, insights, and techniques to enhance and deepen your classical music experience. Through a sequence of structured group sessions, you will focus on bowing, left-hand technique, and musical development exercises. The course also dives into deep listening, expressive playing, the emotion of tone, tone production, phrasing, shifting, and intonation. Finally, you will learn how to approach different playing styles, master your posture, and practice breathing and relaxation techniques to help you feel completely at home on stage.

This course is for intermediate to advanced strings (violin, viola, cello, and double bass players) with a focus on orchestral, chamber, and creative music projects. Throughout the week, you will play great string orchestra repertoire, arrangements, quartets, trios and duets, and explore the compos

05/07/2026

a perspective on "musical warm-ups" from the Director of The School of Creative Arts, Rupert Guenther

Violin Warm Ups - Pro Level. With Rupert Guenther. (The content in...

02/07/2026

"Classical music needs a new why: ‘good playing’ is playing with intention, offered to someone who needs to hear it."
a very thoughtful article on where classical music is headed, and why we need to return to the sacredness of music rather than the the many facades of mere marketing schtick.

The LA-based violinist discusses his new memoir - and what it means to rethink success, service and the purpose of classical music.