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The Switch-On Warm Up

This year I’ve been using a warm-up that I wrote out called The Switch-On. It covers everything that I need to stay in shape while I’m juggling a playing career with teaching, composing, conducting FYCB, and part-time study. Colleagues have also found this useful for themselves and their students, so I thought I’d share it as a free resource HERE

Notes:

  • I often slur No. 1: focus on efficient air, minimal pressure, slamming valves completely in time
  • Repeat No. 3 8va
  • No. 4 is played 3 times: slow with air attacks (no slurs), gently slurred, then fast soft staccato
  • No. 5 completely in time, all about the air connection, pause on top notes
  • No. 6 play twice: slurred, then legato or staccato tongue

Let me know how you go!

Louisa x

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Australian Premieres

On the 1st of April 2022 Footscray-Yarraville City Band made performances of two Australian premieres: Where She Sings Freely composed by Lucy Pankhurst set to a poem by Clara Price, and Flight composed by myself back in 2018. Here’s more about the concert, and the recording of Flight below.

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Horn & Piano duet ‘Instinct’ premiered in Wonthaggi

Commissioned and premiered by Phoebe Smithies on french horn with Peter de Jager on piano, the two performed with their ensemble Salon Project as part of the concert Music, She Wrote 2.0 hosted by Prom Recitals at Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre. Instinct takes inspiration from the incredible occurrence that is long-distance bird migration. Having evolved over thousands of years, long-distance bird migration is triggered by a combination of genetic predisposition, food, temperature, and day length. To find their way halfway round the world, birds are thought to use three types of compasses: sun, star, and magnetic. These three elements inform the musical themes in this work.

Along with Instinct they performed works by five other women composers: Amy Beach, Nadia Boulanger, Lucija Garutha, Elena Kats-Chernin and Fanny Mendelssohn. Salon Project posted, “We received a very warm welcome and the audience seemed to really enjoy our concert. We loved meeting the audience after the concert – what a lovely community of music lovers in prom country!”


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Annual Concert 2021

What a wonderful student concert we all just witnessed! My cornet and trumpet students, many whom are working towards exams, performed so well for their families and friends. Thanks to all who came along to support our young people. LT

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AYO Autumn Music Camp

I had the great honour of tutoring five wonderful young trumpet players throughout the Easter break. Tertiary students from across the country flocked to the stunning facilities at Melbourne University’s Ian Potter Southbank Centre: the new home of the Music Conservatorium.

  • LT, Sophie Spencer (VIC), James Earl (VIC), Jude Macarthur (NSW)
  • Sophie Kukulies (QLD), LT, Emma Russell (NSW)

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Upcoming Premieres

Homophonic! concerts will soon be back 

Take a day trip to beautiful Daylesford this weekend to see my new work ‘Shimmer’ premiered. The work is a sonic journey remembering and celebrating the 3 most important people in Max Primmer’s life- a Daylesford local TICKETS HERE

Or travel to Bendigo Pride to see the piece performed. TICKETS HERE

Homophonic! will also premiere my new work ‘Baroque Quartet’ in April at their Melbourne shows. See you there!

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Sheet music now available online

A selection of Louisa’s works commissioned or composed since 2010 are now available to purchase online. Upon purchase these pdf’s will be emailed to you!

Trumpet Concerto

This tertiary level work was premiered by Louisa in 2010 at her final BMus recital. Upon receiving support from Creative Victoria it was re-worked in 2018 and recorded with Josh Rogan $30

Flight

This A grade level work was commissioned by Dr Robert Childs for the Royal Welsh College Brass Band $60

Silver Lake

Commissioned by the Mid America Freedom Band, and premiered October 29, 2017 at J.C. Nichols Auditorium at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. This work takes inspiration from the book By the Shores of Silver Lake, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. $60

At Night the Owl Hunts

Winner of the Grade 2 Category in the South Carolina Music Educators Association’s Sight Reading Composition Contest, 2018. A spooky piece for Beginner String Orchestra focusses on dynamics, articulation, and ensemble playing $20

AND MORE…