Learn with me

WORKSHOPS WITH MONIQUE CLARE

Monique Clare is a Brisbane-based cellist, singer-songwriter, community music facilitator and one of Australia’s leading educators and innovators in the field of folk and contemporary string styles. Since completing a Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium in 2015, she has toured extensively and undertaken professional development around the world, immersing herself in folk music communities and progressive string playing scenes. She has organised string camps, retreats and workshops, conducted choirs, and been a guest tutor in diverse settings including fiddle camps and festivals (Sunshine Fiddle Camp, Stringmania and the National Folk Festival), youth music camps (Young Music Society Summer School, Rockhampton Winter Music School) and institutions (Afghanistan National Institute of Music, Coffs Harbour Conservatorium, Brisbane Girls Grammar, Bellingen High School and Queensland Academy of Creative Industries).

She is passionate about helping classically trained players explore different avenues of music making, venturing into improvisation, singing & playing, and learning traditional fiddle styles. Having sung in choirs from the age of four, with both parents as choir leaders themselves, she lives and breathes harmony singing and working with groups to experience the joy of singing together. Building and nurturing community is woven through her teaching practice. She encourages musicians to shift their focus towards creativity, expression, connectivity and positive mental health by making music together in non-competitive settings.

As a performer she has toured internationally as a solo artist and a backing vocalist and cellist of The Maes, and is in demand as a session musician, having worked with artists including Emma Dean, Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan and Eminem. Her debut album ‘Sight’ was released in 2022, followed by a live album in 2025 showcasing the full range of her approach to contemporary string playing.

Testimonials

“Thank you so much for the amazing performance and for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us on Saturday. The students are still buzzing about your session this morning!”

-Queensland Academies Creative Industries

“Your generous contribution to the learning experiences and community talks were rich and affirming and so soul nourishing. Thank you for sharing your expertise and joy so generously and with rigour and candour.”

- L. King, Cello Dreaming

“Thank you SO much for your dedication and amazing musical input over the weekend. The students had an absolute ball and are already asking when it’s happening again.”

- P. Brearley, Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium

“Just wanted to say thank you again for the workshop. You are truly amazing. Everyone loved what you did. You are a massive inspiration to our young musicians at BGGS. Thank you!”

- M. Patterson, Brisbane Girls Grammar School

“Monique has been contracted to Stringmania as a tutor in cello and voice repeatedly and we have received nothing but positive accolades for her professional knowledge and inclusive, explicit and inspiring teaching skills.”

- M. O’Meara, Stringmania Camp

“Thank you very much again for your time and for all you did for the students. We hope to see you back in ANIM again soon.”

- A. Boggess, Afghanistan National Institute of Music

VIDEO REEL

WORKSHOPs

String workshops

  • Chords, rhythms and grooves for string instruments

  • Learn a Folk Tune by Ear (focus on Celtic, Scandinavian or Americana traditions)

  • Singing and Stringing

cello workshops

A more specific workshop just for cellists, where we delve a little deeper into techniques, chord patterns and tunes that work particularly well on cello. The group can be made up of cellists with different skill levels, so long as all players are able to play on all strings and can manage extensions. These sessions are often really fun and a great bonding opportunity for the cello section - cellists tend to get really excited when we get together on our own!

Singing & Playing

For string players interested in accompanying themselves singing, this workshop involves using a well-known song to explore singing and playing together. Monique will guide participants through vocal technique for string players, coordination & rhythm skills, tuning your voice to your instrument, basic exercises and warmups.

CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Although I work in this setting less regularly, I'm also available for classroom sessions covering topics, including:

  • ‘A Million Ways To Be A Musician’ (music careers discussion)

  • Q&A session

  • Western folk music exploration

  • Learn a song by ear

  • Improvisation games

other topics

Please get in touch if you’d like to organise workshops to include topics other than the above listed. Sessions could involve:

  • Songwriting

  • Tunes for all instruments

  • Arranging tunes and songs for groups

  • Improvisation

  • Music industry preparation

  • Mental health in music

Performance

We can incorporate a set of my solo music into the schedule or as a standalone concert.

FORMAT

The format can be very flexible. We’ll work together to create a schedule and plan that suits your circumstances and students. Some examples include:

  1. A standalone session, between 1 - 1.5 hrs

  2. An all-day event: folk string sessions alternating with repertoire rehearsals lead by the students’ regular teachers/conductors.

  3. Workshops held during the students’ regular ensemble rehearsals or string class throughout the school/university week.

  4. A weekend intensive: taught in collaboration with other music tutors to form a schedule of simultaneous classes covering different topics.

  5. Sessions held during classroom music lessons

    String workshops will usually involve the following:

  • Ideally, groups are comprised of students around a similar playing level

  • Tunes or songs are taught by ear, without sheet music (no need for music stands!)

  • We might arrange the music as a group, learning how to play chords rhythmically and think about notes “vertically” rather than “horizontally”

  • We can organise to perform the arrangement at the end of the workshop (for example to parents of the students if after school hours, or to other students if during school hours)

  • We can organise to give students audio to listen to in advance, to feel more familiar with the content before learning it aurally.

COST

My fee may vary depending on the circumstances. But as a general guide, my Australian fees are generally:

1-1.5hr workshop: $300
Half day: $450
Full day: $800
Weekend: $1200
Standalone educational performance: $300

Workshops outside of Australia may need to be calculated differently.

Book now

Fill Out The Booking Form

Or email me at moniqueclaremusic (@) gmail.com

make an enquiry

past teaching engagements

Ongoing

Private cello students

2026

Tamworth Conservatorium cello workshop
Cobargo Folk Festival choir workshop
Sydney cello workshop

2025

National Celtic Festival choir workshop

2024

Brisbane string workshop
National Folk Festival choir workshop
Brisbane Girls Grammar School strings workshop
Queensland Academy of Creative Industries performance

2023

Canungra School Of Arts strings workshop
San Sisto School strings workshop
Townsville Folk Festival strings workshop
Somerville School strings workshop
Woodford Bushtime strings workshop
Cello Dreaming Summer Retreat Scandinavian tunes workshop
Newman Catholic College school performance
Cairns State Highschool careers workshop & string workshop
Cresfest mental health in music panel discussion

2022

Coffs Harbour Conservatorium cello workshops
Melbourne Steiner School strings workshop
Tablelands Folk Festival workshop
Online sing & string workshop
Brisbane sing & string workshop series
DeepBlue ensemble improvisation workshop
Saint Columban’s College classroom music workshops

2021

Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, Colorado USA
Coffs Harbour Conservatorium Cello Weekend
Tree Folk String Camp
Tree Folk tunes workshop series
Bardon Strings Ensemble tune workshop

2020

Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club online workshop
Tree Folk String Camp
Tree Folk strings retreat
Brisbane Girls Grammar strings workshop

2019

Mullum Music Festival strings workshop
Stringmania Music Camp tutor
Brisbane cello workshop
Fairbridge Folk Festival tune workshop
Perth cello workshop
Simply For Strings workshop
Sydney strings workshop
Bellingen High School strings workshop
Tree Folk House Camp

2018

Sunshine Fiddle Camp tutor
Brisbane cello workshop series
Melbourne cello workshop series
Newcastle Steiner School strings workshop
National Folk Festival cello workshop

2017

Stringmania Music Camp tutor
Majors Creek Festival strings workshop
Dorrigo Folk Festival cello workshop
Turramurra Bush Music Camp tutor

2016

Afghanistan National Institute of Music cello lessons and workshops
Stringmania Music Camp tutor

2015

Canberra Young Music Society Summer Music School

2012

Rockhampton Winter Music School assistant cello tutor
Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra cello tutor