About the Author
Dr Deborah de Graaff is an Australian clarinettist, recording artist, educator and music psychologist with a long-standing national reputation in performance and pedagogy. A former winner of the ABC Young Performers Awards, she has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, with over fourteen commercial recordings, many highlighting Australian composers, and regular broadcasts on ABC Radio.
She has taught across secondary and tertiary sectors, including casual lecturer in clarinet for 35 years at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, Conservatorium High School and the University of New South Wales. Dr de Graaff holds a PhD in Music Psychology (UNSW, 2014), specialising in expert practice, motivation and efficient skill learning.
She has founded and directed several groups including chamber ensemble Ku-ring-gai Virtuosi Inc and SILO SOUNDS Inc., a regional chamber-music and youth-mentoring organisation.
Her teaching integrates evidence-based learning principles with practical, accessible clarinet pedagogy.
Clarinettist, recording artist, researcher and pedagogue.
PhD (UNSW) – expert in music practice toward elite performance.