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Life - Death – Life
Brilliant music to shepherd the process
Inspiration, love and brilliant musicianship
combined recently in the seamless joining of the aesthetic, spiritual,
psychological, environmental and physical spheres at a Rainforest Concert
performed at Chillingham in the hinterland of Murwillumbah.
Read the full story
Music in Karratha
Peter
Younghusband
Following a trip from England to
Australia during 1996 involving solo performances, adjudicating and
masterclasses, I was offered a job by the WA Education Department in
Karratha. As I had long harboured an ambition to live and work in
Australia, this was just the opportunity I'd been looking for. Despite
many friends and colleagues living on the East coast advising me not to
move to Karratha as it was 'outback' and I would be 'lost and bored,' I
nevertheless accepted the position. I was supposed to be here for two
years and then I would be transferred to Perth. Seven years later, after
declining that transfer, I'm still here and loving every minute.
Read the full story
Sounds of the Street
Sounds of the Streets works with young people who have left home for a
range of reasons. They work one on one to write and record songs.
Many of the young people say that they wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for
the course, and how much it’s meant for them. I know that to be true, by
relating to them just how much they’ve got out of it.
The
creative process is helping them to express themselves and gain their own
self-worth by realising that they can do something, and at the same time
they are having positive interactions with staff. Just being able to talk
to someone without fear of violence is a big thing.
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Mr Music in Coffs Harbour
David
Slater
After working
in Canberra for over 15 years, lecturing part time at the Canberra School
of Music, and working in Music Curriculum development, it seemed time for
a change. The opportunity arose in 1995 to establish a music department
from scratch at the newly founded school, Bishop Druitt College, in Coffs
Harbour, so with only two small buildings, portable toilets, 52 students
and next to no budget, the task was daunting. Initially in the first 5
years here I had to teach English, history, maths, woodwork, cooking and
even agriculture to justify the existence of a music teacher at all...
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Changes In The Ranges
Bev McAlister is a
person of vision and energy, and is focussed on bringing about change in
her local community. In 1976 Bev’s husband Murray took his family of 6 to
Eureka, Montana USA on a teaching exchange. This Rocky Mountain Community
had an excellent school and community music program. Music making and
performance was a highlight of community life and events. Mountain music,
PEP Bands, Marching Bands and singing groups. Music making was
everywhere.
On her return to
Australia Bev realised Bev that music was missing from the schools and the
community of the Dandenong Ranges and has been actively promoting music
participation ever since.
Driven by the belief
that music can strengthen communities Bev has forged links with funding
bodies, local schools, the local council and other organisations and has
been instrumental in establishing the Dandenong Ranges Music Council which
services the Shire of Yarra Ranges, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges,
east of Melbourne.
The work of the
Dandenong Ranges Music Council focuses on:
Bev and the Music
Council are at the leading edge of community music and have embarked on
numerous collaborations between community and professional musicians.
Projects such as Jazz Discovery involved jazz luminaries, Don Burrows and
Kevin Hunt, in a five day workshop and two concerts with 180 young
community musicians. An outcome of the project was Jazz Horizons out of
which 13 ensembles have been formed.
As part of the
Centenary of Federation celebrations, the Dandenong Ranges Music Council
was able to commission eight new works and a series of events, culminating
in a finale at the Melbourne Concert Hall in which 917 community artists
performed alongside professional composers and musicians the likes of
Stephen Leek and Lindy Morrison.
In 2003, music was used
to express the community’s perception of “Change & Sustainability” which
under the guidance of professional artists and musicians involved hundreds
of locals, Parks Victoria, the Country Fire Authority, environment groups,
schools, people with disabilities, visual artists, Shire of Yarra Ranges
and government services.
The end result was a
performance of “Changes in the Ranges” at Dandenong Ranges National Park,
Upper Ferntree Gully with a fire scene, a cast of 300 and thousands of
local residents and visitors enjoying new music, puppetry and visual arts
which expressed changes in the environment and the community.
The reality is that
works like these don’t come easy. They need a strong network of committed
people to drive the process and to enthuse others. Bev will admit it has
taken her years of lobbying to see things through to fruition.
Of great significance
is that the Dandenong Ranges Music Council community is now benefiting
from its work since 1979, with young people who participated in the 80’s
and 90’s returning to live and work in the Ranges as professional
musicians, composers, music teachers and arts workers in local government.
 
This project has been
assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its
arts funding and advisory body and supported by the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
Dandenong Ranges
Music Council Mission Statement
For Dandenong Ranges
Music Council Inc to retain its position at the leading edge of community
music development by continuing to create opportunities for people of all
ages and abilities to listen to, to learn, to participate in, and to
perform music in the Yarra Ranges and its environs, in partnership with
resident and visiting professional musicians and music educators.
Dandenong Ranges
Music Council Website
www.drmc.org.au
WAY OUT WEST: Making Music in the South West Corner of New South Wales
In
1985 a band of brave citizens from the area around Deniliquin, in the
South West Riverina, came together with the declared aim "to promote,
foster and develop the playing, tuition, appreciationand availablity of
music" in their region -- an area of about 60,000 square kilometres with a
widely dispersed population of around 42,000. They sought the help of the
Arts Council of NSWthrough its regional division South West Arts, and
under its auspices obtained funding from the Australia Council to
establish a community instrumental tuition programme.
For the complete
story, go to
http://www.mca.org.au/m15238.htm
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Better than My Wildest Dreams: a
64 Year-Old Beginner
Joy Conolly
This is not so much an example of a
community music program as of the value that a 64 year-old person can
find in taking up music making.
Joy Conolly was depressed after the death
of her husband. She had tried TaiChai, yoga and pottery, none of which
had lifted her out of her "aching void". Then she remembered seeing a
television program in which English actor Warren Mitchell had played a
movement from the Mozart clarinet concerto with the Sydney Symphony
Orchestra. Mitchell had taken up the clarinet late in life and was
amazed and thrilled to have this opportunity.
The penny dropped. Conolly bought herself
a clarinet and began lessons. It has transformed her life. "Music has
proved to be the most wonderful journey of recovery and discovery."
Click
here to read the story.
Weekend Warriors: Old Rockers
Get Back into the Habit
The Weekend Warriors is a program that aims to
bring old guitars and old players out of their hideaways and get them
playing together in bands. It’s an American idea that has been brought
here by the Australian Music Association and implemented by Ellaways,
a music store in Brisbane. The program has been a tear-away success
and is being set up by the Australian Music Association in other music
stores across the country. Five are starting programs and Ellaways are
gearing up to train another ten. [As of February 2003]
This is a commercially run program that achieves
one of the major objectives of community music development: simply to
get people playing music.
Ellaways is disseminating a letter it received
from a Weekend Warrior, giving his views of the experience and the
reason the program works.
Off the Couch: a youth arts festival organised
almost entirely by the kids
Alicia Woodrow
Off The Couch was initially developed to assist in fulfilling the need
expressed by young, inexperienced South Australian bands for greater
opportunities to perform, especially to all ages crowds. Over its eight
year history, the event has expanded to include up to 60 acts, all
playing in numerous venues in the west end of Adelaide city centre in
one night.
Off The Couch is a project of Carclew Youth Arts Centre in Adelaide.
Carclew is not only the largest youth arts organization in Australia,
but it is unique in the resources and opportunities it provides young
people to develop as successful and innovative arts workers. It is a
dynamic breeding ground for the ideas, energy and enthusiasm of South
Australia’s young artists aged 5-26 years old. Carclew Youth Arts Centre
is the program arm of the South Australian Youth Arts Board
(SAYAB), assisted by the Government of SA through Arts SA and other
funding bodies.
Off the Couch is specifically organised and run by young,
usually inexperienced people. From choosing the bands that play, to
designing the look and feel, to the promotion of the festival, a team of
volunteers under the age of 26 is an integral part of the decision
making process. Carclew recognises that inexperienced does not equate to
inept and assists volunteers to get a 'foot in the door', providing
training in event management and public relations and marketing while
working hands-on, on a project.
Click here to read
more.
Never Say Die: a life-giving choir in a Queensland nursing home
Joy Conolly
Elaine Coates is a singing and music teacher from
Toowoomba, Queensland, and the conductor of a choir at one of the
nursing homes in her city. She told me that they had an Eisteddfod
each year especially for participants from most of the nursing homes
in the district! The theme of such a competition is "Too old – never".
I was absolutely intrigued and arranged with Elaine to visit on a day
when the choir was practicing.
The atmosphere before the practice was identical to
that which exists in the choir to which I belong, the only difference
being some of the choir members were in motorized wheel chairs or had
walkers or sticks for support. They were eager to get started so
Elaine and her partner Carl commenced the afternoon. Carl provides the
backing tapes and as well adds his fine tenor voice when needed. It
was clear the members loved being able to be a part of a living
beautiful experience, that of making music with others. There were
many onlookers, not directly involved in the singing but all of whom
were tapping whatever part of their body still under their control.
For some this was very limited but that didn’t stop them tapping out
the rhythm and obviously enjoying the experience...
...They always learn new songs for each concert, which
usually has a theme. This year they are planning a Chinese night and
later in the eisteddfod they will be featuring Russia. Elaine is
amazed at their courage as they attempt anything she asks; as long as
she makes a tape for them they are off and away.
That one afternoon totally altered my
concept of nursing homes. These residents are clearly living until they
die. There is no way they intend to vegetate. Doreen Morris might be
confined to a motorized wheel chair for mobility but clearly her brain
is still working at full pelt. She writes poetry and special purpose
verse or new lyrics for nearly every concert. Carl has been able to set
some of her words to music, and as well has set a poem of another
resident, Pat Cotton. The choir has performed these and two of them are
featured on the CD produced by the choir last year. Another contributor
is Mrs Isabel Beazley who wrote several books of songs earlier in her
life. The choir has sung five of them in different concerts over the
years.
Early last year the choir performed a concert at a shopping centre and
sang in English, Latin, Italian, French, German, Chinese and Hebrew. It
was a joint Older Persons’ week/Year of the Outback presentation, and
they traced the roots of many ethnic groups that helped to populate the
Toowoomba and Darling Downs district.
Click
here to read more.
Heart in Song
Susan West
Bradley is 8 years old. In the primary school system,
he is a child who may be labelled ‘at risk.’ He engages in behaviours
that are often anti-social and potentially damaging to himself and
others. He has learning difficulties, he gets angry easily; he throws
furniture; he kicks and scratches when teachers try to restrain him.
Betty is 82. She lives in a nursing home in suburban
Canberra. She has had a stroke and is confined to a wheelchair. She is
partially deaf. All of her family live interstate or overseas. She
rarely has visitors. She can’t communicate easily and, therefore,
rarely communicates at all.
Today, Bradley’s teacher and Betty’s carers are looking
on as a transformation takes place in these two disparate characters.
Bradley is standing beside Betty’s wheelchair, holding both her hands
and looking deeply into her eyes as she looks back at him. His face
shows concern but, when she smiles at him, he smiles back. He sings "Red
Red Robin" at the top of his voice, right next to her ear. His
singing is not particularly tuneful or ‘correct.’ Sometimes he muddles
up the words of the song. Betty doesn’t mind. Neither does anyone else
present.
He moves her hands gently as he sings—he ‘dances’ with
her, helping her move as much as she is able. Before long she is
‘dancing’ with him too. After a couple of repetitions of "Red Red
Robin", Betty’s mouth starts to move. She begins singing, softly
at first and then with more energy. Another nursing home resident, who
is mobile, comes over and joins the pair, taking their hands and
singing with them.
All around the room there are similar sights and
sounds. Bradley’s whole class is there, just a normal primary school
class of children, some gifted, some, like Bradley, with behaviours
requiring special management in the school system. Sometimes, the
class comes with children from a local special school who also sing
with the residents. There are many nursing home residents present,
some ambulatory, others not; some with dementia, some in need of care
for illnesses or age-related conditions.
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