While I am currently working on an entry detailing a recent trip to Sydney, I came across an article in Thursday’s Coffs Coast Independent detailing the new vision for Brelsford Park.
Over the years, Brelsford Park has become well known for its sport and community facilities. These include tennis courts, a cricket ground (including turf wicket), former bitumen velodrome, and a family park. A draft master plan has been put forward to retain the parkland and sports precincts, but to add a cultural precinct as well that would include a library, art gallery, public plaza and performance centre.
I first heard about this proposal last weekend after meeting with heads of artistic productions in Coffs Harbour, and a lot of people were unimpressed with the proposal. Again, the council believes it would be grandiose to combine artistic/cultural facilities with sporting ones. How many times have we witnessed the failure of trying to combine these two elements together? Personally, I have yet to see something satisfactorily accomplished.
While those involved with the arts wouldn’t be that pleased, I’m sure cricketers in the Coffs Harbour area wouldn’t be happy with the proposal of “relocating the existing cricket oval further north on the site and reducing its size, …it would still support first grade cricket”. Brelsford Park is already small enough in size as it is, and to make it smaller would almost be making it the equivalent of some of the lower grade cricket grounds in the area. And to add further insult to injury, night lights would probably not be included with the relocation of the ground. There goes the chance to be able to hold a night competition, for the local cricketers, where up to three grounds could be used.
It isn’t the only concern of lining two differing cultures alongside each other but the fact that Brelsford Park is known as being an area of passing crime, especially at night. Alcohol and drugs being the main issues here, people have been known to be found passed out or asleep in the current facility’s grandstand with broken bottles and who knows what else has been found. It is not uncommon to find people lurking near, or within, the facilities at night with acts of vandalism being reported. Now imagine having a building erected there that would be host to artistic facilities, including an art gallery, near an area of crime.
Chances are this proposal is going to be another “architecturally ugly” addition to the misdirection of Coffs Harbour. I don’t think our mayor, Keith Rhoades, could even state what kind of purpose the town of Coffs Harbour can serve for the community with the following article quote; “Coffs Harbour is the major regional centre (of what?! - PM) for the Coffs Coast and a revitalised Brelsford Park that incorporates an attractive cultural precinct can only further contribute to that reputation”. In other words, if you want to place all of your broken eggs into one basket then welcome to Coffs Harbour.
In my opinion the sporting facilities need to be kept as sporting facilities and need to be improved as sporting facilities. Adding a cultural centre to Brelsford Park will detract greatly from the sport and artistic cultures and cause much sacrifice to both areas. It would be better for the neglected arts to miss out on Brelsford Park and have their own cultural centre erected, or improved at a current location, than to be given the rough end of a deal with another substandard addition.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Why doesn't Coffs Harbour have a youth orchestra?
It’s a question that has plagued several musical minds both locally and outside of the region. Coffs Harbour, a town with a population between 60-70 000, would surely be able to cater for the musical community just as similar or smaller communities would do the same. We have Tamworth and Armidale, two similar sized communities out west that have successfully established one, two, or even more orchestras or similar ensembles. Our neighbours down south, Bellingen, have recently established an orchestra of their own that is taking huge strides. So why doesn’t Coffs Harbour have a youth orchestra?
The answer was made quite clear today in the Coffs Coast Advocate. So what is the factor that is preventing this ensemble from taking effect? Could it be that we simply don’t have enough students to form an ensemble? Perhaps the lack of suitable staff to oversee or take control of the group? Maybe it’s the lack of substantial funding from either the Department of Education and Training or the local council? If you thought it was any of these factors, then you are sadly mistaken. Apparently Coffs Harbour doesn’t have a youth orchestra due to the following quote from the director of the local conservatorium.
“…There’s plenty of space for art and craft exhibitions, and Coffs Harbour doesn’t have a Youth Orchestra, simply because we don’t have the space.”
Of course, how could we miss the obvious answer! If we don’t have the space, then we can’t form the ensemble. So therefore, it is impossible for Coffs Harbour to have a youth orchestra simply because we can’t facilitate for rehearsals or performances.
What a complete and utter load of nonsense.
Perhaps the conservatorium could take a leaf out of the local city orchestra’s book and have rehearsals in one of the lecture theatres at Southern Cross University. Not too long ago, the local orchestra was rehearsing within the premises of the conservatorium at the Home Base area (percussion and all). Why the local orchestra was asked to rehearse at SCU would be an interesting question to have answered, not to mention why a youth orchestra can’t be established within their own building!
Let’s take a step back even further. In fact, we will be going back two years and nine months. What would be so interesting to investigate that far back? In late February of 2006, the Regional Youth Orchestra established in Coffs Harbour was brought to an abrupt end. Ever since the RYO has been ended, not one youth orchestra or large ensemble had been re-established in Coffs Harbour. And no, it had nothing to do with lack, or provision, of space.
How far did the RYO come? If you want to visit the original inception of the RYO, you would have to go back to 1996 when it was originally established as the Bishop Druitt College Orchestra. The ensemble was founded by David Slater, former head of music at BDC, with no more than about 10-12 people. I was one of the original students to form this ensemble of mainly soprano instruments. We had about 4-5 violins with a viola, 2 clarinets, 1 flute, a couple of trumpets, a saxophone, and a bass guitar. I still remember the first rehearsal we had, held in the classroom formerly known as A1 (A2 was next door followed by A Lab, the first secondary school block built). We had no music room, except for B Lab being temporarily converted from a science classroom into the music centre. The first chart we were ever given was “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid, all hand-written parts. This was the only hand-written chart we received since Logic would be used after this to generate computer-written parts. Until the music block at BDC was established, there were never any problems with organising rehearsals. The rehearsals commenced in A Block, moving to B Block, and eventually moving to the coveted auditorium performance space that was held onto dearly by the head of drama (believe me, students used to give the head of drama plenty about the obsession with the space). The BDC orchestra thrived on the space provided and became a well established ensemble in Coffs Harbour, inviting students from other schools to come along and participate.
In 2002 it would be decided that the BDC orchestra would be renamed the Coffs Harbour Youth Orchestra. 2002 was the last year I played with the ensemble, shifting from principal clarinet to take up a place in percussion. Other students came and left, finishing their secondary studies and orchestral careers with BDC. Some very fine students went through the ensemble and might even have some stories to share today. While the youth orchestra went from success to success, there were the constant politics behind the scenes that would plague the orchestra and would eventually become the undoing of the ensemble in its latter years when it effectively became the RYO encompassing youth from Woolgoolga, through Coffs, down to Bellingen.
Many children learned musical instruments, but their teachers refused to encourage or show children the essential step of playing in an ensemble. The lack of parents, or volunteers, to become involved with staffing to help the ensemble stay on its feet, such as a treasurer, librarian, secretary, publicity, player services, and looking after funding. While we are on parents, the lack of support for the children. There would be parents that would drop off their children at performances, then they would drive off elsewhere to come back later to pick up their children. These parents would never see their children perform! How would the children feel about playing their role in the group, or what they would think of their parents’ lack of attendance?
In 2006, prior to the sudden-abrupt ending of the RYO, Slater wrote an article in the local newsletter titled “Does Coffs Harbour Really Want A Youth Orchestra?”. A lot of the factors that I have highlighted are in fact mentioned in this article. The only factor that is never mentioned at all is “the lack of space” (I wonder why. Could it perhaps have something to do with actually finding adequate space that doesn’t necessarily have to be located on an immediate premises?). The last paragraph continues to appeal and really discuss the crux of what should be occurring in Coffs Harbour, especially after art critic John McDonald recently labelled Coffs as being “soulless”.
“Great music has always survived through patronage. It never has been, nor ever should be forced to become, a commercial venture. If the Coffs Harbour Regional Youth Orchestra is to continue it needs just that – patronage. …with ongoing, practical support from government, including the City Council, local business and the local music teaching profession can it hope to go on and achieve the great things for which it exists, not just for youth in the area, but for the future of the region’s cultural soul.”
Hang on a second, we might have stumbled onto something here! We have the local conservatorium making excuses that they don’t have enough money or space to establish a youth orchestra, even though they would have more than enough students through their tuition programs, yet the past undoings of the former RYO was due to the lack of patronage? If the RYO could survive for as long as it did on lack of funding and financial support, and it could find space to rehearse and perform in, then what excuse does the conservatorium have when they are being funded by the DET and State Government? The arts, in regards to music tuition and development, are in a critical situation and complaints are being made about space and not the lack of specialist tutors being based in the region.
People need to become aware of what has and still is occurring. Even if the conservatorium gets a new building, who can guarantee that it is going to bring a youth orchestra with it? If only it were that simple, but unfortunately musicians can’t be made out of wooden structures combined with bricks, cement, and maybe a layer of carpet. If Coffs Harbour is going to have any hope of establishing a successful youth orchestra again, it will be by having a tutor-networked music community where students and parents are encourage to take a vested interest in the project and be willing to dedicate time and support for the ensemble and music careers of many involved. It is up to us, and not a multi-million building/facility, to establish the region’s cultural soul. Otherwise, we will continue to be as soulless as we have been for many years.
The answer was made quite clear today in the Coffs Coast Advocate. So what is the factor that is preventing this ensemble from taking effect? Could it be that we simply don’t have enough students to form an ensemble? Perhaps the lack of suitable staff to oversee or take control of the group? Maybe it’s the lack of substantial funding from either the Department of Education and Training or the local council? If you thought it was any of these factors, then you are sadly mistaken. Apparently Coffs Harbour doesn’t have a youth orchestra due to the following quote from the director of the local conservatorium.
“…There’s plenty of space for art and craft exhibitions, and Coffs Harbour doesn’t have a Youth Orchestra, simply because we don’t have the space.”
Of course, how could we miss the obvious answer! If we don’t have the space, then we can’t form the ensemble. So therefore, it is impossible for Coffs Harbour to have a youth orchestra simply because we can’t facilitate for rehearsals or performances.
What a complete and utter load of nonsense.
Perhaps the conservatorium could take a leaf out of the local city orchestra’s book and have rehearsals in one of the lecture theatres at Southern Cross University. Not too long ago, the local orchestra was rehearsing within the premises of the conservatorium at the Home Base area (percussion and all). Why the local orchestra was asked to rehearse at SCU would be an interesting question to have answered, not to mention why a youth orchestra can’t be established within their own building!
Let’s take a step back even further. In fact, we will be going back two years and nine months. What would be so interesting to investigate that far back? In late February of 2006, the Regional Youth Orchestra established in Coffs Harbour was brought to an abrupt end. Ever since the RYO has been ended, not one youth orchestra or large ensemble had been re-established in Coffs Harbour. And no, it had nothing to do with lack, or provision, of space.
How far did the RYO come? If you want to visit the original inception of the RYO, you would have to go back to 1996 when it was originally established as the Bishop Druitt College Orchestra. The ensemble was founded by David Slater, former head of music at BDC, with no more than about 10-12 people. I was one of the original students to form this ensemble of mainly soprano instruments. We had about 4-5 violins with a viola, 2 clarinets, 1 flute, a couple of trumpets, a saxophone, and a bass guitar. I still remember the first rehearsal we had, held in the classroom formerly known as A1 (A2 was next door followed by A Lab, the first secondary school block built). We had no music room, except for B Lab being temporarily converted from a science classroom into the music centre. The first chart we were ever given was “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid, all hand-written parts. This was the only hand-written chart we received since Logic would be used after this to generate computer-written parts. Until the music block at BDC was established, there were never any problems with organising rehearsals. The rehearsals commenced in A Block, moving to B Block, and eventually moving to the coveted auditorium performance space that was held onto dearly by the head of drama (believe me, students used to give the head of drama plenty about the obsession with the space). The BDC orchestra thrived on the space provided and became a well established ensemble in Coffs Harbour, inviting students from other schools to come along and participate.
In 2002 it would be decided that the BDC orchestra would be renamed the Coffs Harbour Youth Orchestra. 2002 was the last year I played with the ensemble, shifting from principal clarinet to take up a place in percussion. Other students came and left, finishing their secondary studies and orchestral careers with BDC. Some very fine students went through the ensemble and might even have some stories to share today. While the youth orchestra went from success to success, there were the constant politics behind the scenes that would plague the orchestra and would eventually become the undoing of the ensemble in its latter years when it effectively became the RYO encompassing youth from Woolgoolga, through Coffs, down to Bellingen.
Many children learned musical instruments, but their teachers refused to encourage or show children the essential step of playing in an ensemble. The lack of parents, or volunteers, to become involved with staffing to help the ensemble stay on its feet, such as a treasurer, librarian, secretary, publicity, player services, and looking after funding. While we are on parents, the lack of support for the children. There would be parents that would drop off their children at performances, then they would drive off elsewhere to come back later to pick up their children. These parents would never see their children perform! How would the children feel about playing their role in the group, or what they would think of their parents’ lack of attendance?
In 2006, prior to the sudden-abrupt ending of the RYO, Slater wrote an article in the local newsletter titled “Does Coffs Harbour Really Want A Youth Orchestra?”. A lot of the factors that I have highlighted are in fact mentioned in this article. The only factor that is never mentioned at all is “the lack of space” (I wonder why. Could it perhaps have something to do with actually finding adequate space that doesn’t necessarily have to be located on an immediate premises?). The last paragraph continues to appeal and really discuss the crux of what should be occurring in Coffs Harbour, especially after art critic John McDonald recently labelled Coffs as being “soulless”.
“Great music has always survived through patronage. It never has been, nor ever should be forced to become, a commercial venture. If the Coffs Harbour Regional Youth Orchestra is to continue it needs just that – patronage. …with ongoing, practical support from government, including the City Council, local business and the local music teaching profession can it hope to go on and achieve the great things for which it exists, not just for youth in the area, but for the future of the region’s cultural soul.”
Hang on a second, we might have stumbled onto something here! We have the local conservatorium making excuses that they don’t have enough money or space to establish a youth orchestra, even though they would have more than enough students through their tuition programs, yet the past undoings of the former RYO was due to the lack of patronage? If the RYO could survive for as long as it did on lack of funding and financial support, and it could find space to rehearse and perform in, then what excuse does the conservatorium have when they are being funded by the DET and State Government? The arts, in regards to music tuition and development, are in a critical situation and complaints are being made about space and not the lack of specialist tutors being based in the region.
People need to become aware of what has and still is occurring. Even if the conservatorium gets a new building, who can guarantee that it is going to bring a youth orchestra with it? If only it were that simple, but unfortunately musicians can’t be made out of wooden structures combined with bricks, cement, and maybe a layer of carpet. If Coffs Harbour is going to have any hope of establishing a successful youth orchestra again, it will be by having a tutor-networked music community where students and parents are encourage to take a vested interest in the project and be willing to dedicate time and support for the ensemble and music careers of many involved. It is up to us, and not a multi-million building/facility, to establish the region’s cultural soul. Otherwise, we will continue to be as soulless as we have been for many years.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Coffs Harbour: Status
Over the past couple of years people have enquired about the music teaching and arts-in-general situation in Coffs Harbour. What do I tell them? How can I describe the current happenings and progressions in this town located at the heart of the mid-north coast? Normally I would refuse to give a response to the arts-in-general question, since it is so broad and encompasses so many facets. But what of the music and tuition situations of Coffs Harbour and the mid-north coast?
In the Wednesday edition (12/11/2008) of the Coffs Coast Advocate, I came across a very interesting article by David Bancroft entitled “They’re gloating in Grafton”. When it comes to Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley relations the two towns are like fierce rivals in a boxing ring; always having a poke and a jab looking for the opening to land a devastating blow. This article was no exception when art critic John McDonald visited Coffs Harbour and Grafton for the recent “Eutick Memorial Still Life” and “Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing” awards. Upon visiting the two towns, Mr McDonald was quite critical of the architecture and the inherent focus on sports and business. To describe Coffs Harbour as being “soulless” would have devastated and stirred local patriotism within different parts of the community (it certainly did with my father-in-law!).
While many people would be quick to dismiss such a strong criticism of the town, unfortunately it’s a sad but true tale within the music and, most likely reaching out to, the arts communities. Mr McDonald’s comments reach a lot deeper than scratching the surface of an art competition. Two years ago another article from the Advocate labeled Coffs Harbour as the “franchisee mecca”, flourishing with all of these businesses with a focus on retail. The statues located at either end of town were described by many as ugly and hideous, even by artists within the area that feature artwork within and around town. Coffs Harbour is quickly becoming a town that is losing its past culture and heritage, while refusing to establish and build a new culture. Even within sporting circles, I honestly don’t believe enough is being done to develop local sporting talent. We are lucky to hear about one or two sportsmen more each year being as successful as their musical counterparts, but we never hear many stories about the rising and developing talent. Within musical circles it is virtually a ghost subject, especially when regions around NSW ask about student eligibility for the state band program. There are virtually no students that would be able to cope with the standard expected at state level, and none that would warrant immediate selection. In fact, I don’t think one student has been selected or invited to take part (from Coffs Harbour) in the established NSW state band program.
Despite having a smaller population, the Clarence Valley have taken much larger strides within musical circles to establish and develop students and ensembles in the world of music in comparison with Coffs Harbour. Two years ago five students were selected to take part in the state band program. Students are being given the opportunity to visit and perform overseas, ensembles are being invited to perform and take part in events interstate and across the border. What does Coffs Harbour have to show? A part time orchestra that delivers two big performances each year that is meant to represent the north coast, and a full time orchestra that is still playing and performing repertoire that they have been working on for fifteen years (if not longer). While the Clarence Valley are gallery might be old and weathered and the Coffs Harbour gallery fresh and modern, the complete opposite can be said of the towns in areas of musical art.
Fresh ideas, development, and new ensembles need to be established if music is ever going to do its part for the arts, and the community in general. The petty politics that has caused so much division in the past, and the “I can’t” and “It’s too difficult” attitudes need to be cast aside. Raw talent needs to be harnessed and developed, emerging talent needs to be nurtured and guided. New musical experiences need to be created through teaching and performance experiences. This is to extend as far north as Woolgoolga to as far south as Bonville, plus their surrounding suburbs. A new, positive work ethic must be established and one that encourages fun not purely through entertainment but through success of study, participation and learning; “…breadth of activity has been promoted over depth of activity. The pursuit of pleasure is favoured over and above depth of musical study and the accreditation of genuine musical knowledge, many teachers failing to realise that genuine musical joy is found in intensive musical study” – Richard Gill, 2003.
In the Wednesday edition (12/11/2008) of the Coffs Coast Advocate, I came across a very interesting article by David Bancroft entitled “They’re gloating in Grafton”. When it comes to Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley relations the two towns are like fierce rivals in a boxing ring; always having a poke and a jab looking for the opening to land a devastating blow. This article was no exception when art critic John McDonald visited Coffs Harbour and Grafton for the recent “Eutick Memorial Still Life” and “Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing” awards. Upon visiting the two towns, Mr McDonald was quite critical of the architecture and the inherent focus on sports and business. To describe Coffs Harbour as being “soulless” would have devastated and stirred local patriotism within different parts of the community (it certainly did with my father-in-law!).
While many people would be quick to dismiss such a strong criticism of the town, unfortunately it’s a sad but true tale within the music and, most likely reaching out to, the arts communities. Mr McDonald’s comments reach a lot deeper than scratching the surface of an art competition. Two years ago another article from the Advocate labeled Coffs Harbour as the “franchisee mecca”, flourishing with all of these businesses with a focus on retail. The statues located at either end of town were described by many as ugly and hideous, even by artists within the area that feature artwork within and around town. Coffs Harbour is quickly becoming a town that is losing its past culture and heritage, while refusing to establish and build a new culture. Even within sporting circles, I honestly don’t believe enough is being done to develop local sporting talent. We are lucky to hear about one or two sportsmen more each year being as successful as their musical counterparts, but we never hear many stories about the rising and developing talent. Within musical circles it is virtually a ghost subject, especially when regions around NSW ask about student eligibility for the state band program. There are virtually no students that would be able to cope with the standard expected at state level, and none that would warrant immediate selection. In fact, I don’t think one student has been selected or invited to take part (from Coffs Harbour) in the established NSW state band program.
Despite having a smaller population, the Clarence Valley have taken much larger strides within musical circles to establish and develop students and ensembles in the world of music in comparison with Coffs Harbour. Two years ago five students were selected to take part in the state band program. Students are being given the opportunity to visit and perform overseas, ensembles are being invited to perform and take part in events interstate and across the border. What does Coffs Harbour have to show? A part time orchestra that delivers two big performances each year that is meant to represent the north coast, and a full time orchestra that is still playing and performing repertoire that they have been working on for fifteen years (if not longer). While the Clarence Valley are gallery might be old and weathered and the Coffs Harbour gallery fresh and modern, the complete opposite can be said of the towns in areas of musical art.
Fresh ideas, development, and new ensembles need to be established if music is ever going to do its part for the arts, and the community in general. The petty politics that has caused so much division in the past, and the “I can’t” and “It’s too difficult” attitudes need to be cast aside. Raw talent needs to be harnessed and developed, emerging talent needs to be nurtured and guided. New musical experiences need to be created through teaching and performance experiences. This is to extend as far north as Woolgoolga to as far south as Bonville, plus their surrounding suburbs. A new, positive work ethic must be established and one that encourages fun not purely through entertainment but through success of study, participation and learning; “…breadth of activity has been promoted over depth of activity. The pursuit of pleasure is favoured over and above depth of musical study and the accreditation of genuine musical knowledge, many teachers failing to realise that genuine musical joy is found in intensive musical study” – Richard Gill, 2003.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Introduction
Hello, and welcome to my blog! For some time I've wanted to create a blog of my own, and I have finally taken the opportunity to do so.
A little bit about myself very quickly. I reside in Coffs Harbour, on the mid-north coast of NSW happily married for two years as of yesterday. I graduated from Newcastle Uni with a Bachelor of Music at the end of 2005, majoring in performance (clarinet) and composition. I currently work in the piano restoration/tuning profession in Coffs Harbour, while I teach music at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium at Grafton (about an hour north of Coffs). I am hoping to establish myself as a forefront music tutor in Coffs Harbour within the next couple of years. At this stage I have three students in Coffs Harbour, who are all doing a fantastic job on their instruments becoming leading musicians in their schools in such a short space of time. And if that isn't enough music work already, I also work as a composer currently writing a couple of major works involving wind orchestra. In my spare time I do enjoy the game of indoor cricket every now and then.
For the last four years I have been employed by the DET (Department of Education and Training) to tutor and teach at regional band camps in NSW, including the North-West, New England, North Coast, and Riverina regions. As of next year I have been invited to tutor at the New England (now NW and NE combined), Riverina, and newly founded Western region band camps. If North Coast invite me to tutor it would be a first to attend all four regional band camps in NSW.
The main purpose of this blog is to address, educate, and inspire in the world of music and teaching. There are many issues that are having an effect on the status of music and the arts in different regions and towns around NSW, some being positive and some being negative. As teachers and tutors, we have the capability to cause and influence change with a purpose of doing it for the wellbeing and good for not only the individual or personal benefit, but for the community.
Be prepared for a shift in the arts, because it is coming!
A little bit about myself very quickly. I reside in Coffs Harbour, on the mid-north coast of NSW happily married for two years as of yesterday. I graduated from Newcastle Uni with a Bachelor of Music at the end of 2005, majoring in performance (clarinet) and composition. I currently work in the piano restoration/tuning profession in Coffs Harbour, while I teach music at the Clarence Valley Conservatorium at Grafton (about an hour north of Coffs). I am hoping to establish myself as a forefront music tutor in Coffs Harbour within the next couple of years. At this stage I have three students in Coffs Harbour, who are all doing a fantastic job on their instruments becoming leading musicians in their schools in such a short space of time. And if that isn't enough music work already, I also work as a composer currently writing a couple of major works involving wind orchestra. In my spare time I do enjoy the game of indoor cricket every now and then.
For the last four years I have been employed by the DET (Department of Education and Training) to tutor and teach at regional band camps in NSW, including the North-West, New England, North Coast, and Riverina regions. As of next year I have been invited to tutor at the New England (now NW and NE combined), Riverina, and newly founded Western region band camps. If North Coast invite me to tutor it would be a first to attend all four regional band camps in NSW.
The main purpose of this blog is to address, educate, and inspire in the world of music and teaching. There are many issues that are having an effect on the status of music and the arts in different regions and towns around NSW, some being positive and some being negative. As teachers and tutors, we have the capability to cause and influence change with a purpose of doing it for the wellbeing and good for not only the individual or personal benefit, but for the community.
Be prepared for a shift in the arts, because it is coming!
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