It's close to 10 o'clock at night, and I should be asleep. I'm sure scores of students from out west should be asleep as well, but I wonder how many will still be up? Band camp starts tomorrow, a whole week off school. For several of us it will be a week off work, even though this will be a lot more work for us completing fourteen hour days instead of a standard 9 till 5 job. It will be busy enough as it is, especially factoring in travel. Coffs Harbour to Lake Keepit tomorrow, then Lake Keepit to Grafton on Friday afternoon to attend the first indoor cricket training session of the season, and then travel home to Coffs. Sleep and rest will be valued greatly.
It wasn't until a couple of hours ago I realised how lucky I can be in my line of work. I haven't thought about it much over the last four years, but I have travelled to some very nice locations throughout NSW in relation to music tutoring. This is especially true when it comes to the regional areas. What I have decided to do is take my camera with me and take photos and video footage of my trips for the band camps I am attending this year. I am on course for three band camps unless the admin decide otherwise, and unfortunately I have been denied my home region's camp of the North Coast. The scenery and towns you pass through are quite beautiful, as well as the final destination of course, but I am interested to see what it will look compiled together as a montage. I'll be looking at making ten minute videos of each of the band camp car trips with a select music track in mind that, in my opinion, would accentuate the beauty of the regional areas of NSW. I can't wait to put these together to share with everyone.
Time to finish packing the bags and get some sleep.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
AMEB Exams and the Coffs Eisteddfod
Well, I'm glad this week is over. I just noticed I haven't posted anything for a couple of weeks. A little bit slack on my part, but I have had to keep up with things occurring with work. The tuition work is still busy with a lot of travel involved, and there will be even more coming up in a couple of weeks time with the New England Regional Band Camp at Lake Keepit. Even though it is a further distance to travel, it will seem like a holiday remaining put in the one place for a week while still working.
I finished submitting my students for exams. All up I will have 12 students completing 13 AMEB exams in clarinet and saxophone ranging from 1st Grade through to the new Certificate of Performance. It's a massive difference from having one student take the exam, which happened last year. It will be a challenge to not only provide the material for the students, but to make sure they keep up the practice and commitment. Plus, we can't forget the extra tasks involved including general knowledge and aural exercises.
In Grafton, a combined schools concert band has been formed to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the town. Several students of mine (most from primary school) have been selected to play in the band. I'm really pleased for them, not only for selection but having the determination to be involved in making music for a rare occasion. Even though none of them have been selected for front desk (1st clarinet) parts, the work they will put in for the other desks (2nd and 3rd) will reinforce and make the ensemble quite strong. They have their work cut out for them but they are prepared to put in the practice.
With some other news from Grafton, for the last few weeks I have two students make the second page of their local newspaper for activities in general, associated with or directly related to music. The conservatorium clarinet choir, that I run, even got a small plug from one of the students. The little group is doing well, but it does have its difficulties with a large age difference and some small restraints on ability. The age difference I cannot control, but the musical ability amongst all of the players is improving as individuals and as ensemble players.
The AMEB exams will be held between late July and late August for our series, so it would make sense to get some performance practice in for preparation. Several students will be taking part in the Coffs Eisteddfod, including some for the Open and Junior Championship sections. Last year's competition proved to be the most interesting in quite some years, and hopefully the same standard can be produced this year.
It's really disappointing to see the program for the Coffs Eisteddfod downsized so much in comparison to what it was ten years ago. To start with, there are fewer age divisions causing a wider difference in age between competitors. In the instrumental sections there will be age differences of up to three years, potentially having people aged 12 competing against people aged 15. If anything, this will really hurt the numbers taking part since the younger children will feel intimidated and fear taking part.
It would be nice to see the section "Instrument Solo" reintroduced, but not as an open section like it used to be. "Instrumental Solo - Unaccompanied Work" would be a tremendous section, seeing pieces or studies performed on solo instruments (except for piano and voice since they have separate programs). No longer would studies be treated as "technical works", but would force the performer to bring out the musicality of the work. There is so much repertoire out there for solo instrument alone, and I think it is something all eisteddfods should consider doing.
A couple of years ago I e-mailed the eisteddfod committee about their large ensemble sections, stating that they were willing to allow orchestras to compete but had no section for concert and symphonic wind bands. Also, the lack of sufficient wording to determine what ensembles are allowed to compete is left open to much controversy. The section "Orchestral Instrumental Group" has immediately after it in brackets "must include strings". If anything, this is left open to a lot of interpretation. A concert band can have a bass guitar or a double bass, which would fulfill the criteria. The clarinet and saxophone sections of a concert band are essentially the "strings" of the ensemble, replacing violins, violas and cellos with the range of their instruments providing a different colour of sound. The committee should just scrap these separate sections and just have one section called "Orchestral Instrumental Group", just like it used to be, with no strings attached (pardon the pun).
The smaller ensemble group sections are much fewer than what they used to be. We used to have duets and trios with and without piano accompaniment, having several age divisions for each section. Now we only have duets and trios with a total of six age sections, with the removal of the open age division for the duets section (a section that my duet partner and I won three out of four years running, something of some sentimental value). Why can't there be a 12, 14, 16 and Open age division for duets and trios? Straight away you have eight sections. Then instead of having an "Ensemble (4-8 players)" section you could have "Quartets" for 15 years and under and an Open division, followed by "Ensemble (5-12 players)" allowing for more ensembles to take part. There is plenty of scope for the program to expand and to encourage more ensembles and nearby towns to take part.
Next Sunday I will be leaving for Lake Keepit, and I will definitely be reporting of the band camp for the New England region. After a bit of a dip, due to many senior musicians moving on, the standard is lifting as we bring the next generation of musicians and leaders through. I think it is safe to say the students and tutors will all be looking forward to the week that is ahead of us.
I finished submitting my students for exams. All up I will have 12 students completing 13 AMEB exams in clarinet and saxophone ranging from 1st Grade through to the new Certificate of Performance. It's a massive difference from having one student take the exam, which happened last year. It will be a challenge to not only provide the material for the students, but to make sure they keep up the practice and commitment. Plus, we can't forget the extra tasks involved including general knowledge and aural exercises.
In Grafton, a combined schools concert band has been formed to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the town. Several students of mine (most from primary school) have been selected to play in the band. I'm really pleased for them, not only for selection but having the determination to be involved in making music for a rare occasion. Even though none of them have been selected for front desk (1st clarinet) parts, the work they will put in for the other desks (2nd and 3rd) will reinforce and make the ensemble quite strong. They have their work cut out for them but they are prepared to put in the practice.
With some other news from Grafton, for the last few weeks I have two students make the second page of their local newspaper for activities in general, associated with or directly related to music. The conservatorium clarinet choir, that I run, even got a small plug from one of the students. The little group is doing well, but it does have its difficulties with a large age difference and some small restraints on ability. The age difference I cannot control, but the musical ability amongst all of the players is improving as individuals and as ensemble players.
The AMEB exams will be held between late July and late August for our series, so it would make sense to get some performance practice in for preparation. Several students will be taking part in the Coffs Eisteddfod, including some for the Open and Junior Championship sections. Last year's competition proved to be the most interesting in quite some years, and hopefully the same standard can be produced this year.
It's really disappointing to see the program for the Coffs Eisteddfod downsized so much in comparison to what it was ten years ago. To start with, there are fewer age divisions causing a wider difference in age between competitors. In the instrumental sections there will be age differences of up to three years, potentially having people aged 12 competing against people aged 15. If anything, this will really hurt the numbers taking part since the younger children will feel intimidated and fear taking part.
It would be nice to see the section "Instrument Solo" reintroduced, but not as an open section like it used to be. "Instrumental Solo - Unaccompanied Work" would be a tremendous section, seeing pieces or studies performed on solo instruments (except for piano and voice since they have separate programs). No longer would studies be treated as "technical works", but would force the performer to bring out the musicality of the work. There is so much repertoire out there for solo instrument alone, and I think it is something all eisteddfods should consider doing.
A couple of years ago I e-mailed the eisteddfod committee about their large ensemble sections, stating that they were willing to allow orchestras to compete but had no section for concert and symphonic wind bands. Also, the lack of sufficient wording to determine what ensembles are allowed to compete is left open to much controversy. The section "Orchestral Instrumental Group" has immediately after it in brackets "must include strings". If anything, this is left open to a lot of interpretation. A concert band can have a bass guitar or a double bass, which would fulfill the criteria. The clarinet and saxophone sections of a concert band are essentially the "strings" of the ensemble, replacing violins, violas and cellos with the range of their instruments providing a different colour of sound. The committee should just scrap these separate sections and just have one section called "Orchestral Instrumental Group", just like it used to be, with no strings attached (pardon the pun).
The smaller ensemble group sections are much fewer than what they used to be. We used to have duets and trios with and without piano accompaniment, having several age divisions for each section. Now we only have duets and trios with a total of six age sections, with the removal of the open age division for the duets section (a section that my duet partner and I won three out of four years running, something of some sentimental value). Why can't there be a 12, 14, 16 and Open age division for duets and trios? Straight away you have eight sections. Then instead of having an "Ensemble (4-8 players)" section you could have "Quartets" for 15 years and under and an Open division, followed by "Ensemble (5-12 players)" allowing for more ensembles to take part. There is plenty of scope for the program to expand and to encourage more ensembles and nearby towns to take part.
Next Sunday I will be leaving for Lake Keepit, and I will definitely be reporting of the band camp for the New England region. After a bit of a dip, due to many senior musicians moving on, the standard is lifting as we bring the next generation of musicians and leaders through. I think it is safe to say the students and tutors will all be looking forward to the week that is ahead of us.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Coffs Harbour Copacabana Conservatorium!
The final location has been revealed for the relocation of our local conservatorium (Coffs Coast Advocate, 07/03/2009). Of all the places, I don’t think as many people would have expected the Copacabana nightclub location to be infiltrated by local music teachers and students. So yes, time to crack out the Barry Manilow and party like it’s 1978!
With the other locations being mentioned like the “cultural precinct” at Brelsford Park and possibly taking over some space of the local university, I think the Coffs Con has a much better chance of forging an identity now and begin revealing itself to the public a lot more. Previously being located at the very back of the Home Base area opposite Park Beach Plaza, you couldn’t blame people for not knowing where the local conservatorium was. A search and rescue squad would normally be deployed to locate people trying to locate the conservatorium. And even if they did find the conservatorium, parents would usually drop off their child while still clutching to furniture bought from all of the surrounding stores while trying not to spill their coffee from the café immediately in front of the entrance.
While I am usually quick to point out the hidden facts of the conservatorium with lack of staff resulting in the lack of students and music programs, I will admit that I am very pleased that the conservatorium can relocate in the place of a nightclub. To me, it is very iconic. The big title on Wednesday’s Coffs Coast Advocate was “BLAME BOOZE!”, referring to the high local crime figures in reference to alcohol related misdemeanours. These included alcohol-fuelled assaults, drink driving, and high-risk drinking (binge drinking). Within the last couple of weeks a drug ring had been busted in the Park Beach area with a lot of drugs seized in high value. Could this be the start of turning some of the abusive traits of society around?
Parents have shared with me stories of their children not having an involvement with the nightlife, drinking and drugs of the area but rather taking an interest in other more productive activities. These children have benefited a lot more, unlike some of their counterparts having been caught up in what can be the unpleasant social nightlife experiences. I still remember one story of a young woman inviting friends of hers from school to go out to the botanical gardens for lunch. Her friends didn’t even know that there was such a location in Coffs Harbour, since the places they would normally frequent for socialising would either be the shopping centres or the pubs and nightclubs.
While the conservatorium won’t be the solution to solve all of these problems of replacing the red hot fury of alcohol abuse with the frenetic playing of the next Paganini, I certainly hope it is another avenue of social interest for people to explore regardless of age (especially for the younger ones!). It’s very special to be able to share your talents and craft with other people from a similar avenue or with similar interests. Not even sport in this region has successfully done this, although this coming Wednesday might be a different story with the gathering of local cricketers in the region for a local representative Twenty20 bash. As the door is being closed on a nightspot, let’s hope an even wider door can be open to the music and arts communities. The words of Pakistani captain, Younus Khan, would ring here just as much as they have in his country after the recent terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team. “Our future as a nation (or in our case, a town - PM) is in our youngsters’ hands. ... If the sport is not there, there would be distractions. We have to be very careful about that. We must not allow kids to become terrorists. We all must do something to stop that happening.”
It might appear quite extreme to compare a terrorist attack with a society that is described as being high in crime in relation to alcohol, but both do have the same result; they take away. Let’s see what more we can do for the young and all of society and start to provide more opportunities and enjoyment through the activities that do give something, rather than bow to the pressure of those that steal in the night.
Better find Lola and her yellow feathers now...
With the other locations being mentioned like the “cultural precinct” at Brelsford Park and possibly taking over some space of the local university, I think the Coffs Con has a much better chance of forging an identity now and begin revealing itself to the public a lot more. Previously being located at the very back of the Home Base area opposite Park Beach Plaza, you couldn’t blame people for not knowing where the local conservatorium was. A search and rescue squad would normally be deployed to locate people trying to locate the conservatorium. And even if they did find the conservatorium, parents would usually drop off their child while still clutching to furniture bought from all of the surrounding stores while trying not to spill their coffee from the café immediately in front of the entrance.
While I am usually quick to point out the hidden facts of the conservatorium with lack of staff resulting in the lack of students and music programs, I will admit that I am very pleased that the conservatorium can relocate in the place of a nightclub. To me, it is very iconic. The big title on Wednesday’s Coffs Coast Advocate was “BLAME BOOZE!”, referring to the high local crime figures in reference to alcohol related misdemeanours. These included alcohol-fuelled assaults, drink driving, and high-risk drinking (binge drinking). Within the last couple of weeks a drug ring had been busted in the Park Beach area with a lot of drugs seized in high value. Could this be the start of turning some of the abusive traits of society around?
Parents have shared with me stories of their children not having an involvement with the nightlife, drinking and drugs of the area but rather taking an interest in other more productive activities. These children have benefited a lot more, unlike some of their counterparts having been caught up in what can be the unpleasant social nightlife experiences. I still remember one story of a young woman inviting friends of hers from school to go out to the botanical gardens for lunch. Her friends didn’t even know that there was such a location in Coffs Harbour, since the places they would normally frequent for socialising would either be the shopping centres or the pubs and nightclubs.
While the conservatorium won’t be the solution to solve all of these problems of replacing the red hot fury of alcohol abuse with the frenetic playing of the next Paganini, I certainly hope it is another avenue of social interest for people to explore regardless of age (especially for the younger ones!). It’s very special to be able to share your talents and craft with other people from a similar avenue or with similar interests. Not even sport in this region has successfully done this, although this coming Wednesday might be a different story with the gathering of local cricketers in the region for a local representative Twenty20 bash. As the door is being closed on a nightspot, let’s hope an even wider door can be open to the music and arts communities. The words of Pakistani captain, Younus Khan, would ring here just as much as they have in his country after the recent terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team. “Our future as a nation (or in our case, a town - PM) is in our youngsters’ hands. ... If the sport is not there, there would be distractions. We have to be very careful about that. We must not allow kids to become terrorists. We all must do something to stop that happening.”
It might appear quite extreme to compare a terrorist attack with a society that is described as being high in crime in relation to alcohol, but both do have the same result; they take away. Let’s see what more we can do for the young and all of society and start to provide more opportunities and enjoyment through the activities that do give something, rather than bow to the pressure of those that steal in the night.
Better find Lola and her yellow feathers now...
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