Top End tunes and talent
Budding musicians from regional Northern Territory communities explored their passion for the arts with CQUniversity staff at the 2024 SmArts Dry Season Music Camp.
CQUniversity’s Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) partnered with the Smith Family and renowned Australian jazz educators – John Morrison and Jacki Cooper - to run the three-day music camp.
Designed to support neuro-diverse high school students, the initiative welcomed all abilities, instruments and singers to explore and develop their own musical identity, creativity and potential.
CQU music lecturers Dr Peter McKenzie and Dr David Reaston travelled to Darwin where they guided the students through a range of music electives, workshops, rehearsals, industry talks and a final concert performance.
Dr McKenzie, Senior Lecturer, said the regional-based camp helped overcome some of the barriers to accessing music classes and teachers, as not all students have the support or means to participate in arts opportunities.
“Part of the Smith Family’s mission is to create opportunities for young Australians in need by providing long-term support for their participation in education. This mission aligns with CQUniversity’s strategic plan and social innovation objectives,” he said.
“We aim to be a beacon for removing participation barriers to world-class training, education and research, particularly amongst underrepresented groups and underserviced communities.”
Dr McKenzie said the experience allowed the teenage students to bond over shared interests and hone their skills under the guidance of musicians and educators.
“A lot of the students had never met each other. Getting a group of kids together and creating music and seeing what they can achieve over three days was incredible.
“Students also got the chance to delve into something that really interests them through specialised electives. It was a way to personally connect with professional mentors and explore future opportunities.”
Transcript
Dr Peter McKenzie: You know, these kids are coming from all over Darwin and the regions and getting together.
We we've challenged them to set up three big days of a variety of different musical experiences, so we put them in ensembles.
They've never met each other before a lot of them. Some of them obviously still are friends but just getting a group of kids together and creating music and um seeing what they can achieve over three days has just been incredible.
Camp participant: It's a really nice environment you want to grow in. It's having people who have the same similar goals as you. They really want to they really push you as well and having people that have a greater technique or ability you. You see them as an inspiration rather than just a rival and you want to Summit that mountain.
CQU Bachelor of Music student: I think it's going really well actually. The kids are having fun which is what music should be all about. They're listening, they're learning new skills. They seem interested so all in all. I think it's been really successful.
I always love being able to work around professionals like Pete and Dave and John Morrison and Jackie. You can always learn something from them, whether you're a student or not. I think I'm learning and the kids are learning. I'm really enjoying it actually.
Camp participant: I really do like it here. It's really inspiring and everybody here is like really cool and I'm just learning so much through like jazz and like techniques and so much
Camp participant: I've learned quite a few things and about how we can make new songs and the structure of songs. I enjoy how it's three days and then a performance and I enjoy how I get to express myself in front of others.
Dr Peter McKenzie: Part of the days is providing that Ensemble experience. The kids want to play, that's why we're here but also we've been able to provide electic.
That means the students can choose with the educators here a session on careers to do with music or music related industries, just to hear that what they
can do maybe open some doors for them and start thinking even from a
young age oh maybe music's what I want to do and how to go about that.
Hopefully they will come back in the future and continue to provide you know that kind of expertise to them, that's a bonus.
CQU Bachelor of Music student: Coming from Darwin, you don't have much around because it is very isolated and the fact that there is somebody or an organisation willing to help you do your skills and put on music camps and do all this stuff for you like they don't get anything out of it.
It's all for the students. The fact that they're willing to help you do that, I think is like it's amazing. You got to grab it with both hands and don't let an opportunity go by.
The program immersed students in the broader world of music, exploring potential career and education pathways they might not have previously considered.
Over the three days, students learnt a range of contemporary and jazz songs before developing arrangements which culminated in a concert.
The model was designed to give students an intensive experience that provides insight to what is taught in CQCM’s Bachelor of Music course.
“The students can hear about what they can do and maybe it can open some doors for them,” Dr McKenzie said.
“Even from a young age they can start thinking, maybe music is what I want to do, and start to consider how to start. Being able to provide my expertise to them is a bonus.”
Dr McKenzie added that passionate CQU staff, students and alumni had a longstanding history with SmArts Dry Season Music Camp which was developed in 2019.
While CQU students were not involved in this year's camp, they have assisted in the workshops and performances in previous years (watch video below) and the experience has been a great opportunity for them to develop their education and social innovation capacity.
“This year the industry speaker was CQU alumnus Captain Ben Bonney - Music Director of the Australian Army Band of the 1st Brigade.
“We hope our involvement will continue to highlight the importance of providing accessible and inclusive programs for many years to come - inspiring and empowering the next generation of musicians.”
