• Home
• -System
• Articles

Annie, Roving reporter

"Music makes life better!"

Think of classical music and what comes to mind? Carpeted concert halls, long and impossible names and conductors in tails waving their arms about like madmen? Try again.

Now think of regular teenagers, put them in a regular school and see them as artists. The world of classical music is much different when you are in the depths of it.

Angeline and Erin, both 16, have been involved in music since they were young. Now in Year 11 at a school in Traralgon in regional Victoria, they have their eyes clearly set on a life filled with music. And why? Because "Music makes life better", says Erin followed by a huge grin and tuneful laughter.

No half-measures

You can't be involved in music by halves; it's the sort of thing that takes over your life. A day filled with before-school rehearsals, classes, homework, lessons and practice can be exhausting to even think of. But neither girl would have it any other way.

During the 2007/08 summer holidays Angeline and Erin spent a week in Melbourne, two hours from their home, to take part in the Melbourne Youth Music (MYM) Summer School.

What is Melbourne Youth Music (MYM)?

MYM is an organisation that offers young people aged 12-23 wide and varied musical opportunities. It opens the doors of the professional music world to young people and encourages them to pursue and appreciate musical excellence.

Classical music, which is often seen as something for greying couples in stiff formal dress, is kept alive through programs like MYM Summer School/Prelude Program and the enthusiastic young people that are involved.

The Summer School/Prelude Program runs for nine days in the summer break each year. It offers its participants over 90 programs ranging from bands, orchestras, choirs, tutorials, composition training, music theatre and VCE music preparation courses.

The young people involved are given guidance from professional musicians and conductors from around the world, giving them a chance to grow as musicians and people.

Angeline and Erin agreed that it was a unique experience unavailable to them at home. They applied in the hopes of being challenged musically and were given exactly that. The six-hour days were split between ensemble rehearsals, tutorials and short break to chat to the other young musicians.

If you want to know more about the Summer School, the MYM website (www.mym.org.au - new window) is a great place to start. 

Where to from here?

After this experience it's clear to Angeline and Erin that, musically, "opportunity is in Melbourne". The only way for them to follow a career in music is to move away from home to the city.

Coming from regional Victoria they can't see professional level performance as often as they would like. It's harder for them to be involved in music at the same high and concentrated level as the Summer School year round. They have to find the dedication to forward themselves as musicians in the place where they are.

Luckily, it's not all bad. Compared to big Melbourne schools, they have a much smaller and more personal school environment. This means smaller classes and close groups of dedicated teachers. They are given individualised lessons and work within a supportive and familiar community of musicians.

With the experience of the Summer School fresh in their minds they hope to work hard and have a lot of fun with music this year before it gets too serious with their VCE.

This new perspective has both girls focused on returning smoothly to the juggling act of school, music and life. It looks set to be a busy time.

BACK TO MORE ARTICLES