Music 

Isn’t it Ironic: Connecting with a wider world.

(With listening links)

In a time which has required isolation for health safety, deepened border divides and from some, evoked concern about peoples from different places, isn’t it ironic that it has prompted us, provoked us, even forced us to build connections with our wider network.  Musicians have always been early adopters of technology.  From Percy Grainger designing and making his own new-music instruments, serial composers like Webern, Berg and Schoenberg abandoning traditional tonality for atonality and twelve tone generators, Jazz musicians turning the marching band percussion section into a drumkit and electrifying guitars, pop musicians trying to push the boundaries with early synthesizers like the Moog and then midi digitalizing everything, the need for new has seen musicians embrace new technology.  I remember my piano teacher at University recording everything on his Sony Pro Walkman and countless music teacher colleagues being in the line, sleeping over for the release of the first ipods, iphones and ipads, and then again for every subsequent new release.  But whilst as a profession we may have been early adopters, we cannot deny that the conditions of 2020 have pushed us to make the technology serve our musical intentions in a new way. 

Students and teachers have adapted so well to remote lessons and the technology has permitted video AMEB examinations and online workshops, which have connected our students with the wider world of music.  Inventive uses of local resources, such as the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre stage and Steinway piano for recording examination repertoire, displays vision and foresight.  Credit must be given to Mr Benjamin Singh for launching a series of online performance workshops.  By connecting past students, now studying at the tertiary level, with the string fraternity and current students, a network of connections has been forged, provided a performance ‘venue’ and developing the skills of young players and budding professionals alike.  What a wonderful world.

‘A message from ABC presenter Ed Ayres about our music teachers’

Mr Benjamin Hiscock              BHiscock14@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au        Director of Music

Mrs Nichole Atchison              music@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au              Music Administrator