In my last post I talked about the SA Country Music Festival and I found out that they strongly support the Australian College of Country Music so I decided to look further into this college.
After the first CMAA Country Music Awards in 1993, the board members wanted to start something long term for the organization. Members of the board had always been interested in education and assistance for young artists exploring country music as a career. The board discussed many different options for this education system such as a mentoring program, but they decided on setting up a college that would be in conjunction with TAFE New England and they would use the Clarossy School in Tamworth for the college. Several meetings were conducted and TAFE agreed to give $20,000 for the curriculum of the college. Peter Winkler was hired in 1996 to create the curriculum.
The first College was held from January 4th -19th 1997, with Peter Winkler as the Muscial Director. Rod Coe, Deniese Morrison, Dobe Newton, and Garth Portor were tutors that also helped out. This first college was a huge success and continues to be today. In 2005 there were 189 young artists from all over the nation that had graduated from this college since it opened. Some of these artists have gone on to become Golden Guitar Winners and new stars in Australian country music.
The college is now sponsored by many different organizations like the NSW Ministry of Arts, The Australia Council for the Arts, Tamworth City Council, APRA/AMCOS, the Country Music Association in Nashville, and many others. Many students that attend this college are also sponsored by country music organizations and talent quests.
Now that we know the history of the college, the next question is what exactly is it? This college is a 15 day course with only 21 students a year being accepted. The students accepted are all over the age of 17 and enter with all different levels of music talent, some part time entertainers and others who are just starting off. However, all students go through several different programs such as, training, song writing, stage presentation, industry studies, studio recording, instrument training and concert performance. The 21 students are separated into three groups of 7 and each group works with a tutor during the afternoons of college, but the entire group still has lectures together in the mornings. During the afternoon tutor sessions, each student is required to compose, arrange, rehearse, and record several original songs that will be presented on stage at the graduation concert. They will also be allowed to record a couple of their songs under the supervision of Garth Porter. Many already established artists will even drop in to offer some words of encouragement to these young artists. At the very end of the college each student receives their CMAA certificates and TAFE Statement of Attainment.
Ellis, M. 2002, ‘How the Australian College of Country Music works’, History of Country Music in Australia. http://www.historyofcountrymusic.com.au/collegeworks.html
‘History of the College of Country Music’, History of Country Music in Australia. http://www.historyofcountrymusic.com.au/collegehistory.html
-Natalie Boyce
Wow, a college specially for country music. See now thats the weird thing about country music. It has so many avenues in place to ensure a large genre, but it’s not well known. I find that really weird. There are so many festivals and mini ‘Idol’ shows made only for the country genre, you would think that it would be a huge genre in the mainstream. Its a weird paradox.
A school created specifically for country music, what a fantastic concept. I’d love to hear the perspectives from those who have attended before.