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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-06 Daily Xml
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James Morrison Academy of Music

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:35): I recently had the privilege of touring the new James Morrison Academy of Music, housed in the Old Town Hall in the heart of Mount Gambier's township. I am pleased to say that I found it both progressive and inspiring, with an enterprising vision and an enthusiastic team bringing the vision to life. This is a group of people who truly live and breathe music as an art form.

The academy was founded by one of Australia's most renowned and respected jazz musicians, Mr James Morrison, supported by the state government in conjunction with the University of South Australia. Mr Morrison is one of a dedicated faculty instrumental in the metamorphosis of the Mount into the jazz capital of Australia.

With 2015 its first year of operation, 47 students now call Mount Gambier home and this figure is projected to grow to 200 by 2020. Scholarships are awarded to students from benefactors including Generations in Jazz and Cowan Grants. Currently offering a diploma and an associate degree in music, the academy is working towards offering a Bachelor of Music in 2016.

As the academy hosts students from all over Australia, share housing from the local rental market is utilised so that those who play together also live together. Further, the academy structures its timetable in such a way as to encourage students to earn from their trade by performing both in Mount Gambier and in Adelaide and Melbourne on the weekends. This whole life-encompassing music is certainly a predominant element not only of the students' life but also of the staff and faculty—and, moreover, the local residents and businesses of Mount Gambier.

Local business owners have embraced this new element of the town's identity by providing space for JMA groups to perform almost on a daily basis throughout the town. These groups are organised by the students themselves, and it must be noted that without the flexibility of the academy and the support of local businesses the richness brought to Mount Gambier by this emerging live music scene would not be possible. In addition to the smaller groups, the JMA itself organises tours and performances wherein the students have the opportunity to tour and play to a large variety of audiences, often with Mr Morrison himself.

The academy's teachers are of world-class standard, and are complemented by visiting international jazz tutors who, throughout the year, share their wisdom and experience with the budding jazz greats of the future. What makes this academy unique is not only its outstanding line-up of talent but also its approach to education, which moves outside of the more traditional theory-based learning into a learning concept focused on musicians' practical experience. Mr Morrison states:

This is not to say that theory is at all ignored but that it is used to explain experience rather than to lead one to it—an important distinction that changes the game for music education.

The amalgamation of student life with real-world application and the life experience of performing with one of Australia's greatest musicians can only benefit those who choose to make music their life's work. I am very pleased to commend the academy to the council, and I wish these emerging jazz artists every success this year and into their future.

In closing, I would like to share my sincere condolences to Annette, family and friends, as last week saw the passing of David 'Daisy' Day. Also, condolences for the passing of Barbara Mac and to Johnny, family and friends.

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