THE ONLY WEB PORTRAYAL OF A NATION'S ENTIRE MUSICAL LIFE - DESCRIPTIONS, NUMBERS, ISSUES, FUTURES

    Rainbow Serpent Festival - January 2013
    By Asher Floyd (Creative Commons)


    Credit: Simon Whitaker (Creative Commons)

    ABOUT 'MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA'

    The Music in Australia Knowledge Base provides the world with a source of information about musical practice in Australia and/or by Australians that can assist in its further development and lift its status in Australian life and culture, and in the world at large.

    The Knowledge Base describes the situation of music in Australia. So, for instance, it could describe the situation of music in schools – what is provided, the competence of the teaching, government attitudes and so on, but would be much less likely to dwell on intricacies of pedagogy or syllabus.

    It covers the entire music sector including the role of music in human development and society, music’s creation and practice, the music sector and its components, government policies, regulation, support, the international context. It covers facts, issues of contention, statistics, research.

    The Music in Australia Knowledge Base is produced and published by the Music Trust. The Trust’s slogan: The Music Trust works with energy, imagination and authority for music in Australia.

    New ADDITIONS TO MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA

    The National Performing Arts Touring Scan

    Merryn Carter
    An overview of performing arts touring in Australia, including the effects of COVID so far, and into the future.
    31 May 2021

    INSIDE THE MUSICIAN: Michelle Leonard: Choirs under COVID and Moorambilla Magic Modules

    Michelle Leonard and Lliane Clarke
    A remarkable story of how one woman has each year brought together the children of a large, sparsely populated area of outback Australia with highly accomplished musicians from the city to develop and present a sophisticated performance of choral and instrumental music, taiko drumming and much more. This is entirely a community supported program.
    31 May 2021

    Four Indigenous composers and a piano from colonial times — making passionate, layered, honest music together

    Christopher Sainsbury and Scott Davie
    Four Australian Indigenous composers participated in a project to compose music for a piano built in Alsace on the verge of European settlement in Australia.
    31 May 2021

    Why the curriculum should be based on students’ readiness, not their age

    Geoff Masters
    It is sometimes claimed that it is “fair” to hold all students to the same age-based expectations. But fairness depends on recognising individual differences and meeting each student’s current learning needs.
    31 May 2021

    INSIDE THE MUSICIAN. Linsey Pollak: Improvising My Way through Life

    Linsey Pollak
    A wonderful story of a musical traveller - performer, composer, instrument-maker, multiculturalist, community trailblazer.
    31 May 2021

    Why do Australian universities have an obsession with rankings?

    John J. Howard
    High rankings lift status and incomes, attract more international students. But our universities must prioritise creating talent. The importance of first-rate teaching, as one of the most effective forms of knowledge transfer, is often overlooked but is our most worthy calling.
    31 May 2021
    SUBSCRIBE FREE

    Loudmouth is the free monthly online magazine of the Music Trust. It reports current developments, discusses matters of policy, politics and cultural development. Its music education section covers issues ranging from early childhood to career development, community music and educational research. Its excellent reviews are written mostly by musicians, and include important recordings and books not reviewed elsewhere.

    THIS MONTH ON LOUDMOUTH

    THE GROWING EDGE

    Reports on what 27 other government are doing for their artists. Makes Australian government look perverse. Survey: Australians want government lifeline for creatives. / INSIDE THE MUSICIAN: famous opera singer Peter Coleman-Wright and virtuoso international flautist  Lina Andonovska / Carriageworks and HOTA: what two arts centres are facing during COVID. / Literary magazines are essential for new authors – but they are being killed by funding cuts / ABC and NLA commissioning opps / Aussies win big international pop  music competitions

    MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA KNOWLEDGE BASE

    Launch of entirely restructured site.

    MUSIC EDUCATION 

    How music education stays afloat during COVID / Paavali Jumppanen a brilliant choice for Artistic Director of ANAM / NZ teachers danced in the streets when their ‘NAPLAN’ was terminated / NZ principal says students will need the arts in a changed post-coronavirus world / Defining a context for music learning / Online resources for music education

    FREEDMAN FELLOWSHIPS

    All the candidates have been nominated. But by whom? See the list. / The Classical nominees are being announced daily on the Fellowship FB site / Concerts replaced by special recording projects.

    READ LOUDMOUTH

    MUSIC AND BOOK REVIEWS

    THE BEST MUSIC REVIEWS page in Australia. Written mainly by musicians.

    LOUDMOUTH’S MAY REVIEWS

    BOOKS

    Distant Dreams: The Correspondence of Percy Grainger and Burnett Cross,1946–60 – Editors: Teresa Balough and Kay Dreyfus, Loud – Tana Douglas

    RECORDINGS

    CLASSICAL

    Andrew Anderson: Piano Quartets 1 & 2: Australian Piano Quartet / The Elena Kats-Chernin Collection. Part 3:  CDs 8 -10: Previously Unreleased Recordings: Australian World Orchestra / Mendelssohn String Quartets: Tinalley String Quartet / Paul Cutlan String Project / Night Parrot: Jessica Wells / Women of Note: A Century of Australian Composers. Volume 3 / Strauss: Enoch Arden 

    CONTEMPORARY

    The Lives of Others: You Am I

    AVANT POP

    A Fog Like Liars’ Loving: Leider ensemble

    JAZZ

    Big Ears: Delay 45 / Living: Paul Cutlan String Project

    FILMED PERFORMANCE

    Strauss: Enoch Arden (1897) Op. 38 

    READ REVIEWS