Local Projects and Initiatives
The Inaugural ACTMEN Music Festival
19th November, 2010: The Inaugural ACTMEN Music Festival 3:30-7:30pm at Lyneham High School Performing Arts Centre. To book you school in: please email debbie.masling@ed.act.edu.au. We are looking for choirs, ensembles, bands, anything, so get involved.
ANU School of Music Video Conferencing Initiative 2010
The ANU School of Music recently announced its exciting plans to implement high-speed, artist-level videoconferencing facilities in 2010. Through partnerships with international experts in research, technology and content delivery, this initiative will place the ANU at the forefront of technological expertise and capacity for worldwide music collaborations.
Videoconferencing technology has the potential to greatly expand connections between Australian musicians, music researchers, educators and creative artists and their international colleagues. Implementation and development of state-of-the-art, music specific infrastructure in Australia will bring a wealth of opportunities for collaboration and offer an innovative medium for practice-led research into music as well as pedagogy, performance and creation.
In addition to supporting excellence in elite music making and the education and professional development of musicians for the 21st century, this initiative will be a key component of the School’s new Centre for Music Outreach, acting as a cultural catalyst for community engagement locally, regionally and nationally. The
technology offers the potential to connect private students, primary and high school music departments, and regional conservatoriums to the School’s concert series, teaching expertise and community outreach events.
With internationally compatible technology and partnerships facilitated through the ANU School of Music, in the future these regional communities will be able to engage with the broader national and international music
scenes.
In mid February, the School unveiled Stage 1 of the centre, showcasing two mobile videoconference units, designed and constructed by School of Music technical engineers. The presentations facilitated through these units began with a videoconference to Christianne Orto (Assistant Dean of Distance Learning & Director of Recording, Manhattan School of Music, New York) and presentation by international visitor Ann Doyle (Senior Program Manager, Arts & Humanities Initiatives, Internet2). School of Music staff and students demonstrated
the mobile units in a videoconference teaching session, and a lively discussion followed on future collaboration and research opportunities.
Over the course of 2010 the School will be constructing a multi-layered system and developing its outreach
content. The School looks forward to engaging with ACT Music programs and organisations as it develops this
new centre, and welcomes interest and collaborative discussions with the ACTMEN community.
Australian National Eisteddfod
ACTMEN are currently completing an evaluation of the bands and orchestra sections of the Eisteddfod for the organising committee. ACTMEN are also putting forward suggestions for improving the marking schemas currently in use. For further information, please send your comments to admin@actmen.org.au
BSSS – Small Group Moderation
Small group moderation performance days have been cancelled for 2009. For further information, please contact Mr Mathew Irving – mathew.irving@radford.act.edu.au
National Curriculum
A National Curriculum for the Arts has been announced by Peter Garratt MP, Minister for Environment and the Arts. A Project manager has been put in place. The Arts will be part of the 2nd stage of the National Curriculum development by ACARA and will encompass the areas of Music, Drama, Dance, Media and and Visual Arts.
ACTMEN are in the process of drafting a statement. For further details or to get involed in the newly formed sub-committee, please contact Mr Mathew Irving – mathew.irving@radford.act.edu.au