CQCM at cutting edge of music education
Published on 27 July, 2006
Sub-Dean and lecturer at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) Judith Brown, has every reason to be proud of the CQCM and its methods used in teaching our future musicians.
After recently attending an International Society of Music Education conference, Judith discovered that the more modern and innovative techniques and approaches to teaching professional musicians, are the same used everyday at our very own CQCM - but not necessarily all Conservatoriums around the world.
Judith credits the vibrancy and openness of the staff of the CQCM to new ideas and cutting edge techniques in teaching and learning.
“As we don’t have a long tradition like other conservatoriums we can respond to what’s happening and be more flexible in our approach,” said Judith. “Students at CQCM have many opportunities to put their learning into practice through many types of musical and theatrical performances. CQCM students learn ‘on the job’ and this approach is often not strongly encouraged at more traditional conservatoriums”.
The 16th annual seminar of the Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician organised by the International Society of Music Education was attended by delegates from Finland, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, UK, USA, Singapore and Australia at the Hanoi National Conservatory of Music in Vietnam.
The conference provided an atmosphere for international tertiary music educators to have frank discussions and share new ways of teaching and compare how these differ from more traditional forms.
Over the next few months, these ideas will be shared by CQCM staff as they develop new courses and programs, especially in the post-graduate area of music.
“The conference has certainly challenged us to keep abreast of best practice in music education,” said Judith. “Staff at CQCM are determined to create a learning environment in which students can excel and that will prepare them for an exciting and sustainable career in the performing arts”.
Photo above: Judith Brown Sub Dean of the CQCM learnt that CQCM’s teaching techniques are modern and at the cutting edge of how musical professionals will be taught in the future.