Some say an artistic talent is god’s gift. But without relevant refinement through education and training, how can the gift be tuned to a profession which can be skilfully pursued?

“I always knew what I wanted to be.” said Taron Liptapallop (Tan) who started his career as a music producer when he was only 19. Now 23, Tan is a member of the famous duo “Lipta band” which recently held concerts in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Tan is now enjoying this exciting business as an artist, a songwriter, and a producer.

 

Cultivated with artistic intellect by his mother, Tan decided to pursue his dream on a road that led him to SAE Institute in Byron Bay, Australia where he completed his Bachelor degree in Digital Audio.

“I was impressed with the best facilities and practically oriented teaching and learning approach. We had visiting artists who shared their experience with us, such as a songwriter from legendary band - Kool and the Gang. Emphasis was put highly on the process, not just the outcome itself and we had available resources for turning our ideas into reality”, Tan said.

May Yimsai (May) always knew that dance was her dream profession. May graduated with a Bachelor of Dance from Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) at The University of Melbourne, Australia, where she was trained in both contemporary dance and classical ballet by some of the world’s best dance choreographers and teachers. May is now a choreographer and teacher at the Dance Centre School of Performing Arts in Bangkok and is regarded as one of the best contemporary dancers in Thailand. May said that her VCA experience was worthwhile and enabled her to achieve her dream. “The teaching styles there really focus on thinking skills which stay with students throughout their lives”, said May.

Australia has an international reputation in Arts and Culture which provides an inspirational environment for students and artists.  There are several reputable education institutions which offer a range of programs.

The School of Music, Monash University in Melbourne offers courses in Performance, Composition, Musicology and Ethnomusicology and enables students to do a double degree; e.g. degree in Music combined with Commerce, Education, Law or Performing Arts. Australian National University in Canberra will be introducing a “Bachelor of Professional Music Practice” in 2010 allowing students who do not aspire to become elite performers to study music and enter into a music-related career.

The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University in Perth is another specialist institution. The Academy is innovative in its approach: contemporary ballet techniques supported with yoga, aerial circus skills, martial arts; concerts/performances to help transit students into professionals. In the southernmost part of Australia, the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music has a unique partnership “Broadway to Australia” with The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers which facilitates development and collaboration opportunities to help students learn from, and engage with, Broadway’s illustrious creative practitioners.

These are some examples of the dynamic growth of Music and Performing Arts Education in Australia. For those who wish to pursue this exciting career path, the two alumni suggest that self discipline is crucial, and that selecting the right education institution opens the door to diverse career opportunities.