YOUR SHOT 2013

I've been in love with music and performance ever since I was old enough to dance/bop up and down to 'Doop' by Doop in my nappy. So it's no surprise that I jumped at the chance to shoot myself to DJ stardom. Early this year I took the private DJ lesson that my best friend got me for my 18th birthday at DJ Warehouse in Leichhardt.  After the lesson my instructor showed me a flyer about a competition for amateurs called 'Your Shot'. In May this Year I attended the competition with a close friend of mine who is a musical genius and aspiring DJ. 

It was on a Saturday Morning so I had to take the day off work to go to GreenWood Hotel in North Sydney. I woke up at 6am to pick up my mate and get on a train by 7 to beat the massive queue. We ended up getting there earlier than most people. Only three people were there before us and the Your Shot crew hadn't even started setting up yet. We walked around the shopping centre and listened to some music to pass some time before the 11am start.

Even though we were amongst the first five to arrive, we didn't know where the line was going to start. Everyone was just sitting in the beer garden. So when the security guard told everyone where to form a line it was chaos. People started running to get a prime spot. Phones were dropped and there was panic! Luckily I wasn't standing too far from where the line was and we ended up being 33rd and 34th in line. Something like that.

As we walked in we were handed a form to fill out. Listing our music interests, availabilities for training and performance and asking a couple of other normal details. We also had to attach a picture of ourselves. We waited for our numbers to be called to the interview room where we would have an extremely brief (5 minute) interview. The interviewers are made up of past contestants (like Dara AKA Tigerlily) and DJs. We would be notified by the night if we had made it to the top 72 in NSW. 

Neither of us got the call but that was a relief for me because if I made it, I would have had to call in sick to work the next day to attend orientation.

It was a fun experience and I would definitely like to try it out again next year! The prizes are amazing.

Thanks for reading! 

DIBS

Miss Extra-Curricular

So I have always been one to put my hand up and participate in anything and everything that was thrown at me. If it's exciting, if it's for a good cause, if I'm learning or helping someone out I like to be involved. A quick summary of my extracurricular activities include; public speaking, dirt bike riding from the age of about four, karate when I was about 6 years old, netball from ages 8-10, tap dancing for a couple years after, baseball, debating, drama (TV, Film & Theatre) classes for three or four years, football (soccer) for most of my high school years, musical theatre, music (I play a couple instruments well and try to play many more [I even have a trumpet that I have always wanted to perfect but never stuck with it]), being on the Student Rep Council and probably a few more things.

Being a part of all of these little communities and social groups led me to many great events. From hosting my drama school's annual 'Silver Screen Awards' to shaving my head and helping organise other fundraisers as part of the SRC to performing with my band (that was formed at school) at the grand final of the Mounties 'Battle of the Bands' competition. I have performed at Fairfield City Council's annual youth festival 'Bring it On!' as well as volunteered there helping out the NSW Family Planning stall which was taking photo's for the This is Oz campaign (http://www.thisisoz.com.au/). By performing a pantomime titled 'Jungle Jack and Jill' I was able to entertain audiences at the Cancer Council's Relay for Life, McHappy Day and the Teddy Bear's Picnic. I do these things because they are fun, rewarding, a great way to socialise and build experience and valuable communication and performance skills. 

The extracurricular activity that has brought me the most joy is being a big part of the CAPA faculty at high school. I still miss my drama class to this day. The students and my amazing teacher Pat. I miss the music rooms, the fancy instruments I got to use and just collaborating with so many talented and creative minds. Drama took me to participate in the annual Manly festival. My class was lucky enough to make massive lanterns shaped as saxophones and double basses. We got to march with them down to the beach in the parade. For my major group project I became very close with the two other girls I was working with. We performed in assembly in front of hundreds of students. None of the drama students wanted to perform in the senior assembly and they chose to perform to the year 7's and 8's & 9's. On the day, the M.C. announced that it was time for our performance and the moment came for us to walk into a packed school stadium. As we took our positions we were all hoping not to embarrass ourselves. After the first couple of lines the audience reacted better than we could have hoped for. The moment of joy and relief when they understood our performance and laughed and clapped was a moment I will never forget. I love performing. The rush. The adrenaline. The way I can evoke so many emotions from the people watching. 
Being actively involved in music at school brought me so much happiness. The teacher that made my high school experience so much more enriched is Teresa. She believes in so many young musicians and encourages everyone to perform, no matter what their skill level is. As a result of having this lovely woman around, I participated in numerous little gigs at school, numerous assemblies and in the annual music night at our local club. I was placed in a myriad of ensembles and worked my way up to the 'elite ensemble'. From this group we formed 'G62' (named after the classroom we spent the majority of our time practicing in during our spare time and even during school holidays). Being in G62 brought so many opportunities. From band competitions to recording our original songs in a studio and being interviewed on Hope 103.2. I also got to sing the song I wrote at the grand final of the Battle of the Bands. I assisted the woodwind ensemble, the vocal ensemble and other groups in their performances because I was the go-to drummer and I loved it! 

I take advantage of everything that is offered to me. Before university started, I participated in activities for 'future students' like 'Macquarie in a Day' and open day. During the first week of uni holidays I attended a careers workshop that focussed on resume writing. I take as much information in as I can when it is offered to me... as long as it doesn't involve reading journal articles because they are boring 99.9% of the time. I'm supposed to be doing my first assignment that is due first day back at the moment but I am writing this because I love the Pinnacle Foundation and I love the blogs! 
In summary my drama teacher left our class with some advice on our last day. She told us to participate in life. To be proactive and be involved in as many things as we can. To take life easy and to do what makes us happy. Everyone started crying. She was so right. Thank you Pat D.W. 

By DIBS

Music is not a hobby, it's a lifestyle

I’ve played trumpet for as long as I can remember. Barely old enough for primary school, I wandered up to my Dad’s bedroom and just started playing ‘Oh When the Saints’. Or so the story goes. 

I received formal tuition throughout primary school, and I went to a secondary school specialising in music education. Music has been kind to me - travel, television appearances and ANZAC Day services are just some of the exciting opportunities it has provided.

However, there’s a false romantic haze surrounding musicians, perhaps assisted by Hollywood and shows like the X Factor. Don’t be fooled by the get-famous-quick culture, it promotes the belief that a musician must possess no more than luck and the ability to look good on stage.

The truth is, I do not lead the life of a rock-star and music is actually a really hard slog.

At uni there are lectures, rehearsals and workshops. In addition to this, there’s at least six hours personal practice. Then there are external rehearsals and performances. It may not be accountancy or medicine, but it’s definitely not a hobby. I am married to my art - it is a lifestyle and a career pathway.

I’ve come to accept that there is no luck involved. To become a professional, one must put in a lifetime’s worth of work. I go through phases of love and hate; bemoaning my abilities, lack of social life, job prospects and the state of the arts. I sometimes worry that my efforts don’t make a positive and tangible contribution to society, but promptly remind myself that there is always a place for the arts and its technicians. Without them, the community would have a bland landscape. 

Thanks to the generous investment of the Pinnacle Foundation and those who assisted my application, I have finally purchased a new trumpet. Previously unattainable because of a lack of funds, I spent nearly four years borrowing inadequate equipment. Thankfully, I will no longer have to experience embarrassing auditions or stunted musical growth.

For me, the purchase of my new Yamaha Chicago C was as significant as buying a house. Besides the obviously enormous expense, they both carry similar notions of a new beginning. This professional standard trumpet is perfect for orchestral work and will encourage my musical development, signaling a transition from student to professional musician.

I begin my final year of undergraduate studies with feelings of excitement and ambition. It’s not just going to be fun and games, but when I feel doubtful, I remind myself of the importance of music. It has the ability to heal and to increase intelligence, evoke love or rage. I sometimes reminisce about my very first musical encounter:

A group of musicians came to perform to my kindergarten class, after which there was a question and answer session. I raised my hand to comment. With my other hand to my chest, I said ‘when you played, I felt it inside me’.

By Ben Nielsen