The FOSSICKERS press release.

New Schools and Community Jazz Training Combo The ‘FOSSICKERS’ “Fossicking – we may uncover a few new Gem-Tones” www.gem-tones-stageband.websyte.com.au www.the-fossickers-jazz-training-combo.websyte.com.au Following on from the successful public debut of the Gem-Tones stageband, at the Inverell Eisteddfod (an exciting concert selection, and the highest mark awarded in the 2006 eisteddfod of 97), the interest within the community for the musical styles has skyrocketed. The styles appeal to young and old alike, but far from being a simple ‘throw-away’ simplistic pop-style of music, there is plenty of scope for furthering musical knowledge in a Jazz Combo. Jazz Musicians are often regarded as both technical masters of their instruments and exceptionally expressive. ‘Complete musicians’. To that end has been spawned the ‘FOSSICKERS’ – Jazz Training Combo. This new schools and community initiative will be housed at Macintyre High School, running from 4:30pm till 5:30pm (initially) on Mondays. It is primarily for school students (any age), that have at least been learning their instrument for one year, (with a private teacher is the quickest way, although groups are still good), and are into their second tutor book. Adults and community members are able to join as well, but they must commit to the home practice system or it won’t be worth their while. Basically, if the player is looking for a challenge on their instrument, and has a fair reading ability and good chromatic range they should have a go at becoming a FOSSICKER. The group covers all instruments (yes really), and is not just limited to those found in a stage band. Interested musicians should contact their respective school’s music teacher for further details, or Macintyre High Music Department directly. Extra info is available through both the Gem-Tones stageband and FOSSICKERS websites. We intend on starting on Monday 24th October. Cost is $2.00 per attendance. Thanks, Peter Schuhmacher. B.Mus,Dip Ed. Music Department Macintyre High School.

(Old letter to all current stakeholders and schools.) 

19-9-05.

Hi everyone,

As I hope has filtered through, after the winding down of the Inverell Eisteddfod and the public debut of the ‘Gem-Tones Stage Band’, I’m launching another youth oriented “schools and community” Music Project.

This one is primarily for school-aged students with at least a year of solid instrumental tuition behind them, (ages open) and is called the ‘FOSSICKERS’.

(catch phrase: Fossicking – we may discover a few Gem-Tones). It will cover a wide range of styles.

The main idea is to re-engage as many of the young players as possible, that are looking for a new challenge in their music, and keep them going so they don’t drop out. Many succumb, and state the prime reason as being tied into what they perceive as boring activities while they wait for other opportunities to open up for them. (Why not empower them to create opportunities for themselves, rather than have them sit back and stagnate... waiting?)

The FOSSICKERS is one of these new opportunities, in the short term, but its aim is much longer term than just that. Through the emphasis it will place on developing specific instrumental techniques and immediately applying them to the ensemble and the self-esteem/confidence building associated with improvisation studies it will help to ‘raise the bar’ (locally) in the expectations of those studying music and performing in ensembles.

Eventually, the young people that would usually drop-off, will be creating their own seasonal ‘combos’, striving, for themselves, to meet their own high expectations for community music education.

The emphasis on skills building and the immediate application of the achieved skill may assist in ‘raising the bar’ when it comes to private instrumental tuition as well. This will happily pave the way for the development of the Inverell Campus of NECOM in the human sense, even though it appears ‘stalled’ in the current search for a venue.

The FOSSICKERS intends to replace nothing. It intends to enhance, through its aims, all the existing musical opportunities in Inverell. To help gage and maintain the interest generated so far, and to allay any fears of clashes, please circulate the info and the attached sheet during the last week of term 3. If possible, please relay names and contact details back to me at MHS as soon as is practical in term 4. I hope be able to hold the first ‘orientation’ rehearsals about the 24^th of October (wk 3-4 of fourth term) and see how it holds up for the remaining 6-7 weeks prior to the Christmas performance season.

Thanks for your assistance. I had 15 enthusiastic enquiries on Friday night (16^th) alone.

Bye,

Peter Schuhmacher.