TAFE and James Nash students will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how to work as sound and lighting technicians for the 2022 Gympie Music Muster.
The Gympie Music Muster is stepping up its commitment to the community again this year, providing opportunities for young students to gain hands-on educational experiences.
The Muster welcomes Year 11 and 12 Certificate III tourism students from James Nash State High School and Diploma of Music – Sound Production TAFE Queensland students from Brisbane, who will gain experience in hospitality, service and live music production.
After eight years of studying the Muster as a tourist event, this will be the first year James Nash State High School students will work Back Stage at the Muster, with the experience invaluable to their studies.
“A new competency we’ve added this year is addressing protocol requirements and specifically includes musical artists as some of the people to work with,” James Nash State High School Business and Technology Head Karen Swift said. .
“There is no better opportunity for our local students to gain first-hand work experience in the tourism industry than working in artist services at Muster.”
Students are excited to apply their skills in a real-world situation, with their teacher supporting them throughout the experience.
“The real value of this experience is in the opportunity to step up and showcase their skills beyond classroom walls and set schedules,” Swift said.
Also gaining hands-on experience at the Muster is a TAFE Queensland Brisbane (Southbank) sound production class – this relationship with the Gympie Music Muster goes back 25 years and as part of community support the Muster also contributes to the supply accommodation and meals. to the students
A dozen students will work alongside experienced audio and lighting engineers on the Muster stages, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.
“Former Professor Ian Taylor instigated the program in 1996 to give students the opportunity to work alongside industry audio professionals to gain insight into the operation of large-scale festivals, as well as to understand how audio systems are managed from small to large concert venues.” said Professor Heath Storrie.
Students camp on site and participate in audio, lighting, vision and backline setup prior to the Muster, assist with mic setup, patching, artist and backline changes and gain invaluable insight into the live mixing practices during the festival, and help with the bump-out.
“By participating in all of these aspects, students get a very realistic hands-on experience of the event production industry,” Storrie said.
He said the students gain invaluable work and networking contacts, with some of the current professional crew and even touring crew having graduated from this course. in past years.
Storrie himself completed the course in 1999 and has worked as a member of the audio production team on and off since 2011.
The Gympie Music Muster will take place over the weekend of August 25-28 at Amamoor Creek State Forest and is supported by Gympie Regional Council and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and is a function of It’s Live! on the Queensland events calendar.