Music builds literacy and life skills for Batchelor students

King Marong (left) with students and members of Tangentyere Employment Services during his visit to the Music Course last month. From left, King Marong, Gemma Kelly, Jessica Coombe, Sarah Palmer, Celeste Nandy, Fiona Dixon and Nick Cowham
Hudson Kanari (right) a young talented Indigenous student

Music is building literacy and life skills for Batchelor students at Alice Springs.

Students are exposed to new instruments and a world of music to build not only their musical skills but their confidence and knowledge of life outside of Alice Springs.

Since April, the class has been visited by a range of international and national musicians including nationally acclaimed fiddler, Pixie Jenkins, singer songwriter and one of the founding members of Warumpi, Neil Murray and African musician King Marong.

Next semester the students will also experience a Mongolian Throat Singer and Horse Head Fiddle player called Bukhchuluun Ganburged (Bukhu) who will demonstrate traditional Mongolian music to the class.

The new course which is a partnership with the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and Tangentyere Employment Services, caters for 16 to 25 year olds wanting to improve their employability and literacy skills.

Students are also able to work towards a full Certificate II in Music. (CUS20109)

Lecturer Jeanette Wormald said it was exciting to see many of participants grow in confidence through being empowered by the course.

“Not only are students building performance skills and musical knowledge but they are also being encouraged to participate in group discussions, build critical analysis skills and get the courage to ask questions in public forums.

This course is designed to be culturally and age appropriate to enable students to learn in a safe, supported environment using the both ways philosophy.”Jeanette Wormald, Batchelor Institute Lecturer

Both-ways is a philosophy of education that ‘brings together Indigenous Australian traditions of knowledge and Western academic disciplinary positions and cultural contexts, and embraces values of respect, tolerance and diversity.’

The next semester for the course begins on July 21.

If you are interested in learning more please contact

Jeanette Wormald, Batchelor Institute Lecturer on 08 8951 8300 or
Tangentyere Employment Services on 08 8950 9100 or
email: enquiries @batchelor.edu.au