JIVING to their own beat, several James Morrison Academy of Music graduates have been highlighted recently after receiving class-topping 2018 honours results.
Academy honours supervisor Dr Gavin Franklin said six of the 14 bachelor of arts (honours) students received first-class honours results for their final thesis project, indicating students were graded 85pc or higher.
Dr Franklin said the remaining eight students received H2A classifications – the next highest results – giving the college a high pass rate.
Mount Gambier-based pianist Jack Walker was one of the six graduates who achieved first-class honours.
Mr Walker said the result was just one example of musicians “excelling in what they do best.”
“It is great that a whole host of jazz musicians are located in the centre of Mount Gambier,” he said.
“We are all getting gigs everywhere so we are able to give back to the community in our own way.
“This achievement makes all our blood, sweat and tears worth it in the end and is something which will always be on our academic record.”
Mr Walker chose a research-based thesis, discovering his topic late in his third-year of study.
“I based my thesis on the pianist Kenny Kirkland who I found while looking through albums recommended by an academy teacher,” he said.
“Kenny was a pianist on an album so I went home and Googled him, falling into a rabbit hole of discovery.
“It was around the time I needed to choose a thesis topic so I just thought why not.”
Dr Franklin said the final honours results were determined by two external examiners involved in academic music all over the country.
“There is no nepotism and we do not favour any student more than another because they are not marked by us,” he said.
“It is even more pleasing as the whole academic sphere appreciates the quality these students produce.
“I feel privileged to be involved especially when we read work together, fix things up and then go through it again.”
De-constructing transcripts of recorded solos was a research technique Mr Walker used during his thesis.
“Some students use interview techniques but others use transcriptions of recorded solos,” Dr Franklin said.
“I know Jack did a lot of transcription on Kenny which is where he developed ideas of where the musician’s stylistic features came from.”
Dr Franklin said he has talked to many people over Australia who can not believe the academy is based in Mount Gambier.
“I run into people all over Australia and they are shocked this is coming from Mount Gambier,” he said.
“It is a real feather in Mount Gambier’s cap.
“All students are friendly and there is a strong relationship with the honours course and the undergraduate course in particular.”
Mr Walker said he was excited for what the six students studying honours this year will be able to do.
“This year’s honours students are good and are shaping to be something special,” he said.
“The academy has given me a strong foundation and I cannot wait to see where it will take me.”
