High school student Yalani Smith began lessons and performing with a band in 2016.
‘Being in the band has helped me come out of my shell. When I first started singing I was closed off, I was terrified and now it’s something that’s normal for me,” she said.
“It’s helped me to gain confidence for public speaking and in academic studies, and I’ve excelled in drama and performance.
“I [recently] got a maths award and I definitely think that music has helped me excel,” Yalani Smith explained.
“It’s a passion and music has helped me focus, and it grounds me.”
Student Yalani Smith says performing live on stage has boosted her confidence. Source: SBS
This year, Sydney's Big Music school is offering scholarships for the first time, including free lessons and the chance to get up on stage and perform.
“We are looking for young people aged 14-19 that have a love for music and need to be able to play a bit ,” Big Music co-owner Richard Berkman explained.
“They have probably been learning [music] for a year or two and they may feel they have not realised their potential for one reason or another, and maybe a life event has set them back a bit.”
The program includes 3 hours of group rehearsal time each week, under the direction of a professional musician coach.
Richard Berkman said music can also help students cope with mental health issues, stress or family conflict.
“Sadly the most common problem we see and hear of is depression,” he explained.
Richard Berkman is co-founder of Big Music. Source: SBS
“And we have seen very quick improvements in students when they get involved in playing music. It’s uplifting, and it keeps them occupied in a good way and off their electronic devices.”
“So many parents have said to me they cannot believe the changes in their child since they got actively involved in playing music,” Richard Berkman said.
He hopes in 2020 to offer these benefits to students who might otherwise miss out.
“There’s no cost to the scholarship recipients, it’s free for them. We are providing coaches and access to facilities and Mental Wheels Foundation is supporting [scholarships] to the tune of thousands of dollars, and we are doing it all at cost or less.”
Gareth Pike, Michael Tomalaris and Clinton Hill ride to raise funds for mental health. Source: SBS
Mental Wheels Foundation runs an annual charity bike ride which last year raised around $100,000.
“The tour is around raising funds for research for mental health and [former Olympian] Clinton Hill and I said more needs to be done in this space, and so by bringing people together on a tour it’s a catalyst for that,” Mental Wheels Foundation co-founder Gareth Pike said.
The Big Music teaching facility and instrument store on Sydney’s north shore, also runs an annual rock concert on Lord Howe Island.
The business was founded ten years ago by brothers David and Richard Berkman, who traded careers in finance to open the store and rekindle their own love of music. Both brothers now play in bands.
Their school has helped to inspire a generation of students on Lord Howe and across Sydney to learn and perform music.
Louis Chand aims to work as a professional musician. Source: SBS
"I love music, it's probably one of the greatest things in my life," said student Louis Chand who is on his way to becoming a professional musician.
Drummer and singer Oli Naglost agrees: "It’s my happy place, it’s the best feeling and it's why I love it so much. [Performing] is the best feeling in the world."
“One of our students won an Aria Award for breakthrough artist, and performed at the Opening of the Commonwealth Games,” Richard Berkman said.
“We also have a young band that we coached and formed here, and it has toured Europe getting accolades.”
The benefits of learning music are well documented says award-winning neuromusical educator, Dr Anita Collins.
Dr Collins advocates globally for better access to music education to improve numeracy and literacy.
Dr Anita Collins is a neuromusical educator. Source: SBS
“Music processing and language development share an overlapping network in the brain,” Dr Collins said.
“We‘re only now starting to understand why music helps children’s brains perform more effectively,” the music education expert explained.
“Performing live music also helps the kids by improving teamwork and executive functions [like leadership], which are very hard skills to develop all the way through school.”
The scholarship recipients will have access to Big Music facilities and coaches.
Big Music students perform with the house band, Bandits. Source: SBS
“We have 35 music coaches and they are all active gigging professional musicians and almost all have tertiary qualifications,” Richard Berkman explained.
“The scholarship recipients will be able to join others forming a band, writing songs and eventually performing on stage.”
