3 September 2004

Darwin’s budding musicians have the opportunity test drive a range of musical instruments at the Centre for Youth Music Open Day being held at Charles Darwin University this Saturday.

Centre for Youth Music teacher Lucy Eames with some of her young students

“It is a great opportunity for children and their parents who have talked about music lessons to come along, experience what we have on offer here and put the talk into action,” Deputy Director for the Centre for Youth Music, Ms Kathy Banks, said.

The Centre for Youth Music is located within the School of Music at Charles Darwin University and offers individual and ensemble music instruction for children aged from as young as three years age up to youth aged to 18 years of age.

“We will be demonstrating the different levels of programs we offer and the range of instruments we have including percussion, strings, reed, brass, wind and keyboard.”

“In the first part of the morning we will be holding a free ‘have a go’ session for junior music students where three to five year olds and their parents can join in on a range of activities.

“We also have time set aside where people can meet University music teachers and music practitioners who will demonstrate their instruments.

As an added bonus, the Pandanus Performers will introduce a fabulous new Childrens’ Musical, The Gecko’s Tale by Darwin composer/writer, Cathy Applegate. This production will be performed at the Charles Darwin University Theatre later in the year.

“There will also be a busking competition involving current students of the Centre For Youth Music for most of the morning and a mass jam session will close the Open Day.”

Now in its 14 th year, the Centre for Youth Music provides orchestral and ensemble training for about 350 students per year.

Further information on the Open day can be accessed at www.cdu.edu.au