It has been almost two years since I have had a secure job. In June, 2014 I was half way through my Graduate Diploma in Teaching & Learning and well on my way towards becoming a qualified registered teacher. I gave up my position with the NT Music School as a music teacher in Alice Springs because I felt uncomfortable in my work place and not mature enough to deal with the ins and outs of the bureaucratic behaviour I was surrounded by. Instead I wanted to seek new inspiration for my songwriting and eventually become an endorsed touring & recording artist.
I was unsupported and frowned upon by my workplace colleagues. All of them were twice my age and extremely lazy. Each were taking home a wealthy salary of around $95,000 per year and where not doing much to show for it. I on the other hand, I felt privileged to be earning a healthy salary of $62,000 per year and this motivated me to get more music happening in our department. When I first arrived I could only see many beautiful musical instruments hanging out to dry. There really was nothing productive happening in our quarters. I then took it upon myself to implement a rock band programme which involved students spending more time and making more noise in the music studios that were originally being used for unnecessary storage. Well, this certainly didn’t float the boat my colleagues were cruising in. I received complaints via email from the person next door regarding the noise of the students playing music and how it was disturbing the peace and tranquillity once established before I arrived. I was shocked because finally students were making noise in this well-equipped music centre. This documented approach towards complaining & communicating made me very uncomfortable. I am an approachable person, is it that hard to knock on the door and discuss the matter???
I began to feel that the main emphasis in teaching was directed towards documentation and its analysis instead of actually teaching the students something useful. I became very frustrated and begun to think that no matter how hard I try there was nothing I could do to change the lazy teaching methods I was surrounded by. I made it to the end of my current employment contract and embarked on a homeless nomadic adventure through North America. In this time, I came face to face with the most challenging scenarios and temptation my life has seen to date. I came to understand that as a human being all we can do is simply show appreciation and love towards each other, be creative not destructive and where a happy smile until we reach the inevitable.
Upon returning to Australia from an outrageous wild ride through Canada, USA & New Zealand the displacement of my soul begun to surface and I lost control of my emotions. Luckily I had the support of my older brother. He was kind enough to put up with my emotional episodes and help direct me into a positive direction. It was clear I needed to finish my teaching studies in order to implement focus into my mind frame again. So I prepared my Land Rover for another epic road trip and made my way to Darwin. I wanted to finish my studies on campus and in an urban school setting where I will hopefully be mentored by more motivated teacher’s than last time. I’ve learned that it is foolish to judge something on a bad first experience, as they say “The first cut is the deepest”.
I’m still a songwriter and I can continue to become better. The new technological age has made it almost impossible for Independent musicians to make a living and in turn has made the music business a service industry. It seems now you have to pay people to review your music, giving it to them free doesn't make the cut anymore. For some reason these people feel like they should make all the money and artists should get nothing. Don't be too ignorant now, the hole industry depends on artists making music... without it you will have nothing to bitch and moan about. Everyone knows the music played on the radio is crap these days... the power is in the numbers people! How about we change it!
I write music because I love it and it is my creative outlet, without it I would probably be a destructive waste of space. I am not going to let a demanding industry full of sharks destroy that for me, I will make my money teaching and continue to fund the production of the new songs I compose for whoever wants to show an interest. Maybe one day a new avenue will open and people may be willing to pay for music again. But until then I guess it comes down to survival of the most determined.