Hsc Exams Moving To The Beat Of Nightclubbing Culture

Sun Herald

Sunday September 18, 2005

By HANNAH EDWARDS EDUCATION REPORTER

THE halls of Cranbrook School at Bellevue Hill are not usually associated with the thumping beat of electronic tunes and the mixing and scratching of DJs.

But with the DJ turntable now formally recognised by the Board of Studies, two Higher School Certificate music students at the school have been preparing complicated performance pieces in a bid to impress examiners.

The rising popularity of nightclubbing culture has inspired many schoolyard DJs to assemble high-tech home music studios complete with turntables and boxes of imported records.

Year 12 Cranbrook students Drew Davidson and Harry Hunter have just completed their HSC practical music exam using the turntables, the only students in NSW to do so this year.

Drew's parents hoped their son would become a doctor.

But with a love of electronic dance music, particularly electro and trance, Drew, 18, set his sights on becoming a DJ, jumping at the chance to complete his music examination using the turntables.

His parents are highly supportive, even buying him the complicated turntable set-up for a birthday present.

Once he leaves school he plans to break into the DJ industry and eventually start his own record label.

"The examiners enjoyed it," Drew said. "They were tapping their feet."

Harry Hunter, 18, started playing turntables four years ago and plays a mix of everything from 1970s to contemporary music.

"I don't know if I will stay with DJ-ing but I'm enjoying it right now," Harry said.

"I'm getting gigs at friends' parties and some club gigs. I'm not really surprised that we are allowed to do it in the HSC. It's the future. Music evolves."

Cranbrook's director of music Francis Louran said students used the turntables in their exam just like a DJ did in a club.

"They select their records and music samples and whatever other sounds they want," he said. "They arrange the music into a live performance. What is particularly important is to confirm the boys are in full control of the machinery and that the technology is not arranging the music for them.

"What's exciting is that just as for a classical musician, there are professional opportunities."

Former Cranbrook student and professional DJ Jack Glass comes to the school to teach DJ skills.

Mr Louran, a music teacher for 18 years, said he was not surprised the Board of Studies allowed the students to use the turntables in their exams: "It's a logical progression. It's an accurate reaction to what's happening in society. These boys may not have taken music if the course was exclusively geared towards the classical scene."

Inspector at the Board of Studies' creative arts office Jay McPherson said allowing students to be tested on the turntables was "an unorthodox approach to HSC music exams".

Approval was given to the students only after a formal application was made. Examiners mark the boys' live music performance, judging technical skill, stylistic understanding of the music, personal expression and their sensitivity to the chosen style.

"Music marking guidelines are the same as you might have when you are playing the piano, flute, singing or playing the bagpipes," Mr McPherson said. "We are looking for success of musical performance."

TESTING MUSIC

The most popular HSC instruments:

* Piano

* Guitar

* Strings (including violin)

* Saxophone

* Voice

Other, unusual, HSC instruments:

* Erhu (a Chinese bowed string instrument)

* Taiko (Japanese) drum

* Bagpipes

* V-drum (programmable electric drum kit)

HSC 2005: AT A GLANCE

* Written examinations begin October 17.

* Last exam November 11.

* Student vacation (StuVac) begins September 26.

* HSC results available to students via SMS, phone and internet on December 16.

* HSC results available by mail January 17.

* For stress and anxiety management tips designed for HSC students, sign up for the free SMS program, see www.reachout.com.au.

© 2005 Sun Herald

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