Monash vs VCA

[jimmyjames]

Hey everyone, first post here. How cool is it that we have a internet forum with amazing muso's like tinkler, issacs, barnett etcc running aroun

Anyway im a 16y/o jazz guitarist from the gold coast. After high school, i definately want to get away from the miserable scene in QLD and go to uni in my 2nd home (im from there) melbourne.

So as far as conservatoriums are concerned which is the better con out of monash or VCA? The tutor list of monash seems incredible (tinkler, ohlers, wilsin, steve mag ect) but its pretty far out isnt it?? Is the VCA the more highly regarded? Who has better guitar teachers and how do the courses differ?? Most of the guitar faculty (other than steve Mag) i dont know how they play so i dont know.

Ive got a bit of time to think about it but any help will be appreciated. Especially those who might have something to do with the con's like scott (that powerhouse gig in brissie changed my life man!! thank you!)

[johnnymastropaulos]

I just finished at the VCA jimmy, so i'll tell you a bit about it.

In terms of individual teachers, you tend to get given a staff member (so we're talking ashley cross or geoff hughes on guitar, two of the finest teachers going) in first year, unless you strongly beg for someone else. Then after that it's entirely up to you: You can get pretty much whoever you want that lives in melbourne.
I'm not sure what the deal is with teachers at Monash, although the head of department, rob burke, posts here so he'll be able to tell you about it (Rob...?)

The Monash campus IS in fucking woop-woop, so if you're not staying in the CBD (or clayton, but then - who lives in clayton??) it will probably take you more than an hour (maybe and hour and a half) every morning to get there by public transport.

From what I've gathered, the monash course is better funded than the VCA.
However, while it is slowly gaining momentum, and some very fine players are starting to come out of there, I'm sure Rob won't mind me saying that the VCA is still more highly regarded, and thus you're more likely to get a bunch more good players as students there (although there are still good players at monash, and many 'less advanced' players at the VCA).

That said, I'd think that the most important thing to consider is which sort of course structure is right for you:
The Monash course is (and correct me if I'm wrong) more aimed at the straight-ahead jazz thing, that is, more rooted in the tradition, and the style.
Whereas the VCA is most definately a music-art course. While the first year focuses mainly on fundamental technical work and standards (along with a hefty dose of free playing) etc, the second two years are focusing on orginal voice, composition, avant-garde techniques etc.

THe other thing to consider is that the VCA course has as part of it's requirement 2 hours a week worth of classes focusing on humanities - mostly critical theory and art history.
I found this quite enjoyable and interesting, looking at work by contemporary australian artists in all feilds, understanding the context of the music you play, and generally exposing yourself to art and music beyond the narrow feild of 20th century african-american jazz, Many students found that it distracted them at a time when they "Just wanted to play" and get their shit together on their instrument.

To be honest jimmy, I reckon the most important thing you'll get out of melbourne won't be from the course you do, but from the gigs you go and see.
The players that I went to college with who improved the most over their time at the course where the ones that I'd see every night checking out gigs.

The course does heaps - provides structure, and helps you out with practice techniques, and gives you a mentor, and helps you meet other people in the same feild as you, but it's no replacement for the REAL experience of watching live music, and playing it heaps. (I actually presume you already know this from your comment about scott, but I just thought I'd tag a rant on the end of my post - most cos I like to see myself rant.

Cheers Jimmy,
See you in mexico.
Scrote

[march]

Geoff Hughes is awesome. underrated. awesome

[timothystevens]

I agree. What march said.

[shaggaz]

scrote has some good points. just be sure if you do choose to attend the vca, do not partake in drinking games pre Daryl McKenzie lectures. You will fall asleep.

anyway, i found the humanities classes interesting too, although they have their flaws.

jimmyjames mags doesn't take vca students anymore but there are plenty of other awesome dudes like the aforementioned geoff hughes. he will blow your mind!

johnnymastropaulos is a smart guy.

timothystevens is ace.

[shaggaz]

"timothy stevens is ace"- march wanted to say that first but i beat him to it

[johnnymastropaulos]

I think daryl got fired.

I don't think I ever drank before daryls classes, and I fell asleep anyway.

[tinky]

Hey Jimmy Jams, apply for both, go to VCA if you can and spend as much time with Geoff Hughes as possible, if you go to Monash you'll hopefully learn from the other Melb guit guru, Mags. Either way you win, just not so far to get to VCA.
I think Johnny is right, its the being here, hanging out and taking part in the scene that is where it happens. Besides, you can become a great muso without going anywhere and sitting in your room listening and practising.

[Kenny]

Welcome, Jimmy!

[ironguts]

Hey Tinky, its Jimmy James you cock, he's not a pair of pyjamas.

Jimmy, you should go to Sydney man. Yeah, hey man, cool.

You could learn be-bop man, yeah cool man. Shes my baby.

Be-bop scale man, da da da be do da. Hip man.

There once was a guy called Wes
who was as good as everyone says
man he could play
by no means was he gay
his name was Wes not Des.

[barbara1]

Monash is a long way out if you live a long way from it DUHHH!!!!
If you live in the leafy eastern susurbs it is not so far - live at Ringwood or some other suburb, I think it is a short trip from there.
Also, Ironguts, how do you know he's not jimmyjams
he may well be a pair of pyjamas, in which case he could probably get discount public transport.

[cartman]

Hi everyone im 8 yrs old and 1 fine day i wannna grow up 2 be just like ironguts. guts = coolest dude on this site. tiger rex = next coolest dude ....then jamie and scrote have euqal tie then tim stevnes mite be cool if hes my dad.... same goes for isaacs..... all the girls suck big time dudes (unless they give me their lunch money. so hears mmy questions ......
1..... should I go to Berklee or Juliard ?
2.... whos gonna pay?

[ironguts]

Stuff em both Cartman, you're hanging with us now, you don't need that seppo crap. No decent player ever came through those schools anyhow. There's definitely no way anyone would pay for you to go to either of them, you'd need to prostitute yourself to pay your way, then there would be no time for practice.
I guess if you really want to know how to 'improvise' using pentatonics you could go to Berkers or if you want to sound like a lame Classical stiff trying to play jazz you could do truly hard, but I think you've got much more to offer than that my little friend.

[jimmyjames]

thanks for the usefull info. It seems that VCA is the way to go for now. Its like two years away but at least i know a bit more about it too.

I agree its about going to gigs and practicing in your room and more importantly PLAYING more than what course you take. Whenever i visit my family in melbourne ialways check out the scene and try to see guys like Scott, Grabowski, Ohlers, and all the young guys too. There's some top players here in QLD too like James Sherlock, Ken Edie etc but theres a more creative outlet for players of this level in the bigger cities like melbourne and sydney.

Ok so as far as guitar players are concerned in the melbourne scene is steve mag and this geoff hughes the big boys? I saw a guy called Graig Fermanis (sp??) last time i was there, he was pretty good too, who else ?

[captain]

Nash Lee is wikid, also Lawrence Folvig and his big brother.

Don't go to VCA. Get a job, then go to gigs every night and meet/play with as many people as you can. Music degrees are useless.