Australia
has opened its first country music academy within a Queensland
high school in an
attempt to improve the genre's credibility among
young people.
Teacher Geoff Walden said he believed the centre at Gympie State
High School was the first of its kind in the world.
"We are hoping that Gympie will be the launch pad for many
careers in the country music industry," he said.
Country is the second biggest-selling style of music in Australia,
according to the Country Music Association.
Mr Walton said country music was more popular than rock and pop
in many parts of Australia because of the "frontier mentality"
of Outback inhabitants, similar to that which produced the US
country music scene.
But he acknowledged some school pupils did not take the genre
seriously.
"They associate it with twangy,
hillbilly music and don't realise there are many different
styles within the genre," he said.
Classes will teach young people the basics of song-writing, video
production, marketing and management alongside their usual curriculum
studies.
Mr Walden hopes to expand the scheme with the help of the Australian
Institute of Country Music so students will be able to take a
degree in country music at the local university.
The Country Music Association of Australia already runs short
intensive courses to help young up-and-coming
musicians progress in their music careers.
Gympie, two hours north of Brisbane, is well-known for its country
music associations - the city hosts the annual National Country
Music Muster every August.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-22 01:00