When did you start playing and why?

After many years of sitting with my family listening to records and cds, particularly my dad; a talented drummer who loved to broaden my mind with a diverse range of musical influences from Jimmy Hendrix- to Louise Armstrong, I began to appreciate the art of music and start my journey towards the person who I am today and to who I will be in the future. Also during this period of time in my early childhood, I attended several of my older siblings’ high school concerts, which convinced me to aspire to playing a brass instrument, the cornet in particularly like my sister Lisa, who achieved fine cornet playing on solo cornet in Boroondara brass (formerly known as Kew brass) for many years until she became an accomplished teacher (secondary/high school) much like my sister Deanna (primary), who played drums/percussion also in high school. Following their achievements my sister Christina learnt piano and saxophone successfully until she was convinced to play percussion for Boroondara also.

Thus my family interest and commitment to music was very influential and inspirational in my development and achievement in music. I also commenced playing cornet because I believed so much in the dream that female players can achieve many great things in such a mainly male-dominated industry. I still use that goal today to motivate myself to develop my playing to a much higher level beyond my age. It is important for people considering to play any musical instrument to note, that completing piano lessons which incorporate basic theoretical aspects, most importantly learning how to read music, is very important and helpful to learn before tackling the instrument itself. I’m really glad my mum started me on piano first.

Was Cornet your first choice?

As mentioned earlier, I started playing piano and continued for about 2-3 yrs. I learned a great many skills such as basic grade 1 theory, learning how to read music in treble and bass clef and basic rhythmic patterns….etc.. Although cornet wasn’t my first choice, it still kept me far more interested and provided me with more interesting challenges then piano.

A bit of your playing history.

I started playing the cornet at the age of 12, and was taught by Mr Tom Paulin, who asked me to join Boroondara Brass, and after a couple of months on 3rd cornet in 2004 became Principal cornet. During this time Boroondara Brass won 4 State titles and had a successful year in 2005, winning 2 national tittles and winning all major competitions in Victoria. The band was recently awarded the Merv Simpson trophy for the most successful band in Victoria. After a brief period of playing with Darebin Brass band and permitting with Northern Brass I joined with great pleasure, Kew Band in June 2006 and have been recently appointed Principal cornet just in time for the recently completed Royal South Street State championships in Ballarat.

Teachers to date?

Tom Paulin (cornet teacher) - 2001

Rob Simms (cornet teacher) - 2005

Geoff Paine (trumpet teacher)- 2005

Rob Simms (cornet teacher) - 2006

Colin Lord (cornet teacher) - 2006

Mark Ford (solo coach) - 2006

Are you studying at the moment?

This year I studied Year 12 at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in the city. The subjects I studied were: Music Solo Performance (completed group last year), Music Styles, Literature, History-American/Chinese revolutions, and Psychology.

Achievements?

La Trobe Valley Eisteddfod:

2001: First major win in a competition at the age of 12, winning Under 19 Junior champion of champions.

2002 Awarded The Merv Leitch Memorial Trophy & memento - most promising junior cornet player

2002 Open Percy Code Memorial Solo 2003 Scholarship Any Brass Band Instrument (Under 21yrs)

2004 THE CAROLE INGWERSEN JUNIOR ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD

2004 Under 21 slow melody

2004 & 2005 La Trobe Valley Junior Champion of Champions

2005 Open La Trobe Valley Championship

2005 Open Slow Melody

Royal South Street Competition (Ballarat)

2003 Junior and Juvenile Champion of Champions

2004 Junior and Open Percy Code

2004 Junior Sacred Solo

2005 Junior Percy Code 2003 & 2005 Open Sacred Solo

2005 Junior Champion of Champion

National Brass Band Solos - Australia

2005 2nd place in Junior cornet with 96points.

2006 1st place in junior cornet section and winner of Junior champion of Champions.

National Brass Band Solos - New Zealand

2006 1st place in junior cornet section and winner of Junior champion of Champions.

Favourite solo and band piece?

Favourite solo piece= Concertpiece for cornet-Curnow.

Band piece: Tallis Variations

Favourite band and why?

Kew band- They are a friendly bunch of people who are so supportive of each other and I really admire them all. They are fantastic musicians who work well together and are lead by a very talented and inspirational conductor.

Instrument and mouthpiece?

Besson Soverign, Dennis Wick 4½.

Where would you like to take your musical talents in the future?

 I’d love to travel around the world and play music at various concerts and also spend some time studying in England with Professor David King and other fine musicians.

Any future performances that you are excited about?

I’m really looking forward to playing principal cornet for Kew at Nationals next year. The bands in fine form and are looking forward to great competition next year in Melbourne!

One piece of playing advice you would like to pass on?

Learn everything you can from your teachers and practice as hard as you can when you’re younger, because things get much harder when you get older if you haven’t put in the time. “You only get out what you put in”.

Do you have a set practice routine?

I like to warm up with long notes for half an hour, and then go through the arban, starting with tonguing exercises, finishing with a warm tone or chromatic runs between low g and middle c. Due to my health, Year 12 and my commitment to numerous bands, its been a struggle to catch some personal time for practice but I aim to practice an hour every day, if not 4 hours on Saturday and Sunday.

In terms of your own playing, what do you think is your strongest area and what could be improved upon?

Strengths: Slow, melodic playing, double tonguing, slurring

Weakness: breathing, triple tonguing, flexibility, high register, everything else..lol

Gripes about the banding movement in Australia/World? How could this be improved?

Too much fighting and negativity. We all need to unite, work together and support each other.

Do you suffer much from performance anxiety and if so, what, if any preventative measures do you use or would recommend?

I definitely get really nervous/scared before I play. Well I try various strategies to keep me calm and relaxed: Sometimes I like to listen to music, read or book or talk to someone to keep my mind off the fact that I’ll be playing soon. I also try simple, breathing exercises. Its also great to go through your music, concentrate on the job, warm up sufficiently and go out there, put you feet on the floor and say “Cop this”. I only try the last advice when I’m feeling pumped up or I’ve just had a pep talk from my teacher/conductor.

As a musician who inspires you most and why?

All the great players in the brass banding community, but from the moment I rehearsed with Kew, I’d have to say 200% Mark Ford.

A bit about your family?

I have three sisters in order of age: Christina, Deanna and Lisa.  Christina is studying at Melbourne University doing a science degree majoring in Physics.  Deanna is an accomplished primary school teacher, teaching preps and grade 1s.  Lisa is also a creative and accomplished secondary school teacher currently teacher grade 5 and 6s. My father who has played drums for over 30 years works at a Printing Company, widely renowned Kwik Kopy and my mother who has catered to every needs of her daughter’s futures, works at Jenny Macklin’s office in Heidleberg.  

Have you had to deal with any sexism in the banding movement, directly or indirectly and if so what did you do to overcome/deal with this?

At High school I had trouble fitting in as all the male trumpet players despised the fact that a female trumpet player who was considerably younger then themselves was playing 1st trumpet in virtually all bands.  I simply concentrated on the music and ignored the smart comments/insults from my fellow players.

I also had an experience at the VBL solos in my first year of playing cornet where a boy said that he would be beat me because I was “just a girl”.  I simply took it on the chin and played to the best of my ability.   I really feel sorry for that boy, following the results of him being playing 2nd and me 1st he ran out crying.

Anything else you want to add?

I just want to thank my family, especially my mum for making my dream of making music a reality.  Thank you to all my teachers for all your guidance, and to my friends, my bands and my conductors for your support.   Specific Thank-you’s include: Tom Paulin, Rob Simms, Colin Lord, Ford Family especially Mark, Davies Family and last but certainly not least Danny Van Bergen.

Thanks Jenny and the best of luck in all your future career aspirations, bg.