1. Music builds literacy and life skills for Batchelor students
Batchelor Institute student Gemma Kelly with visiting Fiddler Pixie Jenkins
King Marong (left) with students and members of Tangentyere Employment Services during his visit to
the Music Course last month. From left, King Marong ,Gemma Kelly, Jessica Coombe, Sarah Palmer,
Celeste Nandy, Fiona Dixon and Nick Cowham
Hudson Kanari (right) a young talented Indigenous student
July 1 2013
Music is building literacy and life skills for Batchelor students at Alice Springs.
Students are exposed to new instruments and a world of music to build not only their musical skills but
their confidence and knowledge of life outside of Alice Springs.
Since April, the class has been visited by a range of international and national musicians including
nationally acclaimed fiddler, Pixie Jenkins, singer songwriter and one of the founding members of
Warumpi, Neil Murray and African musician King Marong.

2. Next semester the students will also experience a Mongolian Throat Singer and Horse Head Fiddle
player called Bukhchuluun Ganburged (Bukhu) who will demonstrate traditional Mongolian music to the
class.
The new course which is a partnership with the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and
Tangentyere Employment Services, caters for 16 to 25 year olds wanting to improve their employability
and literacy skills.
Students are also able to work towards a full Certificate II in Music (CUS20109).
Lecturer Jeanette Wormald said it was exciting to see many of participants grow in confidence through
being empowered by the course.
“Not only are students building performance skills and musical knowledge but they are also being
encouraged to participate in group discussions, build critical analysis skills and get the courage to ask
questions in public forums,” she said.
“This course is designed to be culturally and age appropriate to enable students to learn in a safe,
supported environment using the both ways philosophy.”
Both-ways is a philosophy of education that ‘brings together Indigenous Australian traditions of
knowledge and Western academic disciplinary positions and cultural contexts, and embraces values of
respect, tolerance and diversity.’
The next semester for the course begins on July 21.
If you are interested in learning more please contact Tangentyere Employment Services on
08 8950 9100 or
Claire Kilgariff
Head of Faculty
Faculty of Education, Arts and Social Sciences
tel: 08 89397452| mob: 0401119108
email: claire.kilgariff@batchelor.edu.au |
or
Jeanette Wormald
Lecturer
Faculty of Education, Arts and Social Sciences
tel: 08 89518300 | mob: 0428 874 153
email: jeanette.wormald@batchelor.edu.au |
-end-
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email: imran.naveed@batchelor.edu.au | www. batchelor.edu.au