Farewell tribute to NIYPAA Patron of 25 years, Darryl Cotton (1949-2012)

Posted on July 27, 2012 by niypaa

Darryl Cotton sings with The Australian Youth Choir

Australian Youth Choir (AYC) choristers and families and the National Institute of Youth Performing Arts (NIYPAA) staff have been lucky to spend 25 years in the company of Australian pop star, iconic musician and proud patron of NIYPAA, the late Darryl Cotton.

On Friday, Darryl sadly lost his short battle with liver cancer. It is with deep sadness that NIYPAA farewells its long time friend and Patron, Darryl Cotton

NIYPAA Director and long-time friend to Darryl Cotton, Julie McKenna reflects on his time spent with NIYPAA.

“Our first time working with Darryl was in 1987 when he presented War of the Worlds at the Camberwell Civic Centre. Darryl was so impressed with the choristers and asked for them to be included in another concert,” she said.

Julie says Darryl always believed music was extremely important to a person’s development and readily accepted the position of NIYPAA Patron.

Shortly after becoming Patron, Darryl wasted no time working directly with the Australian Youth Choir students around the nation.

“Darryl was involved in so many concerts and loved bringing musical influences from the 1950s and 1960s to any performance, with songs like Lollipop and Polka Dot Bikini,” Julie said.

Julie recalls an occasion where Darryl performed a Rock ‘n Roll segment at a concert and asked the NIYPAA dancers to join him on stage for an impromptu rock dance.

“It was enthusiastic performances like this from Darryl that always excited the AYC students and made for a great concert,” Julie said.

From concert to concert, state-to-state, Darryl dreamed up new ways to make the kids laugh and each show a memorable experience for performers and audiences alike.

From the early 1990s when he brought the beloved Marty Monster to perform on stage with the AYC, creating a conga line of choristers in the front row and sharing the microphone around during his songs, inviting young audience members to join him on stage to sing, he was always relaxed and carefree and a truly talented performer.

Even when the curtain closed and the lights were down, Darryl continued giving.

“After concerts he would always visit the audience in the foyer to sign autographs” said Julie.

“For nearly 20 years, Darryl included the choristers on his CD recording. He wanted choristers to share his love of music and understand the importance of selling a song.

“Together with NIYPAA’s Artistic Directors, Darryl helped expand the chorister’s repertoire. He included musical numbers, songs from the 80’s, the swing era, songs of the world, Australian music, Christmas and contemporary songs.”

The CD recording with Darryl Cotton was always greatly anticipated by the AYC choristers. Past students have often commented on how Darryl’s involvement with their music education and the CD recoding will always be a highlight.

Darryl touched the life of so many NIYPAA members and has given current and past students and families many memorable moments and experiences.

Julie says that her most important trait of Darryl’s is his professionalism, his passion for musical education and his unforgettable “sparkle” and energy on stage.

“Darryl will always be remembered very fondly by NIYPAA. We will forever be thankful of the care and attention he offered to the musical development of our students and the passion for performing he enlivened in us all.”

Some NIYPAA students and families have sent tributes to Darryl.

If you would like to add to the tributes please subscribe and add them at the bottom of the page and we will pass these on to his family.

We are very saddened to hear of Darryl Cotton’s passing. Although we do not know him any more than a AYC parent taking their child to his recording sessions, we have had his name and recordings (with AYC) in our household for 10 years, so a sad day for all, we would think, who have the memories of his music and associated experiences

Peter – Parent

As a child born in 1960’s I grew up with Darryl cotton and his music and just loved it. You can imagine my delight when my boys joined NIYPAA in 2011, only to find out the Darryl was the Patron. This is a very sad day for the music world. Please pass on our condolences to Darryl’s family.

Daniels Family

It was with much sorrow that we learned tonight of the passing of Darryl Cotton. Our daughter was a member of the Choir for five years and every one produced a CD with Darryl for friends and family to enjoy. Our daughter was a recipient of the Darryl Cotton Scholarship in 2010 and has many fond memories of working with him. We share with the numerous choristers and families who offer their condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

Wilcox Family.

I was very sad to hear this news today. Very kind person – full of life! My thoughts are with his family at this sad time

Kayla – AYC Chorister

So sad. He always had time for us choristers. He was a great man.

Mandy – AYC Chorister

So sad to hear the news on Darryl Cotton this morning. Sending love to all his friends and family and the lives his music touched. I know at NIYPAA he will always be remembered.

Lareen – AYC Chorister

Deeply saddened by the passing of Darryl Cotton. RIP Darryl. It was an honour to have met you

Nicole – AYC Chorister

The beauty of an artist passing is that they all leave behind pieces of their heart and soul in the works they created while they walked among us. Thoughts and Prayers with those who are coming to terms with the loss.

Rebecca – AYC Chorister

So very sad. Our daughter really enjoyed doing the CDs with Darryl and the choir every year. Thoughts and prayers to his family and to those choristers who were fortunate enough to have met him.

Small Family

R.I.P Darryl it is great to have the memory of singing with you on the CD..

Patrice – AYC Chorister

RIP to a great Australian icon DARRYL COTTON.
Your music will be truly missed by me and my fellow choristers of the Australian Youth Choir ♥ The annual CD recordings will never be the same without your presence… Thank you for all the inspiration and dedication you’ve brought to the young choristers of AYC.

Marvi – NIYPAA chorister

Loved the CD’s he did with the kids – they did in fact bring a “SMILE” to our faces with the beautiful arrangements and harmonies. Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

Rachael – NIYPAA staff member

Darryl was such a beautiful man with so much patience and joy. He was cheeky and very humble. I loved spending a few hours with him every year working on the CD. I learned so much from him about professionalism and performance in such a short time, every time.

Liz – Ex Director of Music

Performing Arts Education steps it up during the school break

Posted on July 26, 2012 by niypaa

PAS VIC 2012 fun!

During the school holidays, singers and dancers from NIYPAA’s Essendon and Rosanna centres gathered at Santa Maria College, Northcote, for the annual Performing Arts School (PAS), a three-day intensive workshop for the Australian Youth Choir and Australian Youth Dance Theatre.

Throughout Australia, thousands of NIYPAA students participated in PAS which is considered an important part of NIYPAA’s annual curriculum.

Students made new friends and cemented old friendships in a fun-filled and energetic atmosphere It is the holidays after all and while there is much work to be done on technique and repertoire, in the end they walked away feeling they had not only achieved their goals but had a great time doing it!. They all had plenty to say but Kaitlyn, a level 2 chorister, was especially enthusiastic about the opportunity to see the choir and dancers working together.

Here’s a list of why PAS rocks!

A good way to keep warm during the winter school holidays – a daily physical warm up with both dancers and singers is part of the tradition. Chicken dance anyone?
Have a break from school and hanging out with new kids from other choir or dance venues
Dress-up days
Hilarious games
Lollies
Raffles
Fun songs with silly actions
New dance music and choreography
Exams for dancers to move to the next level
Photos
Jokes with teachers
Not wearing school uniforms!

One of the grand traditions of PAS is fancy dress and as ususal 2012 turned up some very inventive dress themes. Come as your favourite music artist, gave us a variety of rock stars and pop idols and included a variety of song styles including Bing Crosby, KD Lang, and Louis Tomlinson. ( we think that some mum’s and dad’s had a role to play too!)

Your favourite fictional character, gave us a chance to see what everyone was reading or watching on video and we saw a varied cast of whimsy, including a splendid Simba from The Lion King, a Mad Hatter and many others.

Harry Potter theme. was by far the most exciting. n an amazing feat of travel across time and space, Santa Maria College morphed into a realization of Hogwarts College. It seems there is no end to the magical powers of our students and they were determined to be sure we k new it!

One of the delights of PAS is entering a large venue on the first day with piles new music to introduce and new choreography to learn. So many kids were astounded at how much they had achieved in two short days.

Choristers tasted a varied repertoire of songs exploring a wide range of moods and emotions including songs from Coldplay, the Seekers, and the BeeGees, among others. Songs such as Paradise, and New York Mining Disaster 1941 formed part of the varied soundtrack to a varied program across the three days.

The dance program offered a wide variety of activities and challenges. During this time annual assessments take place for the first time and there is much practice to be done in hall ways and corridors if students are to impress. as a high point of PAS with many being promoted to the next level.

With exams completed the focus can then turn to new techniques; and the most fun of all – new choreography Kat, Emily, and Hannah were all very proud of their achievements and commented that the impact of intensive work can already be seen by the second day at PAS. “We learnt lots of new techniques. It’s very challenging, but helps us to move things forward.”

“(It’s) amazing to see how fast we’ve learnt all this new stuff” (Kat), and “it’s so good to work with a larger group of dancers, and to see people from other venues” (Emily).

On the final day, PAS was brought to an exciting close with short performances from all groups. WE were all sad that it was over for another year, none more than Mia “PAS is just so much fun, I wish it could be on for every single day of the whole school holidays!”

Dr Kieran Crichton – NIYPAA Conductor

Dr Kieran is committed to the musical development of the Australian Youth Choir members at Essendon and enjoys his weekly rehearsals with students.

A tail-feather tribute: the top 7 dance routines you need to know

Posted on July 19, 2012 by niypaa

We’ve all witnessed at least one. You know, those timeless dance numbers you expect to see at a big social occasion. Weddings are renowned for them. The minute the music starts, any large group of people, no matter how well they know one another immediately squeal with delight and start jiggling to the music.

Here’s our top 7 all time favourite dance routines. You know you want to dance just reading about them.

The Nutbush Tina Turner’s classic hit Nutbush City Limits (1970) brings synchronised dancing to new heights. This one is a definite wedding pleaser and the moves are surprisingly simple.

The Chicken Dance(1980). Little ones love this one and mum and dad quickly find their feet when they see their children having such fun. Dah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah. The moves aren’t tricky either – just pretend you’re a chicken. This classic has been around since the 1950s and remains a staple. The original song, written by Werner Thomas of Switzerland, was titled “Der Ententanz” which translates to The Duck Dance. The song has also been know as Dance Little Bird, The Birdie Dance and other poultry titles.

The Zorba We’d all like to visit Greece, especially during the colder months. Now you can have that cultural experience in your own living room. The Zorba (1998) starts slow and leaves you perspiring. The Zorba creates a linked arms circle allowing you to see everyone at the party. You can eye off all your friends and family one by one and shoot them a smile while dancing to the Greek (techno) classic.

Thriller One for the true MJ fans. Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982) is a favourite to say the least, but only the true fanatics have his trademark dance moves nailed. Although I must admit, Jackson’s complex choreography doesn’t scare people away from giving it a damn good go. Here’s a tip – there are three main moves in this choreography; the hunch shuffle, above head hand-clap and the side step bob. If you can master these, you’re half way there.

Macarena Crossing the globe again, we can thank the Spanish for the mostly upper-body dance The Macarena (1994).This dance can be carried out with quite low intensity, good for those who are simmering down from a big night of all of the above.

Grease Lightening This one will have you slicking your hair back and popping your collar. Grease Lightening (1978) isn’t going anywhere in a hurry and I am yet to meet someone who doesn’t like it. Grease brought new fans to the music scene and continues to bring fans to the dance floor.

Time Warp Another dance classic featured in a popular musical is The Time Warp (1973).It’s fun to imagine everyone on the dance floor as a ghost or ghoul. Better yet, throw a Halloween party and have the real deal.

Hopefully this post has given you fond flash backs and even a few giggles remembering your own dance moves. Now to plan the playlist for your next party, I’d be surprised to hear it was a dull one if you’re using these songs.

Have we left any out? What’s on your classic dance floor routine list?

Benita Sullivan – Administration Assistant and Marketing Representative - NIYPAA

Benita is currently working in the Melbourne office for NIYPAA. Her early back ground in music and performance stretches from musicals, to choir, singing and instrumental training. She has been managing and playing with Melbourne bands for the last eight years. She is a singer song writer, developing her latest band Elliot Friend. She looks forward to a successful career in creative arts administration while persisting in her musical endeavours.

Training your brain: giving our kids the best start in life

Posted on July 12, 2012 by niypaa

Science backs thinking that musical training for children makes you smarter

Life is a marathon and just like the physical body, if we want our brains to cross the finish line we need to train. We can get ahead by eating well and staying active, but one tip you might not have heard is that musical training for young people helps brain development.

A Canadian-based research group (led by Dr Laurel Trainor and Dr Takako Fujioka) performed a year-long study in 2006 and Oxford University Press reported their findings that children who studied music experienced significant “developmental changes” compared to those who did not. The children were assessed four times throughout the study and those studying music always stood out.

Dr Laurel Trainor, a professor of psychology co-leading the study states, “this is the first study to show that brain responses in young, musically trained and untrained children change differently”.

So, why this difference and how are these musically trained children more advanced?

Well…let’s take a look at the science.

The Dana Foundation’s Ben Mauk in 2009 reported on new research findings from Boston College Psychology Professor Ellen Winner and Beth Irael Deaconess Medical Centre’s Neurology Professor Gottfried Schlaug.

The pair found that music training in childhood improves related cognitive function and showed that children receiving weekly music instruction and practice regularly perform better on sound discrimination and fine motor tasks. The findings were backed by brain imaging showing changes to the networks associated with these abilities.

Professor Schlaug told The Dana Foundation, “this is the first study to show brain plasticity in young children as a function of instrumental music instruction And this is correlated with the amount of practice.

“It’d be difficult to find another activity that takes up so much real estate in the brain,” he added.

The Dana Foundation also reported that In 2009 at the “Learning and the Brain” Conference in Washington DC, Oregon University Professor Michael Posner said “Years of neuroimaging have now given us a plausible or putative mechanism by which arts training could now influence cognition, including attention and IQ”.

Whoa Nelly. Who would have thought?

Furthermore, Washington’s Hindustan paper in 2010 reported that Northwestern University study discovered that “musical training can aid in other forms of communication such as speech, reading and understanding a foreign language”.

The article explains research findings by Nina Kraus and Bharath Chandrasekaran that show auditory benefits of musical training are linked to how we process speech. A stronger ability to process sound can improve the speed and accuracy in which we understand pitch and translate language. This sensitivity to pitch can also help you better register emotion in people’s voices.

Ok, so music is good for young growing brains, but how young?

The McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario published an article in May this year reporting that babies as young as one-year-old benefit from music. Researchers at the university found “one-year-old babies who participate in interactive music classes with their parents, smile more, communicate better and show earlier and more sophisticated brain responses…” These classes involved learning songs and nursery rhymes with actions and completing activities with music on in the background.

These babies were also said to have had better communication skills by the end of the lessons.

So there you have it! Music and musical training has exemplary benefits for our kids. Better communication skills, increased attention spans and IQ’s. What more could we ask for?

Benita Sullivan – Administration and PR Assistant -NIYPAA

Is Lady Gaga a good role model?

Posted on July 5, 2012 by niypaa

There’s been much hype surrounding Lady Gaga’s world tour. Fans, both young and old paid big bucks for their tickets, glammed up in Gaga-esque fashion and fought for a glimpse of her outside hotels. While this is not new to pop stardom, it still makes me wonder what this “lady” is all about and whether she’s really someone we should look up to.

Mia Freedman, (publisher of popular blog Mamamia and former Chief Editor of Cosmo, Cleo & Dolly) highlights Lady Gaga’s message in one of her latest blog entries stating, “she has a great message about acceptance and tolerance.” Freedman praises Gaga’s music and agrees the pop star offers encouragement to people to just be themselves.

“Let me start out with a strong statement: I love Lady Gaga. I love what she stands for. I love her music. I love what she’s done for the lesbian; gay, bi & transgendered community and I love her message about acceptance and tolerance. Love. It. All.”

- Mia Freedman

For young performers she promotes the ‘get out there and do it’ attitude. She presents fearlessness and says not to listen to the cynics and to be strong and confident about your true self.

It seems Gaga uses her fame for good. However, despite Freedman’s positive assessment of Lady Gaga “the pop star”, after seeing her show, Freedman says she “hated” her concert.

Freedman admits her review of Lady Gaga’s concert was definitely not the dominant view and that the audience happily rocked the concert but says she was alone.

“It was just very hard to connect. Her costumes were so OTT, that she was often hidden inside them – prompting me to wonder more than once if it was even her.”

Ok, she’s a little bit wild and a little bit showy but is it simply that she needs to create attention to take her fame to the top level?

Everyone has mixed opinions on what is a good or bad influence on children, so I thought I would highlight some of the positives.

Endorsing creativity is never a bad thing

Lady Gaga is an advocate for the arts and creativity. In a YouTube interview Gaga endorses renowned artist Marina Ambramovic, discussing the ‘limitlessness’ of such an artist and proclaiming the positivitivity in an artists’ ability to be big thinkers and doers. She is also a fashion designer sporting her work and promoting fashion designers as artists in their own right. The creative arts are a nourishing part of child rearing and Gaga does a good job encouraging this.

Girl Power

Gaga is a big time superstar. She has “made it”. She promotes the view that women can achieve their dreams. Young women all over the world are in turn empowered by Gaga’s success. This success is not just driven by the clothes she wears – it’s her music. As a two time Grammy winner, she has proven her worth on the pop music scene.

Love yourself

Gaga’s song “Born This Way” promotes a positive message; “There’s nothing wrong with lovin’ who you are”. There’s no denying this is a message all parents want for their young and kept at a decent volume, many can’t complain if they hear this one blasting from under the bedroom door.

Philanthropy

Just as all the rich and famous should and do, Gaga supports a number of charities including ‘The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and other organisations representing disadvantaged children in the US. She’s also an advocate for AIDS prevention.

While most of us can’t help but notice and perhaps even judge Lady Gaga’s brash and often scarce fashion choices, we don’t often see ‘tweens’ congregating at the movies on a Saturday night in hot pants, platform shoes and masks trying to emulate her look.

While many are put off by the way she looks and understandably find it difficult to warm to Gaga, we have to recognise and applaud her creative yet eccentric self. She’s a music writer and performer as well as a supporter of young people promoting the power of an open mind.

What do you think?

References

1. http://www.mamamia.com.au/entertainment/lady-gaga-why-i-walked-out-of-her-concert/

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVY4Whayw0s

3. http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1944-lady-gaga

Benita Sullivan – Administration and PR Assistant – NIYPAA

Benita is currently working in the Melbourne office for NIYPAA. Her early back ground in music and performance stretches from musicals, to choir, singing and instrumental training. She has been managing and playing with Melbourne bands for the last eight years. She is a singer song writer, developing her latest band Elliot Friend. She looks forward to a successful career in creative arts administration while persisting in her musical endeavours.

Department of Education announces $475.5 million for Empowering Local Schools initiative

Posted on July 3, 2012 by niypaa

The Department of Education is putting a whopping $475.5 million into our schools. Fantastic news for Australia’s education system. Every school is different and every child has different needs. The Empowering Local Schools initiative plans to get down to the nitty-gritty and find out how students can flourish. Let’s hope that for many schools this will mean a better Arts education (we know education in the Arts assists students to do well in other facets of their education). If more money is spent on upgrading school facilities, easily available counselling programs, extra curricular activities, and better creative programs, it will benefit our youth directly and will be therefore money well spent.

$http://www.mybudget.com.au/blog/schoolkids-bonus-lets-go-shopping/$

Follow the link to find out more: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Pages/EmpoweringLocalSchools.aspx

Sing and Dance Australia

Sharing life's experiences – singing dancing and growing up!

Monthly Archives: July 2012