I started at the Victorian College of the Arts almost 3 years ago and am just about to finish my bachelor of music - improvisation on saxophone.

My first attempt at auditioning was at the end of my VCE, I was nervous, sick and ultimately not good enough. I spent a year at Monash studying music where I learnt the basics; soloing over a Parker blues and Autumn Leaves. This gave me the foundations to try again for the VCA. I succeeded second time around and was ecstatic. Ultimately, Monash wasn’t the right fit for me and I just new VCA was the way. I was right.

My first year at VCA was spent developing what I had leant at Monash. My playing expanded in every direction, from free improvisation to playing my own and friends original works. Working on free improvisation was a great way to develop tone, expression and confidence. It helped my ‘standards’ playing greatly.

I have found the course to be flexible to my needs and wants. The course became more flexible the further I went. VCA encourages you to find your niche by providing diverse material and applications in which to use it.

I was weary about comments I had heard about VCA students coming out of there as ‘cookie cutter’ musicians. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There are 4 sax players in my year and we are all poles apart, stylistically speaking. We all have very individual sounds and playing styles.

The teachers are awesome. There is a wealth of information to be tapped into. They were always there to teach, guide and hang out with. They are not just great teachers and musicians but great people as well.

I found the VCA a predominantly positive space for learning as well as networking. The people I met there are not only wonderful friends but work colleagues as well, we love getting together for a gig.