What an exchange to Arnhem Land taught one Sydney student about the power of music

Jake Magi sings and plays yidaki (didgeridoo) and guitar in the funk-rock band Lemonise and is in his second year of Contemporary Music Practice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. As part of his studies, he has travelled twice to the Aboriginal community in Maningrida at the mouth of the Liverpool River, approximately 500 kilometres east of Darwin. Here he taught music to local school children, learnt about the area’s dialects and musical influences, and reconnected with his Indigenous heritage.

His experiences in Maningrida have inspired him to consider graduate opportunities in remote Australia, where he hopes to integrate cultural activities and knowledge into the education curriculum. “Since getting back from Maningrida, my attitude towards music, education and culture has changed,” Jake said.

The traditional owners of Maningrida are the Kunibidji people. Jake remembers the awe he felt as he flew in on a small plane from Darwin, looking out at the history told by the landscape below.

“Although it’s a desert, defined by barren reds and oranges, the landscape holds a certain sanctity, echoing the song lines of the people who’ve travelled these sands for thousands of years,” he said. “Every now and again we’d pass by a rocky outcrop, with grooves and jutted edges that stuck out like an ancient face.”

Funded through the University’s One Sydney Many People Strategy, the exchange program allows Conservatorium students to spend three weeks teaching music to local school students at Maningrida College while gaining credit towards their degree through the Conservatorium’s Professional Practice Internship unit of study.

Apart from some rough timetable scheduling, Jake and his fellow exchange students didn’t know what to expect. But a mutual love of music helped them connect with the local students from kindergarten to year 12.

“All the students were ready to learn and very accepting of us as teachers,” said Jake. “Most of them had already heard of artists like Baker Boy and King Stingray, which made the lessons a lot easier. We got them singing together and playing along on the keyboard to their favourite songs.”

While the Conservatorium students learnt about the local dialects and musical influences of the region, Maningrida College students explored elements of recording, playing instruments, singing and song composition using the local Burarra language.

“Throughout the teaching experience it became apparent how important music is in bridging the gaps our young people face,” Jake said. "Music is a powerful tool for those who wish to bring their stories into the light. This program gave us the opportunity to do just that for many of the students we worked with.”

Acting Associate Dean Indigenous Strategy and Services, Dr Thomas Fienberg said the program was one element of a deeper connection between the Conservatorium and the Maningrida community:

“The initial idea for the project came from PARADISEC (Pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures) Laboratory Coordinator and PhD candidate, Jodie Kell, who has taught music at Maningrida College for several years," Dr Fienberg said. “A key driver behind Maningrida College’s interest in collaborating was the desire to bring music back into the curriculum. It’s incredible to know this program has played a role in helping make this happen.”

Returning for a second time this year, Jake has a unique perspective on the difference music is making within the school. "Aboriginal Australia is all about connectedness and forming relationships, which is why I felt it was important to return to Maningrida again,” he said.

Jake’s experience taught him that approaches to schooling and education in remote Australia require careful consideration. There are many different dialects in Maningrida, with many students speaking multiple languages. Often traditional ceremonies or cultural duties may take students away from the classroom.

For local schools like Maningrida College, it’s important to accommodate these responsibilities and give formal credit for cultural activities, which help develop community, leadership, and environmental skills. Teachers at the school have reported students are more engaged with the education curriculum when it is combined with on-Country learning and linked to their culture. Jake agrees.

“After witnessing the education system for myself, I strongly believe that cultural activities and knowledge should be marked and considered as part of the curriculum in these remote communities,” he said.

“I met some of the brightest, most gifted kids in Maningrida who excelled with confidence when engaged in music, sport, and cultural activities on Country. But these same kids would clam up in the classroom due to the shift in tone and requirements of a colonial learning environment.

“This exchange is an important program for the Con as it allows us to bridge the gap between music and education, while giving Aboriginal students the tools and platform to share their culture and talents with their community and wider Aboriginal Australia.”

Learning about the culture of the land left a deep impression on Jake. He caught and consumed local bush tucker, such as the green tree ant, and learnt the traditional methods of yidaki (didgeridoo) creation with local elders.

“As a proud Aboriginal musician from the central coast who regularly plays the yidaki on stage, this was an extremely important experience for me,” he said.

“The yidaki is an instrument traditionally from mobs in the Northern Territory yet it is now played throughout Aboriginal Australia, helping many First Nations people feel connected to their culture. To be involved in the process gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to embrace your culture and express it in front of an audience.”

The Maningrida exchange has deepened Jake’s connection to his own mob on the Central Coast and influenced his ambitions for life after university. Since returning to Sydney, he has continued learning about culture through weekly language classes. He is also writing songs in different dialects. The experience taught him “the importance of walking both paths and how it’s never too late to seek out your culture and take control of your future."

“Now I want to change my career path to that of a remote community role. I think assisting these communities is so important as populations increase, along with the need for environmental care and education.”

Hero photo: Jake Magi outside the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Photo: Stefanie Zingsheim.