(AMPA BMus Undergraduate, Trimester 5)
Sit back and chill out to the smooth grooves of AMPA student Amanda Barnes. Amanda commenced her Bachelor of Music at AMPA in 2012 and is a contemporary and jazz vocalist.
How long have you been studying at AMPA and what do you like about it?
I have been studying at AMPA since the beginning of 2012, so I am heading into my 5th semester. There are so many things I love about the place, I'm not really sure where to start. One of the things that intimidated me about other uni's is that there were so many people. I come from a small town, and from a school that had 130 students from K-12, so I wasn't keen about going to a place that I would just be another number, rather than a musician who has the opportunity to be seen in a class, to be heard amongst the people, to get one-on-one attention with lectures and mentors who have the time to focus on you.
What inspires you? What makes you want to sit down and write a song?
Music that is simply beautiful, and that takes different forms. Sometimes it's just a melody that is so pure and genius, that slots in with the music and just makes you go 'wow'! Other times is the genuine heart behind the person delivering the song. Sometimes the whole band works together amazingly and everyone is doing there own thing, but you can hear them bouncing off each other and the energy of the music and musicians is catching.
Tell me about your favourite artists and musicians.
My favourite artists and musicians come from all over the place! I love Ella Fitzgerald, she’s someone who is just singing, not over complicating the melody or covering the music with trills, but trusting her voice to be pure and natural and all that is needed to be amazing. I also admire Aretha Franklin for her Passion and Soul. But there are really so many, that I wouldn't say I had a favorite.
How do you describe your music?
I try to apply these values that I admire in others music into my own. I mainly sing Jazz, Pop and a bit of Soul, my music tends to show a part of me to those who will listen... I think music is a great way for people to get in touch with their own emotions and passion, and I try to create music that helps.
If you could play at any venue in the world, where would you play?
I would love to play in one of the great New Orleans old music clubs - you know the kind of places where the musical greats of Jazz really lit it up? I just think that would be an awesome experience.
If you could play with any musician (past/present/dead/alive) who it would be and why?
Hands down, I would love to sing with Aretha Franklin and/or Tony Bennett. These guys totally opened my eyes to a new kind of music (after a childhood of listening to my sisters Spice Girls albums) and really shaped the way for my musical career.
If you could have written one song that someone else wrote, what song would it be and why?
If you asked me today, I would say "Someone to Watch over Me", it has such beautiful lyrics, and a melody that is so pure and genius. I love it, and it would be awesome to take credit for it.
What’s been your highlight of studying at AMPA so far?
The highlight studying at AMPA would be the Band nights, at the end of semester, showing off what you have been working on, and there has been a few bands in particular that I have worked with that have been really tight, and just a joy to produce music with.
The ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS (AMPA) is a leading tertiary institution in Sydney offering world-class degrees in music and the performing arts.
