By Romy Stephens
Music therapist Cath Russell hopes to help struggling musicians during Covid-19 and use music for community development through her new role at the Dandenong Ranges Music Council (DRMC).
Ms Russell was recently elected to the DRMC board after being involved with the council for about 13 years.
She said the coronavirus pandemic had “decimated live performance” and heavily impacted the local music scene.
“Any musician will tell you that performing in front of an audience improves your skills exponentially,” Ms Russell said.
But the Kallista local said she believed the uptake of online and digital platforms for performing could do wonders for local musicians both now and into the future.
“Across Australia digital audiences are increasing and audience members’ appetite for online concerts and streaming is starting to increase. People are starting to understand the potential of that more clearly,” she said.
“So that’s really something the DRMC needs to look at. Our challenge is most people working in our ensembles are volunteers so it’s a case of finding volunteers willing to work with that.
“I’m really enjoying how much is being spontaneously streamed on platforms like Facebook and Instagram already. But I can’t help feel measured by knowing just how much people have lost.”
A self-taught musician, Ms Russell’s music journey began writing songs and playing in bands across Melbourne during the 1990s.
Since then, she has trained as a music therapist, been a children’s songwriter, worked with local councils, community groups and schools and currently plays in a local band called Banbury Cross.
Ms Russell has also been involved with the DRMC’s artists of attitude projects, an initiative that provides arts programs for people living with a disability.
She has worked on the Forgotten Heroes Vietnam Veterans project with RSLs across the Dandenong Ranges as well as during Education Week and Children’s Week.
Ms Russell said she felt “honoured” and “excited” to begin as a board member.
“The DRMC has a very rich history of working with music therapy which is my profession by day, as well as being a performer,” she said.
“I think my music therapy profession gives me a really solid ground in appreciation for music as community development and that music is something everybody can participate in on any level, from just beginning to excelling.
“It’s really exciting to have a community music organisation that wants to work with the music therapy concepts.”
Ms Russell added that she loved being part of the distinctive music scene across the hills.
“The Dandenong Ranges is unique in that for a metro area we’re very much defined by our environment. That has made it possible for our community to feel like we have a sense of identity,” Ms Russell said.
“And the other part of that is that for the number of ensembles the DRMC have, I would be surprised to find other metropolitan communities offering the same diversity of musical experience.”
The Dandenong Ranges Music Council was formed in 1979 by a group of people keen to bring music to the community. Its aim is to create and connect communities for people of all ages and abilities through music.
For more information, visit www.drmc.org.au.
