An unlikely symbiotic relationship : a unique jazz education-island resort partnership

Imagine standing under a swaying palm tree, shading yourself from the blazing tropical sun; a welcome breeze off the ocean, helping to cool the 90+ degree heat; viewing some of the most spectacular land and seascapes anywhere in the world while waiting to go snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef; walking on beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see; having parrots and cockatiels land almost at your feet; and all this to the sounds of jazz heard everywhere. Does such a paradise exist? Without question, yes! One simply has to visit Hamilton Island, Australia, where four times a year this jazz paradise can be experienced. Since 2002, jazz students at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) have benefitted from a partnership between their music school and one of Australia's most prestigious island reosrts. Four times each year students in the Bachelor of Jazz Studies (BJS) degree program travel two hours north to Hamilton Island (HI), a tropical island located off the north-east coast of Australia, to undertake five days of classes, interaction with faculty and visiting artists, and performances. For the students, a typical day on the island consists of a short morning training meeting, a master class, and an instructional session or group rehersal with a national or international visiting professional. The afternoon and evening are filled with performances in the island's many quality bars, restaurants, and entertainment areas.