MUSIC
Broods (photo: Renata Raksha)
Nurturing our talent BY PETE RAINEY
B
ehind almost every successful musician there’s an inspirational music teacher. Take Broods. Back when Georgia and Caleb Nott wowed Smokefreerockquest as a couple of cute kids in The Peasants of Eden, Kyle Proffit, Garin College HOD Music, was the man who believed his Nelson students could do it. Even he could not have envisaged their stunning international success, now making it in the States and elsewhere with their second album, Conscious. Georgia is quick to credit Smokefreerockquest with their introduction to the music industry, but the event’s sister-ship, Smokefree Pacifica Beats, plays a similar role. Teachers report that it is helping
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students to develop a sense of self-belief, leading to achievements that cross the boundaries from music into wider academic success. The fact that Nelson kids can dream big and become successful on the world stage is something that I find extremely encouraging. The New Zealand music industry contributes around $450 million to our economy each year. While not as big as some of the other contributors, it is still significant. Before you dismiss our contribution on the world music stage as being unimportant, and without wanting to add to the myth that Abba was a bigger GDP contributor to Sweden than Nokia, it should be noted that predicting the
popularity and potential of musicians is an inexact science. However there is, in my opinion, a high possibility that Broods will become global stars. Arguably they already are. It’s important for aspiration to be an integral part of our education system, as well as our city planning. I’ve always maintained that kids can only aspire to be something when they are taught by example in the right setting. The fact that young rugby players and cricketers in this region have the opportunity to see top-class players performing to the best of their abilities in world-class facilities right here has made a real difference to the aspirational pathway for hundreds of young Nelsonians. That there is a dedicated local sports advocacy network, including the Sport Tasman Trust, is tremendously important. The arts advocates in this region need to swing in behind our refreshed facilities as they come on stream: the Theatre Royal, Nelson School of Music, Suter Art Gallery and the Trafalgar Centre. We need to make sure there are programmes and support in place to enable our emerging artists to flourish to the best of their abilities. It’s nice to be able to add Broods to other Nelson international brands like King Salmon, Pics Peanut Butter and Chia that are putting us on the map. These brands, and the people behind them, are all about the future of Nelson and I want to encourage more like them, especially those who have potential to succeed in the creative industries.