One member of iconic Australian rock band Icehouse is using his success and experience in the industry to help skill up-and-coming musicians and creatives at TAFE NSW.

Blue Mountains local and Icehouse bass player, Steve Bull, joined Icehouse in 1994 and performed classic tunes including his personal favourites, ‘Great Southern Land’ and ‘Hey Little Girl’, for over three decades. The internationally acclaimed band was described as one of the most successful Australian bands of the 80’s and 90’s when they were inducted to the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame.[1]

Steve has worked for TAFE NSW as a Head Teacher in Music for 15 years alongside his career with Icehouse and is now developing content and curriculum for creative industry courses across the state including music, visual arts and interior design as an Industry Relationship Lead with the Creative and Design Ideation SkillsPoint at TAFE NSW.

For Steve, training in the creative industry is now more important than ever in order for students to adapt to technological changes, which he said has “democratised” the industry.

“For many years artists needed to sign with a record label to be able to fund their recordings. Now the industry is seeing musicians use nothing but their laptop and microphone to stream their music internationally,” he said.

Job prospects in the industry are also growing with advancements in live production and technical services such as audio and lighting just as important as the performers themselves. Australia has the sixth largest music industry revenue in the world and places seventh in the world for digital sales in music.[2]

“TAFE NSW is responding to the needs of creative industries by developing courses like the Diploma of Sound Production where students get to work with emerging software to prepare for the industry as it evolves,” Steve said.

“The feedback we are getting from the music and creative industries is there is a big need for career starters or career changers to have soft skills and knowledge of the industry, which is what makes TAFE NSW courses so relevant.”

Skills including social media promotion, self-publishing and compliance in the workplace are all covered in various TAFE NSW music courses including Diploma of Music Industry (Performance) and Advanced Diploma of Live Production and Management Services.

“It’s not enough to be talented; There is a growing need for musicians and creatives to have a varied skill set to be successful in their career and that’s what TAFE NSW is preparing students for,” Steve said.

Steve will be performing with Icehouse at the Firefight Australia fundraising concert on February 16 and said: “The musicians and creatives rallying together in times of need shows how important the industry has become to the Australian community and has the power to unite people.”

To find out more about the Creative Design and Ideation courses offered at TAFE NSW, visit www.tafensw.edu.au, or call 131 601.

Media contact: Jessica Cortis, Media and Communications Business Partner, 0456 170 211.