Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes has gone back to school. He is attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Jimmy Barnes at the Berklee College of Music
“I have not done studies since I left school to join Cold Chisel at the age of 16 and felt this would be a good opportunity, not only to spend time working with some incredibly talented young musicians but also to learn something new for myself,” Jimmy tells Noise11.com.
Jimmy is both a teacher and a student at the famed Boston music school. The class gets to learn from my 40 years experience on the road, whipping bands into shape etc and I get to learn a lot from the students,” he says. “As far as credits towards a degree, this is only a short stay to extend myself. Just a fantastic learning experience”.
“My subjects for the Fall Semester are Guitar Techniques in Songwriting, Studies in Poetry & Lyric, Pro Tools and Ensemble,” Jimmy said.
The opportunity to spend time in Boston at go back to school was planted a few years ago. “Our son Jackie Barnes studied at Berklee and graduated 3 years ago,” Jimmy says. “We came over during his studies and for his graduation. During those visits we met with Song writing Professor Mark Simos and Dean of Berklee Roger Brown and had discussions regarding the possibility of me doing Masterclasses or something the like. Then I began writing for my album ‘Rage & Ruin” with Mark Simos and became friends”.
Jimmy and Jane Barnes will be back in Australia towards the end of next month. “We are coming home to do the V8 Supercars in Sydney Dec 1st. Will be ready to kill after 6 months of homework,” he says.
