Beatrice Snow (aka Beat) appears to have the ideal life: a near-perfect balance between her work and home lives.

She’s in her early 30s; a graduate of the Juilliard School, New York; and enjoys the challenge of teaching at Turalong Arts, a college that offers music, art and dance tertiary programs. She has bought, with the help of a significant mortgage, a property just outside Brisbane that includes two horses, a few greyhounds and a grand piano.

Beat is promoted. She becomes Dean of Music at Turalong Arts.

Marilyn Thorne, the chief executive officer, tells Beat ‘never to expect praise … don’t hanker for approval … no-one is going to pat you on the back … but if there’s a stuff-up, it will be front page news’.

The administrative staff are sane. The teachers are highly strung, passionate, and opinionated. Beat uses sensitivity, persuasion and charm to overcome problems. The highlights in the book are when these strategies don’t work.

When a performance is due to start, an audience is waiting and a staff member is being difficult, my blood pressure started to rise. There are a few edge-of-seat situations like that.

I found the core theme of Big Music compelling and the day-to-day highs and lows experienced by each character engrossing. It was as if they were members of my family. I was joyful when things went right; sorrowful when they didn’t; and critical when the staff misbehaved.

Reviewed by Clive Hodges

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