Music Enrolments and Summer Soiree
Summer Soiree Report
Last Wednesday, we gathered throughout the school buildings to listen to our music students play various instruments; clarinet, flute, guitar, percussion, recorders and violin. Younger players were very excited and played with unbridled enthusiasm! Older players chose pieces that they enjoyed learning, to share with the audience, many displaying a joyous confidence in their presentation.
The musical standard of the School Music Groups was very high this year and clearly reflects the value and appreciation students feel, in being part of such a wonderful music program. There was a mix of musical styles and moods presented, a credit to the music conductors. There was also a huge and enthusiastic audience in attendance, under the grey sky.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM
SCHOOL MUSIC GROUP REPORTS
SEMESTER 2 2022
Congratulations to members of the Lee St Band on their very polished performance of Another One Bites the Dust and Highlights from Star Wars at the Summer Soiree! This was a satisfying culmination to a semester of preparation in rehearsals, as well as building performance experience at school assemblies and during our visit to Gowrie. Everyone should be proud of their accomplishments. Best wishes to our fantastic Grade 6s, they have a bright musical future ahead! And Grade 5s – have a great Summer and looking forward to working on more great music and inviting some new players to join us next year.
Ceri Hills
Band Conductor
The Choir has been in full swing in the second half of this year. In Term 3, they performed Inanay by Tiddas, True Colours by Cyndi Lauper and I Can Sing a Rainbow composed by Arthur Hamilton in assembly and at Gowrie Early Learning Centre for a lively crowd, some of whom were siblings of the Choir members! They performed again at the Instrumental Music Assembly and at the Summer Soirée in Term 4. This time, the Choir performed Chilly Winds by Moira Smiley, featuring our very own violin teacher, Kate Connor, and Llama Alarm Clock by Emma Donovan featuring Beatrix, Mia and Heidi on the piano! What a way to go out. Thanks for all the memories, CNPS.
Emily Bennett
Choir Conductor
This semester the Junior Recorder Ensemble performed London Bridge and The Clock at assembly and Gowrie. In term 4 we welcomed many new members who were immediately tasked with learning to play the melody for performances at the Instrumental Music Assembly and the Summer Soiree. The highlight for us has been learning to play the piece Flying to Newcastle, written by one of our players, Gabriel Lang. The challenge was for us to all play at the same speed and count out the long notes in our minds. Ultimately, we were very successful because we listened to each other, a great skill to develop.
Rachel Snedden
Junior Recorder Ensemble Conductor
The Senior Recorder Ensemble comprises over 20 recorder players with a wide range of musical experience. In term 3 we played at assembly in preparation for our performance in the Monash Youth Music Festival Recorder Ensemble Section, playing Boogie Blues and Walk Like an Egyptian, ultimately winning first prize! This term we worked hard to learn Duel of the Fates from Star Wars and Ori. Ori was an interesting new challenge for us, because it was a musical contrast to what we usually play. It was slow, peaceful and contemplative. I admire very much each member of the ensemble for trying their best.
Rachel Snedden
Senior Recorder Ensemble Conductor
This term the String Ensemble worked on two pieces - an instrumental version of Gotye's Somebody I Used to Know and The Scientist by Coldplay. Gotye's song proved a little difficult at first rhythmically but after several rehearsals it all came together and everyone was very pleased with our final performance at the recent Summer Soirée. In The Scientist we had the lovely vocals of Frankie, Poppy, Isabella and Mollie singing the first verse and chorus and then the first violins played the melody with the backing of the guitars and the rest of the violins. It was great to incorporate some singing in one of our songs as we have never done that before! It has been great fun working and learning with the students in the String Ensemble and I look forward to more arranging, playing and strumming next year!
Kate Connor
String Ensemble Conductor
Music Enrolment for 2023
Music Enrolment opens for 2023
To enrol your child in the 2023 Instrumental Music Program, please submit the form by MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2022. One form per student. Please note that you are most welcome to submit the form before the due date.
It is expected that the enrolment form will remain open after the due date, but please be mindful that priority for before school and after school lesson times will be given to families who have completed their enrolment by the due date.
All current music students will soon be sent an invitation to submit the form via email from their current music tutor, with their recommendations for 2023.
For new students, please use this link.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVpzsUBkbJjIAGcSWvzSylLoJIRs2wBd6HiI_YHfcAusInnA/viewform
Instrumental Music Lessons and School Music Groups will commence in the first full week of Term 1, 2023.
Late applications may not be considered.
Any questions, please ask RACHEL SNEDDEN - Music Administrator - rachelhsnedden@fyffemusic.com
If you don’t know about the program yet, please read the following information to wet your appetite!
General Information
The Instrumental Music Program aims to help parents provide their children with an opportunity to learn a musical instrument within the school community.
The program offers INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS on a range of instruments with qualified and experienced instrumental music tutors.
The program also offers SCHOOL MUSIC GROUPS that are designed to complement the instruments offered by the Instrumental Music Program with qualified and experienced music conductors.
The success of this program is the result of collaboration between instrumental music tutors, school music group conductors, the music administrator, and with the support of classroom teachers and school administration.
Learning a musical instrument consolidates students' learning and promotes the development of important aspects of personal management including: self-confidence, executive brain function, memory, social skills, team building and wellbeing. Please see the following 4.5 minute TED-Ed by Dr Anita Collins showing how playing music makes “fireworks go off all over your brain”.
https://www.ted.com/talks/anita_collins_how_playing_an_instrument_benefits_your_brain?language=en
Performances
Performing is a vital part of music education. Performances will be arranged throughout the school year. Students participating in instrumental music lessons are invited to perform twice a year, at the Winter Musical Soirée and Summer Musical Soirée. The school music groups are invited to perform each term, including at the Lee St Fete, the Winter Musical Soirée, a community performance, school assembly and the Summer Musical Soirée.
Here are some photos of the children performing at a recent assembly.
