From Our Music Department

Our Instrumental Music students have had a wonderful few weeks of performances and achievements, demonstrating their hard work, dedication and commitment to music.

On Thursday 6 August, we celebrated our annual Instrumental Music Evening, with students from both campuses and all year levels taking to the stage. Students enrolled in instrumental lessons performed as soloists and in small groups, showcasing a diverse range of instruments including brass, woodwind, piano, guitar, bass guitar and drum kit.

Performing in front of an audience can be a nerve-wracking experience, particularly for the first time. We were incredibly proud to see so many step outside their comfort zones and share their music with our College community. A special congratulations to those who performed publicly for the very first time — what an achievement! All our performers should be incredibly proud of the hard work and preparation that went into their performances.

We have also had an exciting result from our College Concert Band, which recently participated in the Victorian School Music Festival at Hawthorn Arts Centre. We are delighted to announce that the band received a Gold Award for their performance!

The students delivered a wonderful performance and worked exceptionally well as an ensemble. This achievement is a fantastic recognition of the months of hard work, dedication and commitment they have shown through their weekly before-school rehearsals. The students were thrilled with their result, and we would like to extend a special thank you to instrumental teacher Dave Hedges, who conducts the ensemble, for his dedication and guidance.

We encourage all students to consider learning a musical instrument and becoming involved in the many performance opportunities available through the Music Department. For enrolment enquiries, please contact music.admin@stbedes.catholic.edu.au

Looking ahead, we extend a warm invitation to our College community to attend our upcoming Music events:

• Year 12 VCE Music Recital Evening — Tuesday 6 October
• Annual Spring Concert — Tuesday 13 October, featuring performances from our College ensembles

Laura McCormick

Director of Music

Instrumental Music Evening: Student Reflections

"I have gained more confidence in my music playing skills, which has definitely helped me grow as a person. I loved seeing other people play their respective instruments. I prepared by practicing a lot on the day to get ready to play in front of people. I felt very nervous but when I finished my song (London Bridge), I felt very pleased with myself. I enjoy making music, from dancing to singing to instrument playing. I love making music, I feel like playing a instrument gets me to focus - like when reading books - as you need to see what music you're playing in order to play it." Lachlan, Year 7 - Trombone

"The night provided an incredible experience that can be pretty rare, to play in front of a crowd. I really enjoyed playing a song for everyone that I had been working on for a while, and have definitely improved because of it." Adam, Year 10 - Trumpet 

"Participating in the Instrumental Music Recital Evening was an enjoyable and highly beneficial experience. The opportunity to perform assisted in overcoming my fear of performing before large groups. Furthermore, observing other musicians provided valuable insight into my current standing within my musical development and highlighted areas that need further improvement. Preparation for the recital involved continuous practice, with a particular focus on refining specific segments of the song. Ultimately, learning to play an instrument has played a crucial role in overcoming the anxiety performing before large audiences." Noah, Year 8 - Guitar

"It was really fun!" Luca, Year 7 - Percussion

"The experience helped me grow and gain confidence in my guitar skills. I really enjoyed showcasing my skills to my parents and the parents of the others musicians and anyone else who happened to be there. I loved watching the other musicians perform their pieces, because it made me realise how much musical talent the school contains. I prepared for the recital by listening to my piece over and over and playing along to the backing track many times, before the recital I felt nervous to perform and I was scared that I would mess it up, I did mess it up a little but I still felt amazing after the performance due to the supportive nature of the program. I enjoy playing instruments because it lets me take a break from what’s happening around me and lets me submerse myself in a world of music." Harry, Year 10 - Guitar

"The recital evening was super fun. I always love learning songs for it. It is always a great experience to work on, learning new and fun music and perform for others. It is also very good to see other students’ performances and what they are working on. I love playing the drums because it allows me to express myself and feel rhythm better, making listening to music more fun. I am always nervous before the recital and after, I always feel great. Playing an instrument is one of the best choices I’ve ever made and I wouldn't be the same without it." Bowie, Year 10 - Drumkit

"What I have learned from the experience is that humility is the best way to perform. Being calm and down-to-earth really makes it easier to perform because you remember that everyone is human, not any different from you, because they might not know the song you're performing or don't play an instrument. I prepared by practicing my song on guitar and focusing on the parts I had been struggling with. After my performance I felt relaxed and happy that I was able to do well; I played to the best I could and ended with a good result. Playing an instrument really helps me relax and calm down, it benefits me by gaining better focus and expanding my musical knowledge (I played Everlong by Foo Fighters, Acoustically)." Vincent, Year 9 - Guitar

"Some highlights that happened with the recital night for me is playing solo in front of people and watching others play their instruments. I have grown my courage by playing in front of a crowd and have got more confident." James, Year 7 - Tenor Saxophone

Student Reflection- Victorian School Music Festival

"Performing at the Victorian Schools' Music Festival as a Year 11 tenor saxophonist was an awesome experience that really pushed me as a musician. Prepping for the stage meant many weeks of work and dedication, early mornings, and getting our ensemble playing just right. Right before we went on, I felt a little nervous, but as soon as we started playing, that energy turned into pure focus and excitement. I absolutely loved playing our set, but watching the other bands was just as great because seeing their skills and different styles gave me so much inspiration. 

Playing the tenor sax gives me a fun, creative outlet to express myself, and pushes me to be creative and enjoy what I do. Taking the stage at VSMF really built up my confidence and made me recognise and appreciate being part of such a passionate group of musicians, I couldn’t be happier to be a member of the amazing St Bede’s concert band." Bill Takis, Year 11 - Tenor Saxophone