Excursions and Incursions

On Thursday the 21st of August Belmore School had a very special guest, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The MSO has been in contact with Belmore School for the past year working on this workshop for our students. This was the first time the MSO has conducted a workshop in a specialist school setting. In the weeks leading up to the workshop SLC7 had been spending some time planning the day. “We wrote them an email/letter, inviting and welcoming them to our school” - Livian. In the planning of the day, SLC7 decided to open up the CafeClub7 for our guests. 

The day started with the production team from the MSO arriving before students to start setting up our hall for their workshop. They brought a sound desk, speakers and a small percussion setup with a few timpanis. They had different chairs to what we use too. Once the musicians arrived and had completed a soundcheck, a tour of the school was conducted by SLC7 for our guests. “We took them on a tour around the school” - Mary. We met them in the teal room otherwise known as CafeClub7. We entered the room as a class and introduced ourselves and led the musicians down our very long hallway to the playground.

“They enjoyed the instruments in the playground” - Ryan. From the playground we ventured into the school and explored the music room. “They touched everything” - Mary. After they had touched all the instruments in the room, they were curious about the Banana Keyboard. Ryan then explained what the banana keyboard is and how our students can use it. 

From here we left the MSO to prepare for their first 45 minute workshop for PLC2, PLC3, MLC4 and SLC6. After lunch break PLC1, SLC5 and SLC7 attended a 45 minute workshop too! 

The smaller instrumental ensemble presented by the MSO consisted of 6 musicians playing the following instruments - violin, cello, french horn, oboe and clarinet, piano and percussion. During the workshop our guests led our students through various compositions from a work by Georges Bizet called Carmen. The teacher from MSO instructed our students to count along with the music and play either shakers or sticks along with the musicians. A few of our students recognised some of the music too! A keen observer shared that one of the songs was the same as the Geelong Football Club song. Though, judging by the silence, Geelong fans were not in abundance at Belmore. Mixed feelings aside, we bravely held on until the next tune kicked in! 

Our students were a raucous bunch during the sessions, singing and playing along with the melodies and rhythms. It was a wonderful experience for our students and we can’t wait to have another MSO day in the future.

“I had a fun day” - Ryan

“Me too” - Mary