Performing Arts

Music News

Music Lessons

The latest Government guidelines about music performance in schools has all woodwind, brass and vocal students not being able to play at school. This has caused an enormous disruption to both our ensemble and classroom programs but these problems are something that we are working around. As the last 6 months have shown our girls are very resilient when it comes to their music making and I'm sure the next four to six weeks or so won't be any different.

The individual teachers of Woodwind, Brass and vocals will continue to teach online at this point in time. When all the school is back next week, individual vocal students will be able to come up and have an online lesson in one of the practice rooms which will be well ventilated and alternated throughout the day. This is the only practical way the vocal lessons can continue. 

Woodwind lessons will happen after hours online as will the brass lessons. Guitar, violin, drum and piano lessons will happen at school once all students have returned. They will be online next week.

I really appreciate all the support the parents have given the music department and I just ask you to stay with us until the end of the year. The normal rewards of hearing your daughter play live in front of an audience haven't been forthcoming but the deeper learning and technique building that has occurred over the lockdown will hold us all in very good stead next year. Think of it as an investment that brings joy to your household now and long term will bring joy to all of our community when we can come back together.

Music Ensembles

Our bands will keep rehearsing both online and then together when everyone is back at school. The wind players will jump onto percussion and keyboards as we explore different genres of music that we wouldn't necessarily have done if we were playing all the time. It's a really good time for our rhythm sections to get together again and start to work as teams. With any luck we'll be able to video record some pieces before the end of the year. The vocal groups sadly cannot sing together at this time.

Christmas Duets

Our Year 8 Advanced ensembles have started work on recording themselves playing a Christmas carol duet - with themselves! Look out for some Christmas joy online in the coming weeks. Modern technology is giving our girls access to recording techniques that were previously only done in professional studios.

Some lockdown listening: Artist of the week is Jacob Collier a 26 year old Englishman who is fast being regarded as a modern day genius. A multi Grammy Award winner who plays a multitude of instruments, has an extraordinary vocal range and tops it off with perfect pitch. He also has the deepest understanding of vocal harmony of any musician I have heard.  This is his Grammy winning arrangement of the classic "Moon River". A visual and aural feast. 

Mr Bernie Hickey

Music Learning Area Leader