MUSIC

As we accelerando through Semester 1, our VCASS Musicians will likely find their calendars thickening with concerts, rehearsals, assessments and social activities. During these busy times it is important to invest in planning ahead. Take a few moments to look at your schedule for the week ahead and plot out your to-do list. Block out time for focussed practice and homework, for going for a run and playing music for fun, cooking dinner or a movie with a friend. Try to maintain a reasonable bedtime to ensure that you are operating at your most efficient the next day. A creative mind requires rest to operate at its best. 

The legendary conductor, composer and pianist Leonard Bernstein, supposedly once said “to achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time”. On face value you might conclude that Bernstein was happy to leave it all to the last minute (and of course music history is littered with romanticised tales of eleventh hour genius), however, the presence of a plan is an essential ingredient for achieving sustained success. 

Take another moment and look at the events you have coming up: rehearsals, Instrumental Music Assessments, end of semester tests, masterclasses, performances, auditions, the list goes on… Do a quick stocktake and identify what needs to be achieved in preparation for each of these events. Make a plan. Who knows, you might find yourself in the company of Berstein with not enough time… and if you do, reach out for support, but do it early.

Finally, take a moment to congratulate yourself for all that you are achieving. Over the past months we have witnessed fabulous performances, outstanding commitment, steady gains, kindness, empathy, grit, determination and so much more. Brava!! 

Message from the Music Captains

The last few months have provided exciting opportunities for VCASS music students across all year levels, taking the stage across an assortment of performances both internally and externally.

On the 11th of May, VCASS Vocal Students stepped into the spotlight to showcase their work, and highlight the exceptionally unique instrument that is the human voice. The annual VCASS Vocal Concert heard singers throughout all year levels perform a solo work, with this special opportunity allowing the singers to showcase their development and support their peers. Everyone displayed high levels of commitment and effort in preparing for and delivering spectacular performances. Of course, this concert would not be the same without the support of the indefatigable Mr Tutty and Associate Artists; Anne Lewitzka, Stewart Kelly, James Sherlock and Aidan Boase. 

A number of VCASS musicians performed at a concert presented by Music Matinee in Scots’ Church (Collins St) on Tuesday 3rd of May. The Esplanade Trio (Arjun, Sophia, and Caitlin) from Year 12, performed a piano trio as an ensemble, as well as solo works, with Liam and Candice from Year 11 also adding solos for a wonderful program for this lunch concert. We’d like to extend our thanks to Music Matinee for providing such an opportunity for our students. Their experience is also enhanced by performing in a beautiful venue that allows for such exceptional acoustics that cannot be replicated in a practice room or an empty venue. A particularly special thanks to Associate Artists Dr Julie Haskell and Stewart Kelly for supporting this opportunity. 

The VCASS music community is currently anticipating our upcoming Senior Ensembles concert where we will showcase a variety of large ensembles including our Wind Symphony, Junior and Senior Strings, Chamber Choir, and of course, Junior and Senior Choir who will be presenting repertoire developed over the semester.

From the Classroom…

In Junior Vocal Ensembles, as well as working on small ensemble work with one or two students per part, voice students work with the online program called the Sight Singing School. This consists of hundreds of graded songs and melodies that helps them to develop their melodic vocabulary and ultimately learn to sing fluently from sight. Every week students are tested singing the examples with solfa, handsigns and letter names. The singing needs to be fluent and in tune in order to “pass”. In the history of VCASS using this program, we have only had five students complete the whole of the Sight Singing School course. 

There are maybe two or three students who will finish the Sight Singing School this year. It is an incredible achievement. Once they finish this program, they move on to a series of 'Sing and Play' melodies where they sing the top part and play the bottom part of a two part melody on the piano. Then they swap parts!

Students are welcome to sing these examples and have them 'passed' by family members or friends in order to move more quickly through the program. Even if family members can't read, they would be able to tell if the reading is fluent. 

One of the joys of teaching using this system is seeing the rapid improvement of our new students. In the beginning they start with just two notes, 'do' and 're’. But as they gain confidence, more notes are added and more complex melodies are realised. The transformation within such a short time frame continues to excite both the student and their teacher. 

Musical Society of Victoria

There are a number of VCASS students who are members of the Musical Society of Victoria. As members, they are able to participate in Centre concerts, competitions and to perform in public concerts.

Congratulations to Raistlin (Year 9) and Shanna (Year 10) for their MSV Award for Strings. Both students performed at the Prize Winners Concert along with Jasmine (Year 10) who performed her winning entry in the David Henkels Composition Award. Yitong (Year 10) also placed in the Eda Schumann Memorial Award for Piano and also a performer at the Prize Winners Concert. Well done to the VCASS students who are regular performers at the MSV Centre concerts!

Chamber Music prizes were awarded to the Esplanade Trio from VCASS. Congratulations to Sophia (Year 12), Arjun (Year12) and Caitlin (Year 12). Marlon (Year 9) was a prize in the 15 and under Winds competition with Ethan (Year 10) placing in the String Award.

Darryn Farrugia Improvisation Workshop

On Tuesday 3rd of May all VCASS improvisation students had the exciting opportunity to attend a masterclass with Darryn Farrugia. Darryn is known as one of the hardest working and most recorded drummers in Australia. The class, which was specifically related to overall rhythm for all musicians, was very informative and interactive. Some of the topics covered were related to rhythmic accuracy, practising with a metronome, tempo and counting in, stylistic feels and subdivisions. During the masterclass some students had the opportunity to try some of Darryn's exercises, and discuss various concepts relating to rhythm in very practical ways. 

VCASS Wind Symphony

The VCASS Wind Symphony brings together VCASS Musicians from all year levels who play double bass, brass, woodwind and percussion. In 2022, we have rehearsed most Wednesday afternoons combining forces for some wonderful music making. In addition to our students, we are very fortunate to have a number of tertiary and professional players come in and work alongside us.

Throughout the Semester we have been working on a wide range of works in preparation for the upcoming Ensembles Concert. As we draw closer to the concert, we have narrowed our focus into three highly contrasting works. Simple Gifts, a set of four Shaker songs expertly orchestrated by Frank Ticheli, draws on the beauty of simplicity with an almost chamber-like approach to ensemble playing required. Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre explores astonishingly beautiful contemporary harmony with a softness of touch synonymous with Whitacre's choral and wind band writing. Finally, Hexagon by John Fannin uses the number 6 as a metaphor in exploring hemiola & cross rhythms in a high energy, at times jazz flavoured band work

One challenge we have been focusing on in rehearsals is successfully creating the contrasting characters of required throughout the program. This is a challenge for any large ensemble with every player being required to step beyond their comfort zone of just putting the right notes and rhythms in the right place. Instead, we must listen out for each other and be able to work together as an ensemble to create the distinct styles of each piece and “risk being awesome”!

Musica Viva Masterclass

Last Friday’s masterclass hosted by Musica Viva with Julia Fredersdorff from Van Diemen's Band was an eye-opening experience on Baroque historically-informed performance practices. First, Julia gave a presentation on Baroque music. She talked about the use of ornamentation and improvisation as a major part of Baroque music along with how the context of the instruments of the time affected how they were written for and played. Julia also gave us a brief story about how she got into studying and performing Baroque music and played us recordings of her Baroque ensemble; Van Diemen’s Band who are dedicated to the historically-informed performance of works from the 17th and 18th centuries. 

The second half of the afternoon was a masterclass which I was lucky to participate in along with Jasmine (piano) and Riley (flute). In the masterclass, Julia encouraged us to apply some of the things she had spoken about in the first half into our playing. For me, for example, the context of the different bow in the Baroque period should affect how I choose my articulation. The shape of bow was convex rather than concave (as it is now) which means that off the string bowing wouldn’t have been possible. Instead, I should play on the string (legato) but with faster bow strokes to still achieve lightness. 

I really enjoyed the insightful class with Julia as I never knew how intricate Baroque historically-informed performance practice is and I strongly encourage you to listen to Van Diemen’s Band!

Community Arts Radio - 3MBS

VCASS students have been heard far and wide in recent weeks thanks to a growing relationship with community classical and jazz radio station 3MBS. Our fine young musicians have been heard across programs like The Talent (an on air competition/mentorship opportunity), Arts Weekly, the Strings Hour and Morning Recital. A dedicated VCASS hour is still to come on the evening of June 9 at 7pm.

Live to air radio performance is a very different type of performing experience that can be quite confronting at first and it is fabulous that our students are being afforded this opportunity at such an age. They have been fabulous ambassadors for our school while showcasing their talents to 3MBS’s 160 000 weekly listeners.