Music Notes

Womad Festival

Heading off to Adelaide bright and early last Friday 8 March, the Years 11 and 12 Music

students settled in for a long weekend of music at the Womad Festival. The line-up included musicians from diverse backgrounds such as Angelique Kidjio from Benin, Fatoumata Diawara from Mali, Amjad Ali Kahn from India, The Original Gypsies from France and our very own Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir.

Everyone created their own festival entertainment schedule, with performances spread across six stages throughout the beautiful Botanic Gardens. As we wandered around the many shops and food stalls to get from one stage to the other, the spicy smell of chai helped to create the relaxed vibe.

We heard performances from all corners of the globe and were introduced to instruments and sounds we had never heard before. Some of us took part in The Colour of Time dance, paying homage to India’s Holi festival celebrating unity, diversity and friendship.

We were incredibly lucky to have been given back-stage passes and get a glimpse of life as an artist, even meeting a few of them. It was a wonderful experience we won’t forget.

Jazz at the Lincoln Center

What better way to start autumn than to hear Wynton Marsalis perform?

The lucky Music students in Years 9, 11 and 12 headed to Hamer Hall at the Arts Centre to attend a workshop given by the legendary musician and his band. We were educated in the innovative contribution of Theolonius Monk to the world of Jazz. The Jazz at the Lincoln Center band performed with supreme skill and musicianship as Marsalis explained how the music was created. He had us all singing, chanting, clapping and laughing.

To finish the workshop Marsalis treated us to one of his sensational trumpet solos. It was nothing short of inspirational.

Musical tasting plate

What instrument is that?

The recent musical tasting plate offered both students and their parents the opportunity to meet our very talented and passionate ensemble of instrumental tutors and hear them demonstrate the wonders of their instrument, including a small performance.

The fun part of the evening was when the students could wander around and speak to staff and try out the instruments for themselves. Many were so inspired they have now joined the instrumental music program and are enjoying lessons already.

Learning an instrument is a lot of fun, has endless possibilities and can become a life-long passion. There are places available in the instrumental music program for next term so if your child is interested in having lessons all you need do is complete an enrolment contract here and send it into the office.

Karoline Kuti

Music Coordinator