Performing Arts News

Instrumental Music at GEC

The College’s Instrumental Music teaching team consists of:

Mr Lachlan Mack – voice and piano on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Mr Robert Westlake – guitar and bass on Monday and Wednesday
Mr Mark Voogd – drums and percussion on Monday
Ms Zamarah Morley – strings on Thursday
Mr Mark Dipnall – flute, clarinet and saxophone on Monday

Mark is the former Principal Clarinettist with both the Australian Opera and the Australian Ballet, Melbourne and Sydney Opera House, as well as with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. He has also played with the MSO (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra), and regularly performs on Alto Sax and Flute in Dizzy’s Big Band and other bands around Melbourne. As well as teaching at Glen Eira College, Mark is also teaching woodwind at Melbourne High School, Gleneagles SC and William Ruthven SC.

20 Hour Challenge

This term we are introducing a new program called the ‘20 Hour Challenge’. All Year 7 students who participate in the instrumental music program as well as new instrumental music students are eligible to participate. If the student is successful in completing the program, they will be awarded a school music badge and a certificate at a Junior school assembly. Badges are very highly regarded within the student community and students who receive this badge can proudly wear it on their blazer or school jumper.

Learning an instrument can be a very rewarding experience and we have many past and present students who have needed no extra encouragement to practice on a regular basis. However, studies have indicated that many beginning students give up playing an instrument during the first few weeks or term simply because they have made little progress on their instrument. This is often due to lack of practice and/or being unable to understand the processes that are needed to become an accomplished student musician.

Students love a challenge. Our challenge for our instrumental music students is to develop a regular practice routine at home and build up 20 hours of practice. Parents and carers must sign for each practice session in a practice diary. Once the hours have been acquired, students should be more confident, engaged and playing their instrument with confidence.

The ’20 Hour Challenge’ does not stop after the hours have been completed. Students already successful in the program will be attempting the ‘100 Hour Challenge’ and potentially extend even further in the future. If students elect to be part of the challenge, a commitment must be made by both parent and student to complete it.

If you are interested in participating in the ’20 Hour Challenge’, pick up a letter and application from either your instrumental music teacher or Ms Baker-Goldsmith in the PAC.

Glen Eira Youth Orchestra (GEYO)

GEYO is an orchestra for young people living in or near Glen Eira, and currently has members from 5 different schools and 3 universities. Instead of having weekly rehearsals for the entire year year, GEYO has a short burst of weekly rehearsals before their concerts, which currently happen 3 times a year. This ensures that taking part in the orchestra is not a huge time commitment, particularly for students. We are conducted by former McKinnon Secondary College orchestra conductor Tony Brookes, who is a renowned music teacher in Victoria, as well as a former horn player in the MSO and AMEB brass and woodwind examiner. Rehearsals take place on Sunday evenings at the Coatesville Bowling Club. We prefer for members to be at least AMEB grade 5 level but this is not a formal requirement, just a guideline for the difficulty of the music.

Right now GEYO are really desperate for more violins, violas and cellos, but all string, woodwind and brass players are welcome. If you would like more information, check out the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GEYouthOrchestra/ or send an email to gleneira.youthorchestra@gmail.com.

Laura Baker-Goldsmith

Head of Performing Arts