Music
MYP Music
Music in the MYP gives students access to musical experiences that allow for the development of thinking skills, intuitive skills, practical abilities, communication and the ability to relate to others. Engagement with existing and emerging music from the local community and from around the world allows students to understand the significance of music to the cultures of the world and, by engaging in practical work, to develop understanding of how the act of making music is a significant and universal aspect of human expression.
Giving students the opportunity to engage in music affords them the chance to be creatively free, appreciate beauty and imagine alternatives. The exploration into musical histories, genres and cultures encourages students to understand and value perspective and alternatives, allowing them to imagine other possibilities. This gives them a sense of music as a form of social imagination and social action.
Currently, Year 7 students are exploring the concept of social action through music by investigating and creating protest music. They have already compared various musical cultures from around the world and have created their own programme music.
In Year 8, students are investigating music in film and working towards composing and performing their own music to a short film. They are researching renowned composers and analysing compositional devices used to create mood, emotion, character, time and place. Students will aim to communicate expression in their compositions, and draw from personal and cultural experiences to create their film music.
Year 9 students have explored Nationalism in music, including a focus on Australian music, leading towards their Northern Territory trip. This term they are delving into the world of suspense music.
Music with Lazare
This term in Year 10 students are focusing on creating music and working towards a performance, based on their area of investigation. Students have chosen a style of music to research and on which to prepare a presentation, as well as developing skills on their instrument to assist them in preparing for a performance.
The Rock Band elective is a fun activity for students interested in playing rock music. Students will learn to play popular rock songs and have the opportunity to use the instruments in the music rooms. They will learn what makes a great rock song and work towards writing their own, and have the opportunity to record their songs and performances.
All Music students are encouraged to perform at the upcoming Open Mic sessions and Doorstep concerts.
VCE Music
The VCE musicians are very focused and working diligently towards the various performances coming up soon. They are currently composing music and we are beginning to see many new collaborations forming!
You are all welcome to come and hear our Year 12 musicians perform their recital programs on Monday 12 September from 6.30 – 8.30pm.
New Staff
We welcome two new music teachers to our wonderful music team - Ella Thompson who teaches voice and Ellen Guilfoyle who teaches the cello.
Ella Thompson: Ella has over 10 years experience touring nationally and internationally as part of acts such as Dorsal Fins, The Bamboos, GL and as a solo artist. Early on, Ella was mentored by Australian soul legend Renee Geyer and performed alongside Paul Kelly and Vika and Linda. Graduating from VCA in 2012 where she studied improvisation and composition, Ella is a prolific songwriter and recording artist.
Ellen Guilfoyle: Ellen found her passion for cello at aged eight, being mentored under the fabulous guidance of Karoline Kuti for ten years. She is completing a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Laws at Monash University, and currently studies under Svetlana Bogosavljevic of Ensemble Liaison. As a soloist Ellen regularly plays in master classes for both Australian and international musicians, and has given many notable performances, including presenting the Elgar Cello Concerto in recital with Timothy Young, and Faure’s Elegie with the Carey Symphony Orchestra. She has toured regional Victoria, performed at Carols by Candlelight under the direction of John Foreman, and at the Peninsula Summer Music Festival. Ellen is delighted to be the associate principal cellist of the Monash Academy Orchestra for 2016.
Music Fundraising
Earlier in the year we held a music fundraising Kwiz Night in the Kevin Borland Hall. The hilarious Brian Nankervis hosted the evening while students performed and parents feasted on delicious French cuisine. Not only was it a fun evening enjoyed by many but it also raised money to improve the stage lighting in the hall. Combined with the cover charge money from the Dizzy’s Jazz Night, we now have funds to put towards a professional stage lighting system that will enable us to use our beautiful hall more often and more effectively.
Performances
Performance forms a huge part of our music program and so far this year students have enjoyed many opportunities in the classroom, Open Mic sessions, Doorstep concerts, Big Day In concerts as well as the Kwiz Night, Dizzy’s and Winter Solstice. We all begin Term 3 working towards a variety of performances in this and next term.
The many ensembles that Preshil offers give our students the chance to experience the joy of making music with others, being part of a team and improving their own skills at the same time. These groups meet weekly and work hard for months towards performance goals. In Term 3 our ensembles will be working towards performing for the Open Mic sessions on 9 and 25 August, the Arts Fringe Festival on 30 August, the Spring Dinner on 8 September and Doorstep concert on 16 September.
We have planned a very special day for schools in our local community as well as other schools such as Candlebark on 14 September. We will be hosting several schools in a workshop designed for all ages and levels. Michelle Berner has composed a piece specifically for this occasion and has arranged another one for these lucky students. They will have the opportunity to work with her and will perform for their friends and family at 2.30pm. You are all welcome.
Blues Brothers
Two of our students, brothers Cameron (Year 11) and Hayden (Year 10) have been nominated to play at the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase Memphis Tennessee in January 2017. These two young musicians are both completing VCE music at Preshil. Cameron is also undertaking a VET audio engineering course at Swinburne as part of his Year 11 curriculum.
Their opportunity to go to Memphis arose as a consequence of their participation in the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS) annual ‘Youth in Blues’ program, which led to ongoing participation in a band now known as Limelight. This band, which also includes two other talented musicians from other schools, first came together in 2015 when the MBAS mentors assembled the four young musos into a band for an end-of-program performance.
Generally these bands do not continue, but Limelight has now played dozens of gigs and festivals, expanding their repertoire to include a number of genres from blues to jazz. With an age range from 11 to 17, Limelight is a very professional outfit. Most recently they performed three sets at the Castlemaine Jazz Festival, but their greatest highlight remains the nomination to play alongside other youth bands coming to Memphis from around the globe in January.
Limelight has its own facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/limelightboys/) and youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCWZuMUfK_Hp-48p6Z48Xjg) where it is possible to see some of their past performances or to check where they might be playing next.
Cameron and Hayden are both working hard to raise funds for their trip to Memphis (which while a great opportunity, is not sponsored) and, with the other members of the band, have a set up a Go Fund Me site (https://www.gofundme.com/limelight-fund) with a goal of A$5000. They remain keen to contribute to the cost of the trip to Memphis and to let everyone know that a donation of $50 or more entitles the donor to a free download of the EP they have just recorded! This EP is due to be released next month. So go on, check out their sites, or let them know you’d like to pre-order a copy of their CD!
Karoline Kuti
Music Coordinator