Music News 

Throughout the year, the Year 1 & 2 students have been singing to sol-fa, learning about the stringed instruments of the orchestra, learning how to read, clap, say, and play rhythms and tunes on various instruments including the boom whackers. The Year 2 students are also learning about time signatures.

The Year 3 students have been focusing on learning how to play the recorder. We use a program called recorder karate and many of them have been passing from white belt to yellow and orange belt as the year progresses, some have progressed even further. The students have also written their first composition in a ‘finish the tune’ activity.

The Year 4 students performed in groups a song called “Chatter With the Angels” in 3 parts. Everyone learnt the tune on the recorder followed by 2 accompanying parts on the xylophones. Then we put it together in groups of six, rotating around so that everyone had a chance to demonstrate playing each part in the group, holding a steady beat, harmony parts, and playing the melody. The students have also written their own composition in a ‘finish the tune’ activity.

The Year 5 & 6 students performed in groups a song called “Syncopated Minor Pentatonic Tune” -Year 5s; and “Dorian Mode Piece” -Year 6s, in 3 parts. Everyone learnt the tune on the recorder followed by 2 accompanying parts on the xylophones. Then we put it together in groups of six, rotating around so that everyone had a chance to demonstrate playing each part in the group, holding a steady beat, harmony parts, and playing the melody. 

Students are also composing music to accompany Limericks that they have written. The Year 5s write and perform their limericks on the recorder and the Year 6s write and perform their limericks on the xylophones. There have been some very musical and amazing compositions created!

All ensembles and choirs have been rehearsing well and are starting to sing and play music together very accurately. We are looking forward to performing for the school at Faction assemblies and for the wider community during Term 3 at the Massed Choir Festival and the Western Australian Schools’ Junior Orchestra Festival.