Music News 

Welcome to Term 2 of Music!

We’ve begun the term by exploring the Acknowledgement of Country. Students are learning Keyword Signs (KWS), which are based on signs from Australian Sign Language (Auslan), to accompany key words in the Acknowledgement. Over the coming weeks, we’ll continue to practise and build confidence with this during our weekly Music lessons.

Foundation, Year 1, and Year 2 have been learning to keep a steady beat using clapping sticks (claves) while singing the song “Wominjeka” together as a class. Wominjeka' means 'To come with purpose' or 'Welcome' in the Boon Wurrung language of the Bunurong People.

Years 3–6 have begun our Sounds and Silence unit by learning and performing the “Sevens” and “Cup Song” arrangements. We’ve been exploring the structure and patterns within these pieces while focusing on key musical elements such as beat, rhythm, silence, and tempo (the song's speed). Students have been developing their ability to keep a steady beat as a group, discussing how this skill supports playing music with others and using different instruments effectively. 

This week, we introduced how composers and songwriters use signs and symbols to write music. Students have started learning rhythm notation, including:

Students have started to use these rhythms to practice clapping four beat rhythms.

The Ensemble Club has been working on their arrangement of “The Canoe Song,” a traditional Canadian folk tune. Students have been learning individual parts and collaborating to shape a performance that reflects their unique interpretation of the piece. They have begun applying the rhythm notation introduced in class to help arrange sections of the song for instruments such as drums, xylophones, and clave sticks, combining creativity with their growing musical knowledge.