F-6 Music & Choir

Welcome to a new year of music-making at BPS! 

I hope you all had a wonderful break with your families – although holidays may seem like a distant memory already!  I had a lovely time road-tripping to Adelaide, catching up with family and friends, seeing 'Dear Evan Hansen' and booking tickets to more theatre productions and concerts in Term 1! 

For those who don’t know me, my name is Lisa Shacklock. I am fortunate to be the Co-ordinator of the Classroom Music Program, the School Choir & Band Liaison. I love teaching the fabulous students of BPS and have so many amazing things for them to learn this year! I am looking forward to helping all our students develop into finer musicians and performers in 2025 – but most importantly, to gain an appreciation of many different music and art genres.

You will find me in the Music Room (next to the Gym) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Alternately, if you have any queries about the Music Program, please contact me via Compass at lisa.shacklock@education. vic.gov.au

Please read below for: 

• F-6 Classroom Music Lessons

• School Choir

• Introducing the 2025 Music Captains

• Program for Recycled Educational Pianos in Schools (PREPS)

• Music Appreciation

F-6 Classroom Music Lessons

Below are some of the topics that students will be focusing on in Term 1: 

Foundation 

• Name Games - beat and body percussion focus

• Instruments of the percussion family

• Exploring the link between music and celebrations

• Australian National Anthem and anthems from other countries
• History of Greece / Instruments / Zorba Dance

Grades 1 and 2 

please note that Mr Merlino will be teaching music to Grade 1 students this year

• Beat and rhythm activities – taa, ti-ti, rest
• Exploring sounds with voices, bodies, found objects and instruments 
• Aural recognition of intervals - reproducing them by singing and playing tuned instruments 
• Tuned percussion instruments to accompany the children's book 'Mortimer'
• Australian National Anthem and anthems from other countries
• History of Greece / Instruments / Zorba Dance

Grades 3 and 4

• The invention of the Music Staff by Guido D’Arezzo (Grade 3)
• Lines and spaces - relays using the giant floor music stave
• Australian National Anthem and anthems from other countries
• History of Greece / Instruments / Zorba Dance

Grade 5

• Agility hoop activities – combining physical movement with musical elements to enhance auditory learning (and promoting important social skills including teamwork, communication, and co-operation!)
• Happy New Year – a song in Mandarin – learning on tuned percussion instruments
• Australian National Anthem and anthems from other countries
• History of Greece / Instruments / Zorba Dance
• What is Opera? - preparing for Term 2 excursion to see 'The Lyrebird's Voice'

Grade 6

• Agility hoop activities – combining physical movement with musical elements to enhance auditory learning (and promoting important social skills including teamwork, communication, and co-operation!)
• Australian National Anthem and anthems from other countries
• Introduction of the ukulele
• History of Greece / Instruments / Zorba Dance
• What is Opera? - preparing for Term 2 excursion to see 'The Lyrebird's Voice'

School Choir

Involvement in School Choir is a non-cost activity.  

Students in Grades 4-6 are invited to come along and see what we do in our Choir rehearsals. 

Our first Choir trial is in Week 4 - Monday 19th February at 12.50pm -1.30pm, giving time for all children to play outside from 1.30pm.

It is important for students to attend each trial below to gain a true understanding of Choir involvement. 

Choir Trial Dates (also published on the Compass calendar)

• Week 4 - Mon 19 Feb

• Week 5 - Mon 26 Feb

• Week 6 - Mon 4 March

There will be NO choir in week 7 (Labour Day) or week 8 (Planning Week).

What happens after the trial sessions? 

Students will need to decide whether they would like to continue being involved in Choir by Monday 31 March (week 10). This rehearsal will involve all students who plan to continue as our BPS Choristers!

There is no obligation to continue with choir after the trial period but if your child would like to continue participating in the School Choir for the remainder of 2024, they (and you!) will be required to sign the Choir Commitment Form. Continuing students will have access to all vocal and backing tracks, song lyrics and sheet music which I’ll set up in the 2025 Choir Folder in Showbie. Students will receive access to the Showbie folder once their Commitment Form has been returned. 

If students do not wish to continue Choir after the trial sessions – at least they gave it a go! They may like to try it again next year – or not!

Why choose Choir?

The rewards of being in a Choir are plentiful - developing vocal skills and musical awareness, learning new genres to sing, enjoying the activity of performing, gaining confidence, responsibility and meeting new people. Students will be encouraged to suggest songs and choreography for our performances.

I have recently joined a Choir which sings in the barbershop style (something I had planned on doing when I retire - but decided now was as good a time as any to start!) I am enjoying the challenge of learning how to sing the close harmonies of our songs and the sound we all make together is magical. I wish for everyone to be able to experience this joy that music brings!

Performances 

The Choir will perform at: 

• Open Night for Education Week (May) 
• Mid-Year Soiree (June)
• BPS Evening of Music (November) 
• and other opportunities that may arise! 

Please note it is the parents’ responsibility to transport their child to and from performances held after school hours. 

Introducing the 2025 Band & Music Captains!

Olivia and Amy are our Grade 6 Music and Band Captains for 2025.

Here they are being awarded the role at the end of 2024. They were very excited and I am looking forward to working with them both this year. 

Live Music Playground Revolution

Program for Recycled Educational Pianos in Schools (PREPS)

What should be done with an unwanted piano?

The piano in the music room has been well used over the 20+ years I’ve taught music at BPS. It took me a few years to come to the decision that it was time to move it on – however, I was adamant that I did not want it to go to landfill. Such an undignified end to a beautiful instrument that has provided so much joy….. and not to mention that it would take hundreds of years to break down. 

Enter ‘Pianos Recycled’– a company started by my piano tuner, Mike Hendry. Mike and his team give pianos a second life, transforming them into useful items, or even keepsakes from what may have been a family heirloom. 

This one-minute video 'How to change the world in 60 seconds' explains more: 

BPS welcomes Wilda Wertheim – our ‘new’ Community Piano!

Some facts about Wilda:

• Wilda is a restored piano (one that is structurally sound and tuned) and will live outside the Music Room as of next Tuesday. 

   

• Wilda is the 91st piano to go into a school playground

   

• This week in our music lessons, students are sharing their thoughts on how they think Wilda should be cared for. These ‘rules’ will be collated and displayed for visitors to the BPS playground to view. 

I am looking forward to seeing (and hearing!) Wilda played by our BPS students! May she live a long life here at BPS filling our ears and hearts with the sound of music!

Music Appreciation

How do we make informed choices about the music we like to listen to, 

perform or create if we are not exposed to a diverse range of music?

Each week a different musical genre (or theme) is played over the loudspeaker at bell times so that students become familiar with a variety of genres and artists. All songs chosen are child-appropriate. We will be singing and further exploring the music heard during our classroom music lessons.

The musical genres showcased in Term 1 will be:

If there are any songs or genres you would like to recommend, I would love to hear your suggestions! I can be contacted at lisa.shacklock@education. vic.gov.au

Yours in harmony,

Lisa Shacklock             

Classroom Music, Choir Co-ordinator & Band Liaison (M, Tu, Th, F)

                                        "Do something worth remembering" - Elvis Presley