Music and Performing Arts Faculty

From the Co-ordinator of Music and Performing Arts

Music News

As we start the year, we are excited to see many students engaging in elective music and all other aspects of music outside the curriculum. As we progress throughout the year, we will keep you posted on what is happening in Music from K to 12. This week we are letting you in on what we are doing in the Junior School.

What’s happening in the Music classes in Junior School for Term 1? 

Kindergarten Music: Students learn basic songs, as well as accompanying fine and gross motor movements, with an emphasis on group participation. They identify the use of silence in music by playing games and identifying stick notation symbols. 

Year 1 Music: Students continue to focus on singing activities, with a more complex repertoire, although playing opportunities will be increased on a variety of percussion instruments. Reading and playing rhythm cards and activities to arrange rhythmic values in groupings of 4-beat pattern. 

Year 2 Music: This unit maintains a strong emphasis on singing and playing for performance. Movement will also be used to assist students to find and maintain the beat. They will also develop their knowledge of the concepts of structure and pitch.

Year 3 Music: Students will learn about the beat and its subdivisions, through singing, body percussion and percussive sticks. They will explore ways to represent the beat by reading and writing simple notation as well as compose simple rhythms of their own.

Year 3 Band: Students learn how to set up, pack down and maintain their instrument, and the ensemble layout. Students begin the fundamental skills of developing their embouchure and playing technique. Begin learning simple exercises to develop reading and playing.

Year 4 Music: Students will consolidate and extend their knowledge of playing, reading, and writing simple rhythm to further support their work in Band.

Year 4 Band: Revise the skills learned in Year 3 Band, including reading notation, recognition of dynamics and expressive techniques, breathing and instrumental techniques, ensemble awareness. 

Year 5 Music rotations in Performing Arts: Students collaborate as a group to learn repertoire, adapted from contemporary songs, for the mini musical. They participate in vocal warmups and exercises to prepare for singing activities and learn the importance of vocal projection and stage position to maximise sound production for their performance. Opportunities for individuals, both vocal and instrumental, are auditioned for and performed, allowing students to identify with the role of soloist and/or ensemble in the performance. 

Year 6 Music rotations in Performing Arts: students identify how music is used to depict or evoke emotion in film. Concepts such as tempo, tone colour and texture are identified as key features in creating a mood or heightening a viewer's emotional connection to a visual representation. Students investigate musical choices and their effect on their own short film. Students collaborate as a group to learn repertoire for the mini musical. They learn the importance of vocal projection and stage position to maximise sound production for their performance. Opportunities are given in the musical for vocal soloists, as well as small vocal groups, to encourage students that wish to develop their confidence and solo stage experience.

Performing Arts News

Yet again we start the year with an influx of talented students getting involved with our co-curricular performing arts program.

As a great introduction and source of motivation for application in the individual disciplines, our Performing Arts students are fortunate to have access to the 2023 HSC Showcases, courses and events. On Saturday 10 February, Years 10 to 12 Drama students were immersed in 'OnSTAGE', on Thursday15 February, Years 9 to 11 Dance students were mesmerised with 'CALLBACK', and on Monday 4 March, Years 9 to Year 12 Music students will be heading to 'Encore'. 

Over the Break!

We always love hearing about the positive ways in which our students and staff enrich the local community, so a sincere thank you goes out to Year 8 students Elise, Flo, Matisse, and George who volunteered sometime during their holidays to play carols with other musicians from the northern beaches at the War Vets for their Christmas Celebrations. The residents love these festive engagements, and always enjoy seeing young people making music.

Senior Concert Band

A communication has been sent out outlining the upcoming events for Term 1. If you did not receives this communication please contact: performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

Registration for 2024 Ensemble Membership

The ensembles’ structure has had some minor changes in 2024 to allow for greater inclusion and engagement throughout the entire school. If you require any further information, please email: performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au.

We welcome current ensemble members and new members to join our 2024 Instrumental and Dance ensembles. Access the ensemble registration through the TPHS app. Parent Lounge >> Extra Curricular >> Select Your Childs Name >> Choose the Activity “Sign-Up” >> Submit to School.

Private Music Tuition 

We have a group of private tutors who are experienced teachers and achieve great results. If you are interested in having Private Music Lessons at Pittwater House during the school day, please email us at: performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au for further information.

Enrichment Opportunities 

We are looking for students to perform in our Senior School Assemblies. If your child is interested in performing, please email your child’s interest to: performingarts@tphs.nsw.edu.au