MUSIC

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Thank you to our wonderful parents and staff who helped out at the Musical Camp on 13 and 14 April. Props were made, sets were touched up, barbecues were cooked all to make Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a top quality production. Arts Aide Mrs Kerry Doolan has made many props and costume items as well as preparing the items needed for the rest of the prop making during camp. 

Some behind-the-scenes set making has taken place in Term 1 and we very much thank Mr Darveniza Snr, Mr Darveniza Jnr and Mr Spannenburg for helping to finalise the set pieces for the show. Many of the sets have kindly been loaned to us from Turning Pointe Dance Studios. A huge thank you to the Connors family. The show would not be the visual delight it is without your kindness and generosity.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (based on the Roald Dahl books) is on at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre from May 2 to 4. There are three matinees and one evening show. The matinees on Thursday and Friday are almost sold out. Friday evening and Saturday’s shows are heavily booked. Don’t miss out, book your tickets here: https://www.ticketlink.com.au/ticketlinkEvents/musicals/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory

Song Fest

Members of the College Choir participated in Song Fest run by Gondwana Choirs on April 20. Students from several schools in Cairns came together for two rehearsals and then a concert in a massed choir of 80 voices at St Monica's Cathedral conducted by Paul Holley OAM. The Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir and Cairns State High School Chorale performed as well. The students had an amazing experience working with a choral conductor who has toured the world. Congratulations to Siaosi Tutoe, Ben and Oliver Alden, Benjamin Johnson, Lewis Stowers, Nathan Christensen and Takeshi Holland on a wonderful performance.

Anzac Day

The College Big Band and Choir performed at our Anzac Day Assembly on Thursday 18 April. Elliot Kendall represented the Airforce Cadets and performed the Last Post and Reveille at this assembly. This is a high-pressure performance for a student so young and he did an excellent job. Eliot also performed the Last Post and Reveille at St Joseph’s school Anzac Assembly as well as the Dawn Service at Stratford. His brass teacher, Mr Chandler, covered St Francis Xavier school and Trinity Beach Dawn Services. The College Choir also performed at yesterday's Dawn Service on the Esplanade opposite the RSL. 

Saints Unplugged

Our annual Semester 1 Saints Unplugged evenings are coming up in Week 6. Making their world debut is the Saints Guitar Ensemble. They will be performing at the junior evening on 22 May. Joining them will be the Saints Percussion Ensemble with their first performance of the year - don’t miss out.

If your son is interested in performing, please have him email me at cspannenbu@cns.catholic.edu.au to register his interest. As always, our wonderful hospitality students will prepare and serve light meals and beverages. Entry is a gold coin donation and performances will take place under Lavalla near the Scott St entrance.

Eisteddfod

This year various groups will be entering the Cairns and District Junior Eisteddfod. Our Wind, String and Sax ensembles, Choir and Big Band will be performing in Week 10 of this term. Please ensure your sons are free from work commitments so they can take part in predominantly evening performances. There will be a pre-eisteddfod concert on Wednesday 5 June. More on this soon.

Spirit of Arts Awards

This award has been developed to recognise the work our arts students put into the College and wider community. It also serves as an encouragement for those students to take it a step further by mentoring younger students or organising an event themselves. The application is available now on the student portal or a hard copy can be obtained from the Arts/Music Department staffroom. If your son has exhibited artwork, entered work in a film festival, participated in the musical, sits external music exams, performs at eisteddfods etc., they are eligible to apply.

Instrument practice

Below is a guide to help you understand how much practice is appropriate for your son. As well as their weekly tutor book/exam work, they should also be practising their ensemble music. You’ll notice that we call it band rehearsal rather than practice. These are two distinctly different things. Practice is what you do at home to learn the notes and rhythms and fix the parts you are having trouble with individually. Rehearsal is what we do to put all of that practice together with everyone else and polish a piece collectively for performance. There is no time in a rehearsal for individual practice.

Your son should be practising at least five times a week. Frequency is key – not necessarily length of time. As a guide, a beginner should be practising for 5-10 minutes each time. Someone who has been learning for longer than 12 months should be practising 15-20 minutes each time. Depending on what level your child is playing at, that will affect their length of practice. For example, a student sitting an AMEB exam of Grade 5 or higher, should, ideally, be practising for an hour or more a day. Practice doesn’t all need to be done in one go. Your son can break it up into smaller chunks if needed.

Most kids don't enjoy practising, but there are a few key things you can do to encourage it. Firstly – have him practise before homework. No, it’s not more important, but homework usually takes longer than they think. If they leave it until after, it is unlikely it will happen as life gets in the way. If they practice before, they can adjust the time according to how much homework they have. Remember frequency is key. It doesn’t matter if they only practice for 15 minutes one day and 30 the next – it’s the frequency that matters most. Secondly – make sure they have access to a room where they won’t be distracted (no devices) or interrupted.

As a guide, they should warm up with long notes and scales. Next, they need to focus on their lesson work. They should be isolating problem parts and working on those, then putting the work so far, back together. With ensemble music, they should work on any areas they have difficulty with. Lastly and most importantly, they should finish with something they enjoy playing. Ending practice on a positive note helps with positive feelings about the next practice session. 

Listening to their ensemble pieces via recordings as provided on teams, and their individual lesson work via YouTube or teams is also part of practice. Playing along with these recordings is also really helpful.

2024

Information for events and performances is on the Arts Department Facebook page. There will be information in the newsletter and parent slips sent out. Below is a calendar of events planned so far. This will be added to during the year, so please reread it each edition to check that you are abreast of all that his happening.

Term 2