Performing Arts

Communicating with the Specialist Team

We look forward to partnering with you in 2020, and welcome your input:

Penelope Lang (Performing Arts) lang.penelope.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

In the next edition of our newsletter, we will provide you with an overview of the curriculum focus for each level across our school. 

An Overview of our Learning

Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS)

Last Thursday, we were very excited to welcome several schools (Tecoma PS, Emerald PS, Macclesfield PS and Selby PS) to our first rehearsal for the Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS) mass dance. Our 16 dancers (from Year Four/Five/Six) joined 64 other students to learn four dances in preparation for the September performance. We were very lucky to be joined by Briellyn (ex USPS student) who assisted with the choreography. Brie will be a principal dancer in VSSS 2020.

Please note, Choir rehearsals for VSSS will start at the end of March.

Hamer Hall Youth Concert

Please check Compass (Year Four/Five/Six singers) if you are interested in performing at Hamer Hall for the NEVR Youth Concert. Expressions of interest are required as soon as possible. This also extends to musicians. See the poster outside my room for more information, or refer to the attachment below.

Performing Arts (Weeks 5 & 6)

Foundation:

The students continued to explore the musical elements of beat and rhythm through song. We sang ‘One finger one thumb’, ‘She’ll be coming round the mountain’ and ‘Hot Cross Buns’. We played the music memory game ‘Rock Star’ and began to explore our ‘drama voices’ using a microphone to speak slowly and clearly.

This week we watched “The Music Show” episode on ‘Tempo’ and the students were introduced to the words ‘Largo’ and ‘Presto’. The students then used various percussion instruments (tambourines, rhythm sticks, djembes and maracas) and followed the conductor who varied the tempo.

Year One and Year Two:

The students used graphic notation and music symbols to clap and say rhythmic patterns. We used syllables in words and matched these to various notes of different lengths. The Year Two students started to explore ‘time signatures’, ‘beats in a bar’ and ‘musical rests’.

This week we began to write our own rhythmic patterns using a rhythm clock. The students then broke into smaller groups to explore this idea. Keeping a steady beat (whilst performing a rhythm) still has its challenges. We will start to introduce varying tempo too!

Year Three and Year Four:

We revisited our school wide positive behaviours for learning and discussed what respectful learners look and sound like in Performing Arts lessons. The students used their knowledge of rhythmic notation (Ta, Ti-ti and Za, Ta-a) to follow and echo rhythmic patterns in small groups. We discussed musical notation, note values, beats in bars, bar lines and repeat signs.

The students completed an assessment task on Beat and Rhythm and began to write their own compositions using four beats in four bars of music. Students who read music already had the option of writing a pitched piece of music. These will be performed to the class.

Year Five and Year Six:

The students have begun researching their chosen artiste for their ‘Music Poster Project’.  I have been so impressed with the variety of musical taste. We will soon be seeing posters about Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Imagine Dragons and many more. I can’t wait!!! Students have until the end of week 7 to work in class and then the posters must be finished in their own time. They will present them in Term 2, week 1.

We are starting a School Band!!!

Dear Upwey South Parents,

It has been a dream of ours for quite some time to start a Year Five/Six band at USPS. We have many talented musicians and a passionate team of instrumental teachers. We are really hoping to start our school band in Term Two. We do, however, need some additional musical instruments and equipment before we can get started. We are calling on anyone who might be able to donate any of the following to the school.

Here is what we need:

Electric Guitar 

Bass Guitar 

Guitar Amp 

Bass Amp

Mixing Desk - 12 Channels or More

Guitar Stand Rack or 3 x Individual Stands

Vocal Mics x 4

Mic Stands x 4

XLR Leads x 5

Guitar Leads x 5

We thank you kindly in advance for your donations!

Penelope and the Groove Foundations Team - Jordan, Jed and Amaris