Director of Music

Looking forward to Choomalaka Festival 

Although Term 3 is rapidly drawing to a close, there is still plenty of activity in the Music Department. Our Junior students are getting into the habit of using the Andante Practice app to log their playing and keep track of their progress. We’re also looking forward to celebrating the creativity and culture of our community at the Choomalaka Arts Festival and Feast. Read on to find out what is happening in Music!

Grade 5 and Grade 6 Bands: Andante Practice App and Seesaw

The students in Grade 5 and Grade 6 Bands are getting used to using the Andante Practice app on their iPads to track their practice time. The app is very simple to use. After opening the app, students can register using their St Virgil’s College email address. Students are then able to create their profile and choose their own avatar in the app. 

When students are using Andante to log their practice, they open the app to their home page. They will see an orange button with a Music note and plus sign. Pressing this button starts a timer which will record the time of their practice. When the practice session has ended, students press the button again and Andante will automatically end the session and save the practice time. When students are ready to upload their practice logs to Seesaw, they need to open the app to the home page and press the Stats icon. This will open up the practice log where students can view how much they have practiced for the week. Students need to take a screenshot of this screen and upload their photos to Seesaw by Sunday night. 

Students who don’t bring home their iPads can write down their practice time on paper, take a photo, and upload their photos to Seesaw. Please assist your son to remember his instrument and music on Mondays for band rehearsal and tutorials.

Bandsman of the Week

Students who are named as Bandsman of the Week demonstrate exemplary behaviour during rehearsals and tutorials, bring all of the necessary equipment on Mondays (instrument, music folder, and practice sheet), and have demonstrated a dedicated home practice schedule. 

Congratulations to Alby Thrift and Isaac Whitfield in Grade 5 and Theodore Lockhart and Benjamin Houareau in Grade 6 for being recognised as Bandsman of the Week.

Choomalaka Festival and Feast

I welcome all families to come along to our Choomalaka event today. Musically, this is an event where students across the Senior School are able to showcase the work they have been doing all year. Our performers include pianists Lucas Ravani and Isaac Carroll, our rock duet of Gangul Wimalasena and Archer Gifford, Ayaan Jafery who will be performing some guitar works from his upcoming recital at The Hedberg. The Southern Aurora Stage Band, our Senior Rock Band, Atomic, and Junior Rock Band also known as The School of Rock will also perform. 

The combination of these performances, the Art Gallery, and the play, Just Andy, will be a fantastic celebration of visual and performing arts students at St Virgil’s College. Food vans will be open from 3.15pm. The evening will conclude at 7.30pm. I look forward to seeing you there!