Music / Performing Arts
A Joyful Start to the Year with Music and Dance!
As the new school year kicked off, excitement filled the air as students from all levels eagerly stepped into their music and dance lessons. With bright smiles and enthusiastic energy, we embarked on an enriching journey filled with rhythm, movement, and creativity.
To ensure a smooth and respectful learning experience, we began the term with our Start-Up Program. This program helped set clear expectations and routines, allowing students to transition smoothly into their specialist classes. From lining up in role order and walking nicely to the specialist rooms, to participating in our morning circle, students learned the importance of being ready to learn, listening attentively, tracking the speaker, respecting others, and caring for equipment. This foundation set the stage for an incredible trimester of music and dance exploration!
Foundation and Year 1/2 – Discovering the Joy of Movement
Our youngest students dove into the world of body movement and rhythm, exploring how music makes them feel and how they can express themselves through movement. With uplifting songs and lively sounds, they embraced the freedom of moving spontaneously, discovering their own unique ways of dancing. Some jumped high with excitement, while others experimented with arm and hip movements—each finding joy in their own way!
One of the highlights for Foundation students was learning to clap to the beat of the song La Gallina, where they practised transitioning between slow and fast rhythms while adding fun chicken movements. Year 1/2 students took on a bigger challenge, working hard to perfect the iconic beat of We Will Rock You using drums, foot stomps, and claps. They also practised singing the chorus, adding their voices to the rhythmic fun.
To wrap up their learning, students began creating beautiful music posters, featuring inspiring instrument designs and exploring the four families of musical instruments: Idiophones, Chordophones, Aerophones, and Membranophones.
Years 3 to 6 – Mastering Rhythm and Percussion
Older students took their musical journey a step further by exploring body percussion, learning how to isolate and match sounds with rhythmic patterns. They enjoyed playing the engaging rhythmic game We Are Ready for the Weekend, and to add an extra challenge, they mastered it in Spanish, chanting Nosotros estamos listos para la semana y while keeping in time with the beat.
A standout moment was their participation in creating a unique version of "La Macarena", where they not only learned the lyrics but also explored creative choreography using different body movements. The combination of rhythm, coordination, and teamwork made this an instant favourite among students!
Additionally, students started an exciting research project, diving into the world of musical instruments. They explored the Zampoña from South America, along with the Violin and Traverse Flute from Europe, expanding their knowledge of music from different cultures.
A Fantastic Start to the Year!
This trimester has been an incredible start to our musical journey, filled with creativity, energy, and fun! Watching students express themselves through dance, master rhythms, and explore new instruments has been truly inspiring. We can’t wait to see how their skills grow in the coming weeks—stay tuned for more exciting musical adventures!