Music & Choir

Welcome to Term 2!

I hope you all had a chance to ‘refill your cups’ during the Easter holidays and prepare for an exciting term ahead!

Below is an outline of what is happening in the Music Room (and beyond!) this term.

For all Band & Ensemble news, please see the Band page of this newsletter. 

Assembly Performances

Class, Choir, Band and Ensemble performances will be held throughout the year. 

These dates will be added to the Compass calendar.

Foundation

• Activities to reinforce steady beat, tempo (speed) and form (structure)
• Australian Bush Dance: Emus and Kangaroos
• Indigenous instruments: the didgeridoo
• The four orchestral families - how do instruments in each family produce sound?
• Classifying and grouping classroom percussion instruments

Grades 1 and 2

• Beat and rhythm - aural training, visual representations
• Continuing individual compositions of 8 beat rhythms using quarter notes, quarter rests and eighth notes 
• Form/Structure – Rondo (ABACA) Use of body percussion to practise compositions and untuned instruments to perform their composition as part of a class rondo 
• The four orchestral families - how do instruments in each family produce sound?

Showbie Music Folders 

Students in Grades 3 - 6 and the School Choir can now access their Showbie music folder.  One of the many ways I use Showbie is as a tool for communication between myself and the students. Students can share their musical interests, provide suggestions for ‘Bell Music’ songs and I can share information about upcoming performances. Please note that only I can view what students send – it is not seen by the whole year level!

Grades 3 and 4

• Instruments in a jazz band, what is improvisation?
• The role of the music conductor
• What is a symphony orchestra?
• Conduct, sing, and perform rhythmic patterns in different metres (2/4, 3/4 and 4/4)
• Follow a musical score, recognising parts of music including measures (bars), bar lines, double bar lines
• Absolute vs Program Music
• Become familiar with the story and musical score of ‘The Peasant Prince’ (Mao's Last Dancer) by Li Cunxin through listening, movement and discussion
• Audience etiquette

Grade 3: Form / Structure –  Traditional folk music - Dance: La Raspa (Mexico)

Grade 4: Form / Structure –  Traditional folk music - The Galopede

Grades 3 and 4 - Music & Art Excursion

Friday 31 May - Hamer Hall & National Gallery of Victoria

I am so excited for the opportunity to take our Grades 3 and 4 students to experience the children’s picture book ‘The Peasant Prince – A Symphonic Tale’ to life. Performed by the magnificent Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and followed by an afternoon at the NGV, this excursion will be a cultural learning experience for all!

‘The Peasant Prince’ is a story of hope, freedom, and family love. Based on his best-selling memoir ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’, this work narrates with words and music the inspiring story of Li Cunxin’s childhood and follows his subsequent journey to become one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers. 

Parent Volunteers

We may require some extra helpers (I will confirm this soon), however, if you're keen to lend a hand at the excursion and have a valid Working with Children’s Check, you may like to keep Friday 31 May free! Please email me with your interest. Thank you! 😊

Further information regarding the excursion will be distributed via Compass soon. 

Grade 5

• Australian Bush Dance – The Brown Jug Polka (Heel and Toe)
• Instruments in a jazz band, what is improvisation?
• ANZAC Day - understand the role of music in historical wars, how music can be used to communicate important messages
• Games / activities assisting note reading
• Using classroom instruments correctly and safely while practising reading staff, graphic and / or invented notation

Grade 6

• Traditional Irish dance – The Haymaker's’ Jig 
• Instruments in a jazz band, what is improvisation?
• The role of the music conductor

Ukulele - Class expectations regarding taking care of the instrument (how we hold them, distribute them, collect them etc) have been set.

I am currently setting up a UKULELE folder in Showbie. This will include everything we've done in our lessons (parts of the ukulele, holding the ukulele, string note names etc). For students who'd like to progress further and challenge themselves at home, I will be including extra video tutorials for them to go on with. I am hoping that what I teach students during school music lessons will give them the foundation to continue their ukulele playing at home.  

Choir Performances

I am thrilled to announce we have 32 enthusiastic students from Grades 4-6 making up the 2024 BPS Choir. They rehearse each Monday from 1.00-1.30pm in the Music Room. Thank you to Mr Merlino who is assisting me with Choir again this term!

Term 2 - Choir Performances 

Please note the following performance dates:

• (Week 5) Wednesday 15 May – BPS Open Night – 5.30pm in Gym 
• (Week 8) Wednesday 5 June - Mid-Year Soiree – in Gym 

Choir Performance Clothing

• Plain short-sleeved coloured tee - bright colours preferred - see photo (NO collars, patterns or logos please) 
• Plain black full-length leggings / pants / trousers / skirt (black full-length leggings or opaque (not sheer) stockings under skirts - NO bare legs please
• Black socks & shoes
• Long hair tied off face (hair accessories to match hair colour) NO colourful bows etc.
• Short hair neatly brushed 
• No make-up or jewellery to be worn (stud / sleeper earrings only)

This attire has been chosen as most Choir members have said they already own these items. If not, you could borrow a coloured tee from a friend or purchase from stores like Target, Kmart, Big W or Best & Less (approximately $4.00).

Further information regarding Choir performances will be distributed via Compass soon. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at lisa.shacklock@education.vic.gov.au

Music Appreciation 

How do we make informed choices about the music we like to listen to,

perform or create if we are not exposed to a diverse range of music?

Each week a different musical genre (or theme) is played over the loudspeaker at bell times so that students become familiar with a variety of genres and musical artists. All songs chosen are child-appropriate.

The musical genres showcased in Term 2 are:

Footloose Fridays! 

WHAT: Join Mrs Pickford & Mrs Shacklock in celebrating the end of each week with 10 FUN minutes of dancing (or if you don’t like dancing, call it ‘movement’!)

WHO:  EVERYONE! The BPS Community! Students / younger siblings / parents / carers

WHEN:  8.45am every Friday

WHERE:  Outside the gym (or if the weather is inclement, the under cover area outside the Music Room)

We look forward to sharing a dance with you at some stage this term!

Yours in harmony,

Lisa Shacklock             

Classroom Music, Choir Co-ordinator & Band Liaison (M-W, F)

 "Do something worth remembering" - Elvis Presley