Music Camp
Music Camp Success
On Monday 20th March, all our Instrumental Music Staff, along with 160 of our students headed to Camp Marysville, in the beautiful alpine region of Victoria, for our annual music camp.
Music Camp has been a long-standing tradition and a much anticipated annual experience for the instrumental and vocal music students and this year was a special one indeed - for the first time we were able to host most of Instrumental & Vocal students at one camp.
The camp is run by music staff and the student Performing Arts Leaders.
This year, in addition to some intensive ensemble rehearsals, students participated in elective workshops and "All in Sessions". The workshops included:
- How to play the Ukelele
- Composing and Performing on Glass Bottles
- Making and Performing on home-made percussion instruments
- Conduction
- Improvisation
- Vocal Workout and Performer Showcase
The All-in Sessions were for students who weren't involved in ensemble rehearsals - these were based on developing Music Aural Skills, Dance, Movement, Performance, Rhythm, Improvisation and Composition.
In addition to these workshops, electives and rehearsals each night we were entertained with concerts and fun large group activities.
On Monday evening we were treated to a concert from our 3 Contemporary Bands and then, led by the Performing Arts Leaders, participated in a massive Trivia Night with all student and staff.
On Tuesday evening, Melbourne-based Brass-House trio, Not My Circus, came to perform for us. This was a high-energy concert with all staff and students dancing and being swept up in the electric atmosphere! There were even some guest performers from our senior musicians. Following this, most students and staff engaged in an epic outdoor game of Rob the Flag! Despite a few war casualties, this was a highlight for many students.
Despite the storms and torrential rain in Melbourne, we remained relatively dry and safe in the little valley of Marysville. After coming back to school and hearing about the weather you all endured, it seems quite miraculous that we could run most of our workshops and electives in the sunny outdoors!
The theme and purpose around this year’s camp was not just about music rehearsal, but was around developing the character of our young people. We as a staff wanted to provide opportunities for students to take risks, be challenged, make mistakes and develop resilience - through Music. Another key focus was providing opportunities for students to develop positive relationships with each other as a cohort and with us as staff, outside of the classroom setting. In the past few days, since coming back from camp, it’s been so encouraging to hear many comments from students about how music camp has challenged them. They have said that not only was it fun, but they feel much more connected to each other, to our staff and have changed within themselves. If you ask your child, I’m sure that they will recount stories and funny moments in the camp and hopefully can reflect on some things they’ve learnt in their time away.
As a leader, I can’t ask for much more and am so thrilled with the fun, development and the journey that we could have shared with your children at music camp this year.
My sincere thanks to our incredible Instrumental Music staff who always volunteer their time to run the camps and to Cathy, our Performing Arts administrator for her support in the preparation for camp.
Tomorrow many of our students are off to Production Rehearsal Camp. This will be another valuable experience, but I think we’re all grateful that the school holidays are just around the corner.
Marten Visser
Leader of Performing Arts