Junior School
Performing Arts
Mrs Katie Sinclair
Speech and Drama students
Mrs Kerry-Anne Callaughan has been keeping her students busy with a project she called ‘The Over Commercialised Radio Program’ which I encourage you to watch. Very clever to have all the performers engaging virtually with this and a wonderful way of keeping students’ skills honed over this remote learning period. Well done to all involved and a big thumbs up to Mrs Callaughan and her daughter for the IT support!
Instrumentalists
Many of you are aware of the wonderful ways in which learning an instrument helps with cognitive development. Here’s some more interesting research from Australian group Bigger Better Brains who have put a short video together about the way in which participating in music has a positive effect on inhibitory control (i.e. the brain mechanism that manages judgement, aggression, emotions, planning, reasoning and social skills).
Watch the video here:
We hope that we can resume all instrumental tuition very soon, but for now, keep practising!
Co-curricular Music
Unfortunately, we will not be resuming our ensemble rehearsals at this stage, but we very much hope that situation will change soon. In the meantime, please play over your ensemble music in your practice. Most students will already have their music in their instrumental folders and some ensemble music can be accessed on the Frog pages (underneath co-curricular music) or via Teams app (Koristers). Please contact the Performing Arts office if you students require practice copies.
Keep Calm and Uke on
It has been wonderful to welcome back our Junior School students into the music classroom again. Year 6 have been striking up a chord or two on their ukuleles and enjoying making music with their peers. They are working on class performances which will take place in a few weeks. Not only are they learning to play the ukulele, but they are also learning to clean and disinfect them thoroughly after each use. These ukes are gleaming!
Mrs Katie Sinclair
Junior School Music Co-ordinator