Music

Year 7 have enthusiastically been engaged in learning keyboard and ukulele skills this term. They are to be congratulated on their efforts in performing individually, in small groups and as a whole class ensemble, supported by drum kit and bass guitar. “See You Again” was a feature song performed in Term 3. We look forward to ‘seeing students again’ back in class, making lots of music together soon. 

Year 8 has been busy refining their keyboard skills. They have been looking at various blues performers including Chuck Berry and The Blues Brothers. Year 8 keyboard has been learning to play chords as well as performing short improvisations on the keyboard.

Year 9 have been studying Irish music with a recent composition activity based around an Irish scale. Year 9 have learnt to use the notation program “Sibelius”. This has included being able to compose their own melody as well as using piano, bass guitar and drum kit. They are now preparing for their final individual performance for the year. 

Good luck Year 9!!

Year 10 - The music of ABBA has been the focus of our Popular Music Topic this term. Students have performed class arrangements of Dancing Queen, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Money, Money, Money. This has timed in well with the release of ABBA’s new songs this week. Some highlights in class were the grunge take on the bass line of Dancing Queen by Griffin Richardson, the ‘Benny’ piano flourishes and synth work by Josh Shaw, the lead guitar ‘Bjorn’ solos by Laura Wettenhall, rhythm guitar playing by Charlie Jackson and Anton Pailano, lead ‘ABBA’ style vocals and harmonies by Tess Melton, Niamh Chu, Ruby McDonnell, disco drum kit beats by Will McLoughlin and chordal/bass harmony by Bethany Macarthur, Harmony O’Donnell, Ben McCoy and Luke Nolte.

Year 11 are now working towards their HSC program. They have recently been preparing Viva Voce presentations (based on the Concepts of Music) and various performances.

Year 12 Music students continued working towards their practical HSC Exam this term and showed perseverance, resilience and strength in challenging times due to the impacts of Covid restrictions. Students recreated the Lyric Theatre, Sydney in Music 1 and enjoyed their incursion (instead of the excursion planned) to Hamilton the musical. 

Students rehearsed their HSC pieces weekly and unfortunately due to Covid were unable to hold the HSC Performance Night.  Thank you to all of the student accompanists who put a lot of their own time into learning the songs this year, including: Henry Cook, Ryleigh Hilton, Ryan Pickering, Andy Owen and Ella Saxon. Thank you also to the private music teachers who accompanied students. Some of the repertoire showcased this year included music by: Guns and Roses, Pearl Jam, Eva Cassidy, Postmodern Jukebox, Sara Bareilles, Earle Hagan, Leonard Cohen and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Students are to be acknowledged and congratulated for their hard work and effort which went into performing and rehearsing their 2021 HSC repertoire.