MUSIC

Ensemble Farewells and Welcomes

While we have missed our woodwind and brass players at Band and Stage Band rehearsal, we have enjoyed the opportunity to work with and train up our dazzling new rhythm section. This time of year is always an exciting realisation of our succession planning, building the capacity in a whole new set of players to replace our extremely proficient Year 12 musicians. As we farewell Kodi Fiege drummer extraordinaire from both Stage Band and Band, we welcome Laura Boetto, Juliette Kozlik, Ethan Whiting, Best Inyang and Ella Hughes. As we bid adieu to Brendan Guise, we usher in the talented Isaac Collingridge, and as we wish Cassie Lai bon voyage on the keyboards, we welcome Patrick Dunn. We also welcome the best student guitarist I have ever met, Tyson Gentle, who is burning his axe in Stage Band while coaching Encore left-hander, Jackson Payne to work his way into the main Band. Angus Smith has wrestled the baritone saxophone permanently from outgoing clarinetist and sax player, Rebecca Scott. And our bumper lower brass section step bravely into Queeneth’s footsteps. 

Our String Sinfonia continues to grow and bloom despite the COVID predicament. We are sad to lose the expertise of Queeneth Inyang, Brianna Aplin and Edwina Mathews, who finish Year 12 and leave our Sinfonia, but thrilled to welcome Emily Tidd (Year 11) to the College and to the Sinfonia. Emily is a violinist of high standing and is now upskilling on viola too. String Sinfonia rehearsals continue on Thursday afternoons, and I am really impressed with the polish and refinement this group of musicians is building. A new batch of string players have matriculated from the Year 7 beginner program into Encore Pathways this term. I hope to introduce them to Sinfonia in Term 4.

Practising and preparing for Term 4

We will resume Band and Stage Band rehearsals in some form in Term 4, regardless of whether we are allowed to have wind/brass players actually play their instruments or not. If we have to rehearse without instruments, we will hold rhythm and ensemble skill training sessions during rehearsal time. When we are allowed to use instruments again, we will be better readers, sub-dividers, and listeners because of our COVID enforced practice sessions! I have posted new repertoire fro both ensembles, and expect students to learn their parts at home in preparation for next term’s work. 

I recently hosted the ABODA NSW Flexible Ensemble Online Workshop and enjoyed the opportunity to meet many great Australian composers and music educators, building a whole new repertoire of music and rehearsal techniques to help our Band and Stage Band keep playing through this tricky time. I have posted some new repertoire for students to learn at home in preparation for our next chance to play together. Included in this are some very cool jazz playalong and call and response charts, designed for students to keep building ensemble and jazz style skills while playing along with professional musicians. Encourage your child to find and use these Ed Wilson training charts, and enjoy the sounds of some of Australia’s best jazz musicians in your lounge room!

Encore 2021

Our gifted and talented music program, Encore, has been incredibly successful in its first year. We will extend the program into 2021 and will put out a call for applications very soon. Current Year 7 Encore and Encore Pathways students will be encouraged to apply for the Year 8 Encore Program, as will any other Year 7 students who exhibit potential and interest. We will also be calling on musicians in our Year 7 2021 intake to apply. Applications will be via video audition, and due in Week 3 of Term 4.

Bigger Better Brains - Music Learning and Executive Function

I recently qualified as a Bigger Better Brains Educator, and am excited to put into place my knowledge of how music learning develops the brain to foster your child’s language development, executive function and social skills as I develop the K - 12 Performance Music continuum. This week, I draw your attention to the links between music education and the development of executive functions, most particularly attention and memory.

As educators, we seek to develop the whole child. Regardless of whether your child is the next Mozart, Bono, Lady GaGa, or becomes a doctor, nurse, lawyer, plumber, farmer, or accountant, learning music will help his or her brain development. Learning an instrument, particularly while reading music notation, develops our brain’s ability to maintain attention, and helps us store, tag and retrieve memory. These executive functions are activated and stimulated by the act of playing an instrument, more so than by any other activity! So next time your child wonders whether or not to play their instrument, remind them they are building the power of their brain for all aspects of their life, just by playing.

Clare Brassil | Director of Music Performance