MUSIC

Around the College

There have been many happenings around Saints in the Music department.  On Friday 3 March a handful of students ventured over to St Joseph’s school to demonstrate their instruments to the Year 3 to Year 6 classes.  St Augustine’s is now running the Instrumental Music program over there, and we were recruiting more students into the program.

On Monday 13 March the Senior Music Class and the Year 8 rock band students performed at St Joseph’s for their feast day providing entertainment for their students in the last session of the day.  The Senior Music Class and the Year 8 rock band students performed to a very appreciative crowd.  It would be accurate to say they are now the “rock stars” of the College. Congratulations to all the students involved and thanks to Mr Darveniza for running the Year 8 rock band program.

State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP)

Mathew Christensen, Angus Hodgetts and Ryley Odenthal represented the College at the Annual SHEP program held at St Mary’s Catholic College on the weekend of 3 March.  Students selected to participate in SHEP are the more advanced music students from all around Far North Queensland.  It’s an honour and privilege to be selected for this program run by the Qld Conservatorium of Music.  The next SHEP will be the middle school program run later in the year.  Congratulations to our students on their selection and performances on Sunday.

Carmina Burana

Our second extended rehearsal with St Monica’s, St Andrew’s and Holy Cross students was held in Lennon Hall. It was a marathon effort by staff and students, but the music is coming together very well so far.  Rehearsal began at 2pm after setting up the hall for the orchestra and choir.  We rehearsed together as a large group, separately in sectionals, had dinner together, played some games for social interaction and then finished rehearsing together. Thank you to all the staff who gave so freely of their time to make this happen. 

Spirit of Arts Awards

All students who participate in Music, Drama, Visual Art and Film Television and New Media are eligible to apply for an award.  Handbooks and journals are available from the staffroom and we encourage everyone to participate in the scheme.

For any questions regarding the Spirit of Arts Awards not outlined in the journal, please contact me on cspannenbu@cns.catholic.edu.au.

Practice

All Instrumental Music students are expected to regularly practise. How much time they spend practising will very much depend on how far along they are in their development as a musician. Beginner students should be doing at least five to 15 minutes per day, five times per week. Intermediate students (those doing lower level AMEB exams or QCAA Level 5 and up) should be doing between 15 to 45 minutes per day, five times per week. Advanced students should be doing upwards of an hour per day.  This is a guide and we understand life can get in the way, but the key to improvement is consistency.  Students should be practising what they are learning in lessons as well as their ensemble repertoire. Almost all ensembles are on teams and recordings of their repertoire are on there so that they can play along and listen to whilst reading their parts. 

Any opportunities for our Arts students outside the College are published on the Arts Facebook Page. Upcoming performances and events are published on our St Augustine’s College Cairns Arts Facebook Page under Events. Be sure to like the page to keep up with what’s happening around the College.