The Arts at Oakleigh Grammar
Music
Classroom Music
Students in Middle Years music classes have been building their performance and analysis skills over the term. Year 7 students have been demonstrating independence, negotiation and organisation as they have been learning to play chords, chord progressions and drum beat patterns used in contemporary music of the 20th century.
Students who already have knowledge of keyboard, guitar or drums have been able to earn ‘guru’ points helping their peers, and some have even created podcasts explaining how to approach learning the new skills. Other students have put technical and organisational skills to good use, setting up equipment such as the new electronic drum kits, and ensuring that instruments are safely packed away again at the end of class.
As the Year 8s are currently doing, the Year 7s will use these instrument skills to rehearse together as a class ensemble, and perform key songs from the 1950s onwards, such as Rock Around the Clock, Stand By Me, Smoke on the Water and so on.
The Year 8s have been incorporating their understanding of music terminology and genres by analysing the similarities and differences between tracks before playing them. As their rehearsal skills develop further, the Year 8s will also be able to spend more time in small ensembles, and be able to make suggestions for other appropriate song options that they could perform from the various genres covered.
Choir
In amongst the various School activities celebrating Greek Independence Day and the visiting Evzones, a combined choir of students from Years 3-12, accompanied by Dean Damatopoulos and Calysta Morgan also performed at an official function on Saturday night at the Malvern Town Hall.
Hosted by the City of Stonnington, the event was a cocktail reception for the Evzones, and featured the choir singing the Greek and Australian anthems. The students acquitted themselves beautifully and were personally thanked by the Mayor, receiving hand-written notes and an exciting gift bag.
The Junior School Choir will again be performing, this time in conjunction with Grade 1s at the beginning of Term 2 for the ANZAC Day assembly at School.
Any students in Years 3-5 who are interested in joining choir next term are more than welcome to complete and return the form that was emailed out earlier in the year. Before joining the choir, all students and their parents sign an agreement that they will commit to attending the regular Wednesday lunch time rehearsals. This is partially because the choir does perform regularly at a variety of events, and the whole ensemble needs to be adequately rehearsed so we can be ‘all we can be’ in these situations.
Both current and potential members do need to consider carefully if they can consistently attend rehearsals, as well as performances which may occur outside of School time.
Instrumental Music
Enrolments for instrumental lessons are welcomed for Term 2. Enrolment forms were emailed out at the start of the year, and these can be used to enrol for next term. Please feel free to contact the instrumental teachers below if you’d like some more information about the program, or suitability of an instrument for your child.
The classroom music programs are also designed to give students the skills to move into instrumental music, with Prep and Year 1 students working with percussion, Years 2-3 learning recorder (which leads easily to sax, flute, clarinet and some brass instruments) and Years 4-5 learning ukulele (which opens up other string instruments).
The ABC program offered by Marianne Wright is a good option for younger students or for those who don’t have a particular preference for which instrument they would like to learn yet. Also as a general rule, piano provides a strong foundation for understanding music in a variety of ways, and starting music lessons of any sort before the age of seven helps build and strengthen life-long neurological connections.
As well as the teachers listed below, we have the possibility of a Bouzouki teacher starting next term. If you are interested in your child starting lessons on this instrument, please contact Calysta Morgan via: cmorgan@oakleighgrammar.vic.edu.au
Regina Grace – piano/keyboard
Regina25@bigpond.net.au 0419 373 420
Marianne Wright – keyboard, saxophone, flute, clarinet, trumpet, ukulele, acoustic guitar and ABC program
mwrightsmusic@gmail.com 0409 125 464
Scott Barton – drums
Scottbarton12@gmail.com 0418 125 464
Daniel Napolitano – electric guitar, electric bass, ukulele
danielnapolitano@outlook.com 0423 424 422
Elizabeth Exintaris – voice