Performing Arts and Music

Music Department

Welcome back to all RSC musicians and thank you to all Stage Bands, Senior Choir and Senior Vocal Ensemble for starting the year off with their day camps over the past 2 weekends. All these groups are busily preparing for Generations in Jazz held at Mt Gambier early next term.

All rehearsals have commenced for the year and we look forward to each ensemble’s development over this term and beyond.

Year seven tryouts are well under way and we invite all year sevens to consider taking up an instrument.

Learning a musical instrument is a wonderful skill for any child but did you know that research shows how learning music can help your child in SO MANY OTHER WAYS:

. Improved reasoning capacity and problem-solving skills

. Improved maths and language performance

. Better memory

. Greater social and team skills

A series of research in Hungary found that learning and playing music improved not only academic performance, but also memory, reasoning, working as part of a group, time management and the ability to think in the abstract.

In Switzerland, a massive two-year study of 1200 students in 50 classes scientifically showed how playing music improved students’ reading and verbal skills through improving concentration, memory and self-expression.

Other effects revealed by the study showed that students learned to like each other more, enjoyed school more and were less stressed during various tests, indicating they were better able to handle performance anxiety.

Ongoing research at the University of California demonstrates that learning and playing music builds and modifies neural pathways related to spatial reasoning tasks, which are crucial for higher brain functions such as complex maths, chess and science.

Research shows that playing a musical instrument can make significant differences to students’ abilities related to learning, memory and social interactions.

 Recent research in the U.S.A. has shown academic performance is higher in those students who continue with learning a musical instrument throughout their senior years and university than those who do not learn an instrument and those students who chose to drop out of music past year 10.

 Learning music can make a difference for your child.

With this in mind all year 7 students and parents are invited to RSC Music’s Recruitment Night, Wednesday 21 February, 7.00pm in the College Hall, proceeding to the 500’s for tryouts at 7.30pm. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to join our vibrant and exciting music program here at Ringwood.

Any year 8 to 12 students who wish to join the program, please come and see us in the PAC office as soon as possible. It’s never too late to start learning a musical instrument or join one of our many ensembles.

Our Music Association needs your help!

The Music Association is looking for new members in 2018.  It really is a great way to become part of your child’s journey through the music program, to meet other parents and to find out a little more about what happens behind the scenes at the college. 

The Music Association is a parent group, which actively supports the Music Program by assisting with front of house at concerts; serving suppers, and fundraising to purchase much needed instruments (the ones that are too expensive for families to buy) and equipment.  They have a longstanding place in the history of the college and want to ensure that they remain viable long into the future. The committee meets approximately twice per term on a Monday evening. Their final “meeting” for the year is a social dinner in late November or early December.

The next meeting is on Monday, 26 February  at 7.30pm and you are cordially invited to come along, meet the “gang” and find out a bit more about what they do and how they do it. A light supper will be provided.

Please feel free to call the Music Association’s Vice President Bernadette Holt on 0447 243 678 or send an email to bsk75@bigpond.com if you would like to find out more about the RSC Music Association.

The RSC Music Association would love to hear from you.

Janine Pero

Director of Music