It has been a highly energetic and action packed beginning to Term 2 in Music! Each of our ensembles is busily rehearsing in preparation for major performances, such as our Piccolo Canto concert, Whole School Choral evening and Winter Concert.
Year 2s are enjoying learning their chosen string instrument for the year as well as being featured in our recent Piccolo Canto concert. Straight after their performance with Year 1s, they attended the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to hear a new work, The Peasant Prince. Our Year 4 students were also fortunate to hear this work and to see a professional orchestra in full flight at the beautiful Hamer Hall.
Beginner Band has commenced and there have been a near record number of students in Years 4 and 5 who have embraced the opportunity to learn a wind, brass or percussion instrument. This group is a vital piece in the development of our band program that flows on to Los Bandidos and then supports all of the other bands and orchestras later in Middle and Senior Schools.
A new guitar group has commenced this year, accommodating our newer guitar students. Similar to our band program, Li’l Strummers will develop as a group and feed into the more experienced Plecstrum. Beyond the ensemble experiences, there have been solos and duets aplenty in our assemblies and at our chapel services. It has been wonderful to see our Junior School musicians take up the challenge of presenting their current works before their peers.
There is not a day that goes by that Eric Stevens House is not filled with the sound of singing, movement, instrument playing and more as each of our classes participate in the classroom program. Quick snapshots include Year 5s playing a folksong arrangement as a classroom ensemble, Year 1s using paddle drums with a buddy to play the rhythm to a song – as moving targets! – ELC children sing and move with a parachute and learn all about Autumn with falling leaf songs and scarf play, whilst our Year 4s have investigated instruments from our near neighbours and learnt a folk dance Tinikling with bamboo. These are just the briefest and deftest touches of what is a rich and vibrant classroom program available for all of our Junior School children.
Whilst there is a thriving music department to see and hear each day, with more and more students starting on their musical journey learning an instrument or joining a group, there is still room for more to join our community of musicians – please reach out for more information about our Music program and how to join.
Tim Barker
Head of Junior School Music
