Music
Choir practices once a week and perform various times throughout the year at different events.
There are many benefits of having a music program at school. It gives those musically inclined students a way of learning about a field that might lead to a career in the future, but for others, provides a vehicle for self-expression, builds confidence and friendship among students and helps students become more active listeners.
Students in the Foundation Level are learning about beat, pitch, dynamics and tempo in music. This is done through singing, moving and playing instruments. They also improvise movements and sounds to create a performance piece and identify examples of music in their own life and community. There will be rehearsals for the annual Christmas Concert.
In Grade One, students develop on the knowledge gained in the Foundation level and also learn about rhythm, melody, form, tone colour and texture in music. This is done through singing, moving and playing instruments. They learn about the different uses of music (eg. to express thoughts and feelings) and different musical cultures (eg. different times and other countries). They learn about, recognised and demonstrated AB form in music. They are also taught and use the expression symbols, p, f and < >.
In Grade Two, students extend their knowledge on rhythm patterns and create their own simple scores, using two and then three notes. This is then rehearsed and performed on the glockenspiel using a correct beater technique to the class.
This year, students in Grade Three are introduced to the recorder. Before handling the recorder, students are taught the correct musical name and value of rhythms taught in Grade two. Using these notes, they complete a set of activities to help cement their understanding of the number of beats per bar in relation to the time signature at the beginning of music. They also learn the names of the notes on the music lines (stave) and again, complete activities in preparation for playing the recorder. With the guidance of the teacher, students learn the correct breathing technique, how to hold a recorder and the first three notes B, A and G, which allow them to play a good repertoire of songs, leading them through the first belt (white), onto their second (yellow). Some students are now onto their Orange belt, playing pieces with the notes C and D.
In Grade Four, students learn about different ‘feels’ in music and perform simple riffs, syncopated rhythm patterns and learn many musical terms to do with beat and rhythm. They perform simple harmony using their voice and instruments as well as performing from and creating graphic scores. Students are also exposed to music in different contexts (genres, cultures, times and purposes).
Students in Grade 5 extend their knowledge of musical terms and work with music that has a 6/8 feel. They are taught about harmony using thirds and then chords. These are then used to play along with Blues music. They also explore songs, music and dance through different styles as well as recognising instruments and techniques associated with different musical styles and genres. They work collaboratively with others to create a performance.
In Grade 6, students learn rhythm patterns to accompany a ‘rapped’ song. They study the structure of songs and learn techniques to generate lyrics and melodies and in groups, create their own lyrics and melodies. This is performed to the class. They also experience loops and turnarounds using chords and in groups, create their own loops, both chordal and word loops, as well as turnarounds based on a 2-chord progression.
Student in Grades 5 and 6 are once again given the opportunity to be part of the school choir, where they perform at various times (including the Stringybark Festival and the school Art Curriculum Night).