Let’s improvise
Diana Springford – Head of Music
Musica Viva Primary School incursion – ‘Taking Shape’
We were very fortunate to enjoy a ‘virtual’ visit this week by four talented musicians from the group Topology performing online live and interactive concerts entitled Taking Shape for Years K-2, 3-4 and 5-6. During each hour-long concert, students were inspired to listen carefully to musical phrases and the interaction between the violin, viola, double bass and alto or soprano saxophones. Students analysed the differences between musical phrases to identify whether they were higher or lower, had more or fewer notes, faster or slower notes, or in fact, whether the notes were flipped and played in reverse. This careful listening led to an exploration of the way melodies are “shaped”. Some lucky students in each concert were chosen to contribute a completely impromptu brief musical phrase and melody – and we had some highly unique and creative lyrics about surfing muffins, sushi bananas and pineapple pizzas – which Topology wove together as they guided us through the process of composition.
Thank you to our teacher panellists Sarit Spira and Danny Burley for helping to facilitate the performances and to Joanne De Araujo for co-ordinating the events.
IP begins again next week
IP projects have been constructed so as to enable group work on a larger recording project that does not involve instrumentalists playing together in the same room. Students should all bring their instruments for IP. We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone together!
Private Music Tuition
Most music tutors will be on site, and some will be Zooming from home.
Ensembles and Choirs
We are waiting for direction from the Government about when we can start everything up again. We are poised and ready to leap on the opportunity to rehearse if and when we are allowed to.
We have planned specific projects for singers/instrumentalists that resemble our old ensembles/choirs and that will turn into rehearsals once we are allowed to rehearse. Currently the projection is that we return to school at Level 3+ conditions. Level 3+ conditions state that no ensembles or choirs may rehearse, no matter how innocuous the instrument. We are hoping this will change at some point!
On Stile and Reshet, there are projects posted for all members of choirs, string ensembles, concert bands and small bands. All learning materials were posted in Week 2 for students to access and rehearse as they like, in preparation for rehearsals that might happen from Week 5. These projects include stage-based projects for ensembles of body percussion, standard percussion instruments and cup percussion, virtual choir projects, and stage-based string ensembles, rock bands and jazz bands. We shall keep our fingers crossed in the meantime.
Projects for Stage Based Groups – two options for each Stage
For choirs, string ensembles, concert bands and small bands, there will be a project for each of you that can turn into stage-based rehearsals once we are allowed to rehearse. These projects will have the bulk of learning materials posted in Week 2 for students to access and rehearse as they like, in preparation for rehearsals that might happen from Week 5. These projects include stage-based projects for ensembles of body percussion, standard percussion instruments and cup percussion, virtual choir projects, and stage-based string ensembles, rock bands and jazz bands.
Learning to Improvise Course – for Stage 2-5 instrumentalists
For any instrumentalist who is interested in learning to improvise (beginners, novices and experienced players), we will have a scaffolded improvisation course run by Eamon Penner-Dilworth, Matilda Grieve and Marty Farrugia on Stile (for Primary School) and Reshet (for High School).
- Current members of choirs and ensembles will be emailed the information pertinent to them.
- Stile and Reshet are now updated according to Term 4 plans.
- Click here for full explanations and a schedule of projected rehearsal times for when we can rehearse.
- If you are not a current ensemble or choir member but would like to be added to these courses/projects, please email Ms Springford.