Music Notes

Last week was a particularly musical time for our school, with a couple of live performances and opportunities provided for our students and staff.

On Thursday the cast of ’The Sapphires’ performed a pop-up outdoor performance at lunchtime. Students and staff were entertained by the harmonies of the talented Singers, accompanied by their charismatic Guitarist and Drummer. The Guitarist strummed his Guitar as the Musicians wandered outside and by the time they arrived at the performance space, quite an audience had gathered. It was great to see so many people enjoying listening to and appreciating live music. A big thank you to the generous performers! We appreciated them sharing their talents with us. I also thank Nicole John and Rebecca Farrant, from Country Arts, for coordinating this special event.

On Friday, the Adelaide Youth Orchestra’s Wind Quintet visited our Year 8 class. They demonstrated their instruments and spoke with our students about their love of playing musical instruments. While listening to them perform, their Conductor (Bryan Griffiths) asked our students to imagine the picture that the music created in their minds After the performance some students described the picture they saw and we were all amazed at how close these pictures were to the intended stories the composer wanted to tell! Music is such a powerful communicator of sound, message and image! Students also did a musical jigsaw (putting together a sound puzzle instead of a picture puzzle), made sounds using straws and a couple of our students even played a trumpet made out of a garden hose! The visit from the quintet and their teachers was a big encouragement for our Year 8 students who will begin learning a brass, woodwind or rhythm section instrument this week.

Following our Year 8 lesson, the quintet remained at school and participated in our school band rehearsal, led by Mr Geddie. What a great opportunity for our Musicians to meet and play with other like-minded Musicians.

I thank Lexi Buxton, Orchestra and Schools Tour Coordinator, for bringing her team to The Riverland and for her ongoing support of our Music Program.

Kirralee Bsaldock