During Term 2 and 3, we experience a contracting of hours of light and a sense of inward focus and reflection. The nature of music supports humans in this seasonal impulse. Music warms our hearts and minds during the darker months! In classes, students deepen their experience of playing instruments, investigating how music functions and applying their observations in composing their own pieces at whatever level they are at.
In Year 2 we have just produced a beautiful composition book where every child contributed an arrangement of rhythm symbols for the class to play as a whole ensemble (a sample of these can be seen in the images above). The next Main Lesson in Year 3 is about the nitty gritty of reading music and students will begin to develop understanding and facility in decoding traditional notation. In Senior College students are examining how different cultures and eras have used music in their societies and how the elements of music have enriched human life and connections. Year 1 received their pentatonic recorders at the beginning of term. Year 5 are working towards their first ensemble performance at this term’s Twilight Concert.
Extra Curricular Groups
Please contact Maia, Jenny or Sarah if your child is interested in joining one of our extra-curricular groups. These groups all perform regularly at concerts and events around the school. They are wonderful opportunities for students to expand skills, try new repertoire, find like-minded friends and be inspired by new settings! There is no additional cost for attending these groups.
The groups are:
- Primary School Choir – for Years 4, 5 and 6 students. Mondays 3.10pm to 4pm
- High School Choir – for Years 7,8,9,10,11 & 12. Friday lunchtimes.
- Volos (Volunteer Orchestra) – for instrumentalists in Years 5,6, & 7. Wednesdays 8.30am to 9am.
- HS/SC Performance Group – for instrumentalists in Years 7 to 12. Fridays 3.10pm to 4pm
Peripatetic Individual Instrumental Lessons
Please contact Maia if you would like your child to have individual instrumental lessons in Violin, Cello, Percussion, Flute, Recorder, Singing or Piano. Please note that lessons are mainly offered for students from mid-Year 3 onwards. Lessons incur an extra cost which is billed directly to parents by the peripatetic teacher.
Twilight Concert Term 2
This term’s twilight concert will be held on Friday 13 June from 5.30pm. Please stay tuned for more details as we come closer to this date. All the Orana community is invited to our Term 2 Twilight Concert. Year 5 and some of our volunteer ensembles will be featured along with some senior student soloists. We are proud of the students’ commitment to working together in teams and taking individual responsibility in learning their parts. Entry is free.
Maia Harrison
