Music
Welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful rest and relaxed during the summer break. It is exciting to be back on the school grounds. Mr Schweinberger and I have been working with the girls and boys involved in The Addams Family Musical from 22 January and we are so proud of their progress. It is a wonderfully funny musical with all the typical “ear worms” that accompany any good musical. We look forward to welcoming you to the production, which opens on 7 March, closing on 9 March.
I’d like to extend a very warm Pymble welcome to our new students – those from afar, and those making their way up from the Junior School. Pymble is not a school for the idle; it is a place for active minds to gain great wisdom, active souls to be nurtured, and active bodies to be fuelled. Music will do all these things for you, so please come and hang out in the wonderful Performing Arts area and be part of our Music team.
Music Support Group
This group is for any interested parents who would like to volunteer their time and help throughout the year to support the students and staff in the ensemble program. Led by the very capable Elizabeth Toh (Estelle – Year 8), and Priscilla Macpherson (Sarah – Year 12). I’m sure these lovely mums would love to meet you, and have you help when and if you are able. Please reach out through Music admin at musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or contact Liz on Elizabethtoh@gmail.com to ask about how you can help.
Information
If you require private music lessons, or need a uniform, not sure about times for ensembles, etc, please go to the portal, or email Gladys Uy on musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or Head of Co-Curricular Music, Sarah Turner on sturner@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Ensembles and Lessons
Please note the times for ensembles and private music lessons will commence from Monday 5 February. Please see the table below for the times for the ensembles. If you are unsure of your group, please email and we will ensure you and your daughter are informed. New students are welcome to just show up on the first week – your conductor will take your name and you will be added to the roll. Alternatively, please email musicadmin@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au to express your interest.
Staffing in Music
Secondary School
Head of Learning Area Performing Arts/Head of Bands – Mr Marcus Stafford
Head of Co-curricular Music – Mrs Sarah Turner
Head of Strings – Ms Belinda Jezek
Stage 4 Music Coordinator – Ms Sarah Ashton
Music teaching staff and conductors – Mr Mark Rossman, Ms Julia Zeltzer, Ms Charlotte Aquaro, Mrs Karen Bruce
College Accompanist – Ms Claire Race
Junior School
Head of Creative and Performing Arts K-6 – Mr Kurt Schweinberger
Teaching staff and conductors – Mrs Julie Hare, Ms Tiffany Farlow, Ms Maria Lee, Ms Ellen Buckley, Mrs Patrice Goodman
Auditions for Senior School Chamber Strings
Ms Jezek will be holding auditions for the Senior School Chamber Strings. Please email her if you have any questions or to book an audition time. bjezek@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au
Auditions for Junior School Jazz Band
Mrs Goodman will be holding auditions for Junior School Jazz Band. Girls in Stanhope & Grainger are welcome to audition and need to prepare one piece. Auditions are open to saxophone, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, drums, piano and bass guitar. Email Mrs Goodman if you have any questions or to book an audition time. pgoodman@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au.
Auditions for Chorale
Please email Mr Schweinberger on kschweinberger@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au to organise an audition time.
School Choir: Be in it!
School Choir is open to anyone who likes to sing! No audition is necessary, but please come and see Mrs Turner in the Performing Arts Staffroom so that you can be placed in the correct voice part. School Choir rehearses every Wednesday morning at 7.25am – 8.05am. All Elective Music students are expected to attend. Mrs Turner is looking forward to seeing you all!
Secondary School
| MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY | |
| Before School | 6.50am to 8.05am School Concert Band (BRR) 6.50am to 8.05am String Orchestra (MG) | 6.50am to 8.05am Middle School Concert Band (BRR) | 6.50am to 8.05am Symphonic Wind Ensemble (BRR) 7.25am to 8.05am School Choir (Chapel) | 6.50am to 8.05am Chamber Strings (MG) | 6.50am to 8.05am Symphony Orchestra (BRR) |
| Lunchtime | |||||
| After School | 5.00pm to 6.30pm Pymble Chorale (Chapel/Music Gallery) | 3.30pm to 4.15pm Jazz Ensemble (Big Rehearsal Room) | 3.30pm to 5.00pm Senior Stage Band (BRR) |
Sport and Music Ensemble Rehearsal Clashes
When sport practices and Music rehearsals clash, it is the policy set up by the Sport and Music Departments that the student attends one weekly Sport practice and one weekly Music rehearsal. It is imperative that the student notify their Sport coach that they are unable to attend that practice due to their Music rehearsal, so that they are not penalised for poor attendance. This policy works on the basis that for most sports there are two scheduled practices per week, but for each Music ensemble there is only one rehearsal per week. If a student encounters further problems with clashes they must alert both staff members concerned so that the student is not disadvantaged.
Parents are requested to not sign their daughters up for other activities that clash with scheduled Music rehearsals to which their daughter is committed.
All girls learning through our Peripatetic Music teacher program will be contacted directly by their teacher. Lessons must be paid in accordance with the tutors’ directive and any missed lessons will be at the discretion of the individual tutor. (A rule of thumb is to give 24 hours notice). Lessons will be on a rotating basis throughout the term and preference is given to Year 12 students for a regular time. The tutors cannot provide lunch time lessons to a junior school student if they have a student in Year 11 or 12.
We are truly blessed to have such wonderful talent in our department and each of our Peripatetic tutors is regarded as part of our family. If you are dissatisfied with anything, please let Mrs Turner know immediately after expressing your concerns with the tutor. We have many tutors and therefore many options for your daughter. If you are having lessons within the College, you are expected to be part of the Ensemble program. Each girl in Elective Music is also expected to be part of the ensemble program and will find their music becomes so much easier and accessible if they are meeting with a like-minded tribe each week.
Secondary School Instrument Cases and Storerooms
There are three security storerooms in the Music Building for the storage of students’ instruments while they are at school. They are labelled clearly as to which instruments are to be placed in each. Please ensure that instruments are placed neatly and carefully on the shelves and not left in the middle of the floor where they could be damaged or cause harm to someone tripping over them. Instruments must not be left in a classroom or locker. Every girl must ensure that her instrument case is CLEARLY NAMED ON THE OUTSIDE.
Junior School Instrument Cases and Storerooms
All Junior School Band instruments are to be stored in the Instrument Storage Room in the Music Gallery in the David Blackwell Music School. Cellos are to be placed carefully in the Guitar/Cello Storage Room at the end of the Music Colonnade. Every girl must ensure that her instrument case is CLEARLY NAMED ON THE OUTSIDE.
Save the dates
Thursday 15 February – Concerto Competition: 6.30pm in the Music Gallery
This year we have 10 musicians competing for the coveted glory of being crowned the Concerto Competition winner and have the privilege of working with our Symphony Orchestra to perform later in the year. Kimbali Harding (CEO of Australian Youth Orchestra) and Alexandra Osborne (Associate Concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra) will be our adjudicators. We encourage as many aspiring musicians to attend this event and connect with these two wonderful musicians. A poster with a link will be sent through the portal. There is no fee, but we need to have tickets booked so we know how many people will be seated with us.
Thursday 7 March
The Addams Family Musical – rehearsals are well underway, and the performances begin on 7 March. There will be an evening performance on 7, 8, 9 March along with a matinee show on 9 March.
10 April
Secondary School Ensemble Concert on Gloucester Lawn. This will commence at 6.00pm (please note the earlier time due to Daylight Savings ending on the 7 April)
Tour to Spain/Portugal
Payments for the next instalment are coming up soon. Please watch out for information relating to this wonderful event. Any new Year 7 students who can play in the band, string orchestra or choir, who are at a Grade 6 AMEB standard, you are welcome to join us. Please email Mrs Turner or travel@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au so that you are able to receive any information. Rehearsals for tour will start to take place in Term 3.
Sarah Turner
Head of Music