Music Matters
Music Committee 2023
The music committee is a group of five students, each holding an individual role associated with a type of ensemble at SCEGGS. Over the next few weeks, each member of the committee will share a little bit about themselves and why they love music! This week, Lara Greenfield (Year 12), our 2023 Music Captain, shares her musical journey.
My name is Lara Greenfield, and I feel very honoured to be the SCEGGS Music Captain for 2023. This is my second year serving on the Music Committee, last year holding the position of Small Ensemble and Rock Band Captain, which I enjoyed thoroughly. My main instruments are voice, piano, and drums which is my main instrument, and which has allowed me to join many bands and ensembles throughout my life. Outside of school, I have a job working at a music holiday camp for Years 2-9 which has been an amazing experience for me as I hope to one day become a music teacher. Since moving to SCEGGS in Year 7, I have been in CVE, Choir, Madrigal ensemble, Holst, Basie Jazz Band, several rock bands, Glennie Percussion, and have started my own ukulele group. Being a senior musician has given me the opportunity to help ensembles which I normally wouldn’t get to such as Brass ensemble, Amati strings, Contemporary Strings, Clarion, and even Bugles Band. I believe that ensembles are a great way to build connections and teamwork skills, widen your listening palate, and to improve your own playing by learning from others.
Music Ensemble Sign-Up at the Co-Curricular Expo – Wednesday 8 February
It was wonderful to see a fabulous turn-out of interested students seeking to join an ensemble this year! Members of the Music department and Music Committee were there on hand to welcome students who have discovered a new passion to be a part of a music ensemble. All ensembles will commence rehearsals in Week 3 and we are looking forward to a fabulous year of music making!
String Power
Our Kindergarten and Year 1 beginner string players had their first String Power rehearsal together this week. Seven talented young musicians playing violin and cello made beautiful music together at lunchtime, playing “Busy Busy Stop Stop” and “Very Hungry Caterpillar” on their instruments. Posture and technique are a vital component of beginner tuition and the girls had lots of fun together in rehearsal with Mrs Sweeney. The debut performance for String Power will be at Musicale 2 in Week 3 next term so the girls will be practising every day at home to be ready for this. They have made an excellent start already!
Peripatetic Music Program
All students enrolled in the Peripatetic Music Program should have heard from their Music tutor by now. If you have not heard from your Music tutor, please contact Ms Heidi Jones.
If you wish to read more about the program, you may read the information through the Peripatetic Music Program here.
Music Tutors
A reminder about the role of our Music Tutors. Music Tutors:
- are not full-time employees of SCEGGS;
- understand that students may need to miss lessons through illness or other school disruptions, and expect that parents will notify them at least 24 hours in advance;
- cannot always offer make-up lessons;
- develop rotating timetables to provide a weekly lesson for each student;
- display their timetables on Cognito;
- are responsible for collecting and returning Primary School students promptly, to and from their classrooms, for each music lesson;
- require four weeks’ notice if lessons are to be discontinued.
Secondary Students
Secondary students must advise their classroom teachers, at least 48 hours in advance, that they will be absent for a music lesson.
Enrolling for Peripatetic Music lessons
The Music Department accepts applications for instrumental and vocal lessons all year round. Please fill in this form if you wish to apply. Click here for music tuition request form.
Waiting lists may be created when tutors reach capacity.
Practice-a-thon
The Practice-a-thon will run from Weeks 3-6 in preparation for the SCEGGS Eisteddfod.
Practice trackers will be available from music tutors and classroom music teachers. Use the tracker to monitor your daily practice. We are aiming to see how long our best practice streak is. Earn a Bronze award for a 7-day streak, a Silver award for a 14 day streak, a Gold award for a 21 day streak and a Platinum award for a 28+ day streak. The awards will be distributed along with your Eisteddfod award.
SCEGGS Eisteddfod
- The SCEGGS Music Eisteddfod is a competition open to all musicians currently taking private lessons, inside or outside of school.
- Entry into the Eisteddfod is FREE.
- All Elective Music students are preparing for participation.
Applications
- Will be collected through a google doc form which will be available in Weeks 4 & 5 (Monday 20 February and Friday 3 March).
- No entries will be accepted after Friday 3 March.
Heats – Week 7
All heats will be held in Week 7.
- Instrumental heats will be held during regular Music class lessons for Primary students, Year 7 students and Elective Music students.
- All other heats will be held during regular class lesson time.
- Students will perform for the external, specialist adjudicator in a music studio – there is no audience.
- Due to timetabling restrictions, adjudicators do not provide written reports or any other feedback.
- Time limit: 5 minutes
Highlights Concerts – Week 8 – Friday 24 March
- Adjudicators select between 15-20 performers to perform at each Highlights concert (Primary & Secondary).
- Primary Highlights concert: Friday 24 March at 4.30pm
- Secondary Highlights concert: Friday 24 March at 6.00pm
- A variety of awards are made at these concerts:
- Outstanding Musician of the Primary School/Secondary School
- Wran Prize for Up and Coming Vocalist (Secondary only)
- Acknowledgement Awards
Any questions please contact Heidi Jones – Peripatetic Music Co-ordinator/Accompanist & Performance Coach by email here.
Talented String Staff
At SCEGGS, our talented visiting tutors regularly perform on stage with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Australia Orchestra and in concert halls and orchestra pits in Sydney and beyond. This week, Eliza Sdraulig, one of our cello tutors who also directs Lux Strings, performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in concerts in Melbourne and Sydney with electrifying the violinist Ilya Gringolts performing the Bruch Violin Concerto. The concerts were very special for Eliza because the program also featured the world premiere performance of her brother Harry Sdraulig’s new composition “Slanted”. This new Australian work was wonderfully well-received by audiences and critics alike. Eliza and Harry will be touring with the Australian Chamber Orchestra to Brisbane and Canberra for more performances of the program next week.
Pauline Chow
Head of Music
