Music Matters

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. Starting from last week, over the next few weeks, each member of the committee will share a little bit about themselves and why they love music! This week, Teagan Barrack (Year 11), our 2023 Band Captain, shares her musical journey.

My name is Teagan, I’m in Year 11 and I am the Band Captain for 2023! I started playing the clarinet when I was eight years old, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. Before starting at SCEGGS, I also started learning the saxophone to allow myself to play in as many bands as possible once I was in high school. This year, I will be a proud member of the Basie Jazz Band, Holst Wind Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble and the School Choir. I love the variety of ensembles I can play in at SCEGGS and enjoy spending my mornings, lunchtimes, or afternoons in the DB Centre, making music. I think that the best part about Music is that I can work in a team with all sorts of people from the school to make something beautiful. I’m hoping to see many old and new faces as ensemble rehearsals begin and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2023 will bring for music at SCEGGS!

 

Assembly Pianist Weeks 2 and 3

Congratulations to Rebecca Colwell (Year 11) who played the hymns and excerpts for “walk-in/walk-out” in Assembly for Weeks 2 and 3.  Rebecca is an accelerated Music 2 student who will be sitting her HSC exam later this year.  She has also achieved her L.Mus.A last year.  Accompanying the school’s singing of hymns in assembly is a wonderful way for student pianists to extend their skills.  There are further opportunities coming ahead for interested pianists to perform.  Well done, Rebecca!

 

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:
  1. Outstanding Musician of the Primary School/Secondary School
  2. Wran Prize for Up and Coming Vocalist (Secondary only)
  3. Acknowledgement Awards

Any questions please contact Heidi Jones – Peripatetic Music Co-ordinator/Accompanist & Performance Coach by email here.

 

Primary Assembly Performances

Congratulations to Angelina Wang (Year 6) and Anara Murugesan (Year 5) who performed at the Year 3-6 Assembly this week. Anara performed “Pavan” by Alex Rowley on the oboe and this beautiful, lyrical piece that was well-received by the audience. Angelina learned to play the School Song “Luceat Lux Vestra” on the piano for the Assembly. This is a very tricky piece which is usually played by our music staff. Well done to Angelina and Anara!

 

Pauline Chow
Head of Music