{"id":753,"date":"2020-02-06T10:00:55","date_gmt":"2020-02-05T23:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/sceggs\/?post_type=article&p=753"},"modified":"2020-02-06T10:02:56","modified_gmt":"2020-02-05T23:02:56","slug":"in-this-together","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/sceggs\/article\/in-this-together\/","title":{"rendered":"In This Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

Music – a lifelong love\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\nAs your daughters are making their choice of Co-curricular activities for the year, there is a likelihood that a Music Ensemble will be one of the choices that is considered.\u00a0 In many instances, participation in a Music Ensemble is a logical choice.\u00a0 Students who undertake regular music tuition in voice or instrument are often encouraged to play or sing as part of an ensemble to further enhance their learning.\u00a0 For other students, this step to participation is the first step in discovering a skill or talent that they had previously not had an opportunity to explore.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unlike some other Co-curricular activities, participation in a Music Ensemble requires a year-long commitment. Whilst the seasons of the year can determine changes of sport, this does not apply to Music. The development of skill and an ability for ensemble members to work together requires time.\u00a0 In fact, in many instances Co-curricular Music is an extended commitment that should be concurrent with the years a student spends learning an instrument.\u00a0 The participation in an ensemble is vital in helping a student to put into practice the skills acquired through individual tuition.<\/p>\n

Aside from the obvious social element of playing in an ensemble with their peers, there are many positive attributes that can be learnt and developed from being a part of one.\u00a0 Teamwork is an obvious skill that can be acquired through participation.\u00a0 How else can a whole section of players learn to play a passage together in time, with the correct notes and expression?\u00a0\u00a0 In order to do this, players learn to listen to their desk partner, their section and the other sections of the ensemble.\u00a0 Engagement with the conductor for directions and being able to follow their prompts or nuances is important too.\u00a0 Players are working together towards a common goal, being a musically successful performance.<\/p>\n

There have been many research papers written on the effects of learning a musical instrument, singing in a choir or playing a musical instrument in an ensemble. Scientists have demonstrated the positive effect on brain activity of actively playing a musical instrument.\u00a0 Many studies have also shown a direct correlation between musical training and academic achievement.\u00a0 Playing an instrument helps to enhance many of the brain\u2019s functions, such as memory and abstract reasoning, which in turn are beneficial to other disciplines including Mathematics, Science and Languages.\u00a0 Albert Einstein is a classic example of this!<\/p>\n

If you were to ask any former SCEGGS students what their fondest memories of school were, many would respond with \u201csinging in the whole school item\u201d or \u201cbeing a member of the band\u201d.\u00a0 Participation in Music Ensembles has helped students from different year groups to meet and work together.\u00a0 Many of the students who played in ensembles together during their time at school have continued their relationship beyond school, despite their age or disciplines in life.\u00a0 Some former students have even made Music their calling in life, with success in both the contemporary and art music scenes.\u00a0 These Alumni members include:<\/p>\n