This term is always a term of performances.

Groups of Year 4 boys performed for the Pre-Kindy Music Classes for 5 weeks – getting to know their buddy class for next year. The little boys really enjoyed having them as part of the classes and the Year 4 boys had fun meeting them as well.

All the String Players in the school who are part of the Instrumental Program in Years 2 and 3 as well as those in the School String Ensemble performed one Friday afternoon. It was a great concert which showed the progression through the String Program. Congratulations to all those who took part.

The Celebration of Carols (Christmas Concert) was a huge success. I was very impressed that the boys learnt the 11 Christmas Carols and encouraged the adults to sing. I heard and saw lots of the parent community singing. As I said on the night, some of these carols that the boys learnt have been part of Christmas for over 500 years. They need to be sung by this young generation to keep them alive and part of Christmas’ in the future. Thank you for all your support.

The Wind and Brass Band Concert was another success. All the boys in the school who learn, or are part of a Band took part. The Year 5 band performed for the last time as a group. It is a big group of 48 boys. Some have been learning as little as 3 months. I was very impressed with ho

w the pieces came together. The School Band is preparing to perform at Prize Giving and this was a good opportunity to play through those pieces. The Year 6 brass Ensemble was fantastic. Mr Mann mentioned that he would like to keep it going as a group next year when the boys go to Stanmore!!

The Year 4 performed for the second time this year as an ensemble. They played a couple of pieces that were challenging but they rose to the occasion. Thank you for all your support in helping the boys prepare for these events. I know that at this time of the year it is hard to find the time to do everything.

There is more and more research being done and the results shared about how learning a musical instrument helps brain development.

Here is a link to a TED talk about this. I have played this for the boys and I have had it up on Spaces – Music, How playing an instrument benefits your brain by Anita Collins.

There are a number of other articles about these benefits of learning an instrument.

Vanessa South – Music Mistress