Year 10 Visual Arts “Street Art” Workshop

Year 10 Visual Arts students were treated to a Street Art workshop hosted by Youth Development Officer, Cam Wall, from Northern Beaches Council. The boys practiced skills using spray cans while learning about the laws and protocols involved in this art form.

As part of our workshop, artist Jeremy Lightfoot designed and painted a mini mural outside our new art studios with the assistance of Year 10 students. The mask-wearing koala in a grim, bush fire ravaged background is a representation of 2020.

Year 8 Extension Art

Our Year 8 Extension Art class has been investigating ‘selfies’. They have used a range of forms, material and techniques including photography, Photoshop, paint and ceramics.

Congratulations Jimmy Brown – Year 10

Jimmy Brown, Year 10 Photographic & Digital Media student, has been putting his photographic skills to good use, entering the Australian Mountain Bike magazine photography awards. Jimmy has made the shortlist of top twelve photographs in the Youth Photography category with his wonderfully dynamic image of two mountain bikers mid-air. We wish him luck as the vote is decided for the winners.

Robyn Larbalestier

Faculty Co-ordinator - Visual Arts

Curricular Music

Year 12 Music Showcase video recording

If you missed the Youtube premier of Year 12 Music Showcase performances you can catch them at your leisure, simply click the links below. Year 12 Music Showcase provides students with the opportunity to perform excerpts from their HSC works in the formal concert setting.

Domini Edgell (12 Music 2) – https://youtu.be/miVYZnn5rQo

Benjamin Weiley (12 Music 1) – https://youtu.be/mEe3NoVCDcY

Year 12 Music HSC Composition Submissions

Composition is arguably the most creative element of the musical art form and is therefore a vital ingredient of Music courses. In the HSC Music 2 course students are required to compose a piece, and in Music 1 students have the option to do so. As part of our departmental improvement initiatives, Year 12 Music students participated in a formalised composition recording process. This essentially fell into two parts, the first being a composer/performer workshop where professional musicians worked with students to refine their final composition drafts. Students then spent the mid-year holiday improving and polishing works and reconvened early in Term 3 to particpate in the final recording session. This process has been an outstanding success and students have learnt so much through the experience and it was excellent to see our boys working together with industry professionals to produce highly accomplished works. Please take a moment to listen to this year’s HSC compositions:

Dominic Edgell (12 Music 2) – https://youtu.be/w3zQ-QV_lbQ

Benjamin Weiley (12 Music 1) – https://youtu.be/XXFqNnFumec

Year 8 Music Extension 2020 – Concert

Joseph Montz significantly revised the Year 8 Music Extension curriculum this year with a view to make the course more engaging and relevant to the students. In Term 1 students were given a basic introduction to how to play the different instruments of a rhythm section (Keyboard, Guitar, Bass guitar, and Drum Kit) and then learnt how to play music from a given chord chart (comping). With those skills under their belts, students learnt the basics of song writing and eventually went on to compose their own songs. The boys performed each others works and also recorded them using Garageband software. Furthering skills learnt through the course, students rehearsed a broad range of songs and it was great to see them learn to play all instrumental parts for every song. Next Monday, the class will hold a small concert for family and friends. It has been impressive to see the boys showing up early each morning over the past three weeks to rehearse and prepare for the presentation. The concert will feature the boys performing 15 songs (5 of them are originals) with them jumping between all the instruments. In Term 4 students will learn about running a recording session; learning about the setup, the equipment, the software, and techniques of running and performing in a recording session. 

Well done Mr Montz and Year 8 Music Extension.

Year 8 Music Extension 2021

Limited places (12 maximum) are available for suitable students to enrol in the Music Extension Class 2021. This presents as an enrichment opportunity in Music and an alternative to Languages. The course aims to extend students' knowledge, understanding and skills in performance, composition and musicianship beyond their mandatory Music studies. Students will work closely with the teacher in a collaborative, student-centred environment to accelerate their performance skills on their chosen instrument/voice and to realise their creative potential and grasp of theoretical concepts. At the completion of the Music Extension course, students will be thoroughly prepared for ongoing Elective Music studies. Students wishing to participate in the Music Extension class are required to do an audition on their principal instrument/voice, undertake private music tuition on an instrument or in voice and to participate in the College Co-curricular Music Program. It is expected that Music Extension Class students will also study Elective Music in Year 9, 2022.

Students will be selected to participate in this class based on an audition performance and their suitability to work creatively and collaboratively. Additionally, their Year 7 Music results will be taken into consideration. For more information, please contact Alan Caulfield caulfield.a@saintaug.nsw.edu.au

Year 8 Music Movie and Gaming Music Composition Project

The College is indeed fortunate to have Patrik Jarlestam, a professional composer, as a member of the Music Faculty. Patrik composes in a broad range of styles and genres, and specialises in movie and gaming composition. To enhance the boys knowledge, understanding and skills in the area of movie and gaming music, Year 8 Music recently participated in a lecture demonstration by Patrik. The presentation covered the elements of movie composition, the importance of mood and atmosphere in composition and an explanation of contemporary digital composition tools. Patrik’s presentation was an excellent springboard for students into their movie and gaming performance assessment.

Year 7 Music Performance Assessment

Semester Two Year 7 Music students have just completed their guitar performance assessment and the overall results have been excellent. Guitar and keyboard are the focus instruments of the Year 7 Music curriculum. For many students this was the first opportunity that they have had to play a musical instrument and the level of interest has been outstanding. For students wishing to take things to the next level, they are strongly encouraged to take on private music tuition (details below) on guitar or another instrument.

Value of instrumental music and Private Music Tuition Program

There are many benefits of playing a musical instrument in human development. Music is an integral part of human life and is a fundamental part of a culture and identity, a creative pursuit which is often performed in a collaborative or ensemble situation. There have been many studies conducted that link music and increased intelligence in students, but this is not the only benefit. In schools, learning an instrument is a discipline in which students simultaneously develop academic capacity, physical ability and social skills.

All students are encouraged to take up learning an instrument. Private tuition in most instruments and voice is available at the College. Further information and the enrolment form are available online at - https://atlas.saintaug.nsw.edu.au/Sport-Co-Curricular/Sport-and-Co-curricular-Forms/music-tuition. If you have any questions regarding the Private Music Tuition Program, please contact Alan Caulfield caulfield.a@saintaug.nsw.edu.au or Lynne Papahatzis lpapahatzis@saintaug.nsw.edu.au.

Alan Caulfield
Faculty Coordinator Music