Secondary Music
Music Mentor Program 2024
The Music Mentor Program for 2024 was launched on 5 March. The program aims to develop exceptional high school musicians and aspiring primary school musicians. Each high school musician is paired up with a primary school musician who is learning the same instrument, and they mentor them throughout the year by forming a band together and participating in other musical and social activities. The culmination of the program is an end of year concert where Mentors and Mentees perform duets together, and as a “Mentor Band”, for family and friends. The Music Mentors will also receive professional coaching from Clarus Consultancy throughout the year, so they have the opportunity to grow in their mentoring role.
On 5 March, the Mentors and Mentees met each other for the first time. The Mentors gave their Mentees a gift bag and a letter of encouragement to inspire them on their musical journey. Then they spent time getting to know each other over morning tea and writing a musical composition together.
It has been so encouraging to observe the Music Mentors discover how well they can lead as musicians and the positive effect that this has had already on their Mentee’s musical confidence! I look forward to watching them all continue to grow musically and personally, and I hope the connections formed here will continue well beyond the program.
Mrs Nina Shinkfield
Music Mentor Co-ordinator
WASO Excursion
On Wednesday 20 March the Year 11 and 12 ATAR Music students were treated to a live concert presented by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jen Winley and presented by Ashley Smith.
This NextGen concert aimed to boost the confidence of students in their music studies by delving into the content of the new ATAR syllabus. The program included a discussion on the ATAR set works, outlining key techniques used by the composers and detailed analysis of the works. Students were inspired by the professional musicians playing as well as their answers to questions presented to them.
The works performed included:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.5, 1st movement
Joseph Hayden: Trumpet Concerto, 3rd movement
Amy Beach: Gaelic Symphony, 1st movement
John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
The concert and presentation sparked a healthy debate between our students on correct historic performance etiquette and the conversation rages on!
Tammy van der Nest
Director of Music PK-12