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Music Programs
From the ELC clean-up song, to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in Kindergarten, to our burgeoning band program, to HSC major works, music is an important part of the day-to-day life of the College. Students of all ages are able to express their creativity and serve the College and wider community with their God given talents through the multitude of performance opportunities provided throughout the year.
The College has well-developed Music and Drama programs that support the annual production of its stage musical. The most recent Primary Years productions were Mary Poppins Jr (2019) and The Lion King Jr (2017). The most recent Secondary Years productions were Legally Blonde Jr (2020) and High School Musical (2018). These were spectacular shows for audiences and a wonderful experience for students involved at all levels.
The College’s Primary Music Program aims to grow students’ musical appreciation, literacy and performance expertise.
Infants
Throughout these early years students enjoy fun and practical lessons that develop their knowledge and understanding of the musical concepts of beat, rhythm, tempo, and structure. Students are also introduced to pitch, exploring the notes on the treble clef. Students sing, listen to music, responding through movement, create their own compositions and arrangements, and perform using tuned and untuned percussion instruments. Students in Years 2 will also be introduced to music technology through the composition of a class song, which will be arranged and electronically recorded using Garageband, as well as through individual compositions.
Years 3 & 4
The Years 3 & 4 Strings program is designed to not only teach students to play the violin, but also provide the skills necessary to actively engage in listening, performing, and creating music. Years 3 & 4 students are issued a College violin to take home, participate in weekly violin tuition and perform as an ensemble. They also continue to enjoy singing, listening, composition and movement activities.
Years 5 & 6
Students in Years 5 & 6 will participate in a music program designed to consolidate all the learning in previous years and continue to develop skills in performance, composition and listening. Students will develop basic guitar, keyboard, and vocal skills.
The Primary Years program will be supplemented by optional concert band, choral, and string orchestra programs.
The Years 7 & 8 Compulsory Music program covers several topics throughout the two-year course, giving Year 7 & 8 students a taste of the options available for study in Stage 5 Elective Music. The course builds on the skills learned in the Primary Years and encourages students to perform regularly in groups and as individuals. Students learn the foundations of Music using keyboard and are taught to read from the treble and bass clefs. Students then study rock music, film music, and have the option to vary their experiences by performing on acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar and drums. Many students elect to perform on an instrument of their own choosing and are encouraged to participate in the College’s private instrumental tuition program to refine their musical skills.
In Years 9 - 12, the elective Music course provides Secondary students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of music theory and their skills.
Secondary students have the option of joining a variety of performance groups and performing either solo or in groups at the quarterly ‘Live@Norwest,’ a creative arts festival held at the end of each term.
The College offers a range of optional musical groups for students to enable them to develop their musical talents and abilities. For Primary Years students these include infants and primary vocal ensemble, Girls Choir, Development and Intermediate Concert Bands, and the string ensemble. In the Secondary Years groups include vocal ensembles, Concert Bands, String Ensemble, and Chapel Bands. These groups perform at various College and community events throughout the year and students who join these groups will be expected to commit for this time.
If you are interested in Private Instrumental Tuition, please see information on the College's Seed Academy page.
Any questions regarding the Primary Compulsory Music program should be directed to the classroom teacher. For additional information on any of the co-curricular groups or other programs, such as rehearsal times or costs please email music@nwcc.nsw.edu.au