The Song Room Web Site

Two Rocks Primary School is located in a small coastal community, located 70km north of Perth.  Children do not receive any creative arts (other than visual arts) or sports programs. The population is rapidly expanding – with the school adding two classes every year. The Song Room program was designed in consultation with the school with the aim of using drama as a means of building student confidence, team work and addressing social challenges in the classroom as well as building teacher skills to incorporate the arts into their teaching.

The Song Room Teaching Artist placed in the school, Fleur Hockey, has a Bachelor of Arts (Contemporary Performance), graduating with honours and has experience in drama, mask-work, choreography and teaching physical movement to people of all ages, especially youth. Fleur visited Two Rocks PS for two terms during 2009, facilitating Drama and Mask Making programs.

Workshop Aim
The aims of programs were:
•    to increase student’s confidence;
•    to increase student’s ability to work effectively in a team;
•    to model practical drama activities for classroom teachers; and
•    to mentor a future arts specialist in the school and use the demonstrated practical examples of drama  and art to help address social issues in a classroom scenario.

Over the semester the Teaching Artist was able to work with the entire student population. Term 3 focused on introducing the students to different elements of Drama and developing these skills, whilst Term 4 consisted of working with students in mask-making and acting.  The Teaching Artist worked with a core group of 20 students to prepare for a Song Room performance at the Octagon Theatre.

Capacity Building

The Song Room has creative supplied arts resources in the fields of drama, music, visual arts, dance and media and, on the request of the teaching staff at Two Rocks, has purchased a ‘Prop Box’ full of items that staff can use in their drama classes.

The teachers at Two Rocks PS have noticed marked changes in the students as the program progressed.

Response from Students, School & Community

The teachers at Two Rocks PS have noticed marked changes in the students as the program progressed.

“One student that stands out in my mind is Regan, a year five student who has aspirations for being an actor. His opportunities for taking drama classes in Two Rocks are limited as it is an isolated area, over an hours drive to Perth. He has blossomed in the day classes and after school classes. His mother has made special mention to me how much he enjoys the creativity and extension he receives in the classes and how it is giving him confidence to improve his skills and achieve his dream of pursuing drama as a career.”  

 Fleur Hockey, Teaching Artist

The children from Two Rocks Primary School march to their own tune, masks and all.