Western Australia – Perth Schools - Octagon Theatre Performance
Due to the great success of performances in other States, and the need for Perth schools to access high quality performance experiences, a combined schools concert was facilitated in November 2009. Teaching Artists spent a proportion of their workshop programs preparing an item for students to perform at the concert. A professional act, Tetrafide Percussion, was also booked for the day.
The Octagon Theatre at the University of Western Australia, provided at a discount for The Song Room to use for the event, is a world class venue and perfect for The Song Room’s needs as all students could see the performance items and the stage was easily accessible.
Teaching Artists
Esther Yap is a trained music teacher. As a performer, she has strong skills in singing and piano. Esther works with a number of children from local church groups – helping them to prepare various musical items. Esther rehearsed an item for the students at St Gerard’s Primary School. Students from the year 5 class performed two choreographed, vocal pieces.
Fleur Hockey is a mask making and drama specialist. Fleur made masks with the students at Two Rocks Primary School and helped them prepare for the concert. Fleur also visited Southwell PS on three separate occasions, to help the year 5/6/7 class, perform with their hand made masks. Previously, Emily Taylor, another Song Room Teaching Artist, had spent a number of weeks making the masks with the Southwell students.
Analisa Bell is a talented musical theatre practitioner. Analisa wrote a whole school musical for the students at Majella Catholic Primary School. The music specialist from Majella chose the students from years 4 and 5 to perform their pieces on stage.
Skye Marshall is a music specialist teacher, who specializes in working with student choirs and school concert bands. Skye worked with an Education Assistant from Tuart Hill PS to prepare three songs for students who were interested in performing. As a result of this mentoring, 68 children from years 3-7 sang a variety of pieces.
Martin Phillips has many years of experience working in drumming circles and with African Dance. Martin worked with students from the Intensive English Centre at Koondoola PS. They played an African Drumming item, and selected students performed dances from their individual cultures. Students finished by singing I Am Australian, with verses sung in their traditional languages.
Schools
Schools participating in A Song Room Celebration in 2009 were mainly from north of Perth: Koondoola IEC, Majella Catholic PS, Two Rocks PS, Tuart Hill PS, St Gerard’s PS and one school from south of the river – Southwell PS.
There was a wonderful variety of performances for the audience to enjoy:
Tuart Hill PS – Choir, Year 3-7.
Southwell PS – Hand Made Masks and March, Year 5-7.
Majella CPS – Musical, Year 4 & 5.
St Gerard’s PS – Vocal Item, Year 5.
Two Rocks PS – Hand Made Masks and March, PP-Year 7.
Koondoola PS – African Drumming/Dancing/Singing Item, Year 2-7.
Program Aim
The aim of the Song Room Celebration program was to create an opportunity for students from participating schools to perform for their peers in a professional venue, and to allow students to observe and experience a professional performance.
The Perth concert also had a mentoring and capacity building focus, to develop the skills and confidence of teachers to run a performance program on their own. Skye Marshall, Fleur Hockey, Esther Yap, Analisa Bell and Martin Phillips travelled to each of the participating schools, to work closely with the teachers and students and to assist them in their preparation for the performance. The Teaching Artists provided the teachers with support and suggestions with regards to performance ideas and song choices. Teachers were in charge of rehearsing their performance groups during the week and this has given them the confidence to prepare their own performance pieces in the future.
Response from school and communityThe response from teachers, students and parents has been very positive. Over 300 students, school staff, parents and family members attended the event. The family members were all very proud of their children, and were excited to see them perform so well. Teachers have reported that the students benefited greatly from performing in a beautiful theatre space, for other schools, an opportunity which doesn’t come up too often for them.
After the main program, participants were also treated to a performance by Tetrafide – a four piece percussion group. This group proved so popular that one school has already asked for their details so they can book them to play for the whole school.
“Thank you for the experience yesterday. The children thoroughly enjoyed performing on the stage and loved the afternoon performance.”
Cia Stavrianos, Music Specialist, Majella Catholic Primary School.
“On behalf of the staff and students at Two Rocks I would like to thank you for the wonderful experience which all of our students, both participants and audience, thoroughly enjoyed. Our students have never had this opportunity before and they have really relished the experience. I would like to express my appreciation of Fleur and her wonderful program as well, she has been a truly excellent teacher, the students all love her and her feedback has proved invaluable. Thank you for providing this opportunity for our students, should such an opportunity present itself in the future please include Two Rocks P.S.”
Elizabeth Wildish, Principal, Two Rocks Primary School.
“Thanks for a wonderful day out for our staff, parents and children. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks again to you and the Song Room for supporting our school.”
Michelle Drieberg, Music Specialist, Koondoola Intensive English Centre.
“The kids and staff from St Gerard’s were very pleased with the event. Thanks for allowing St Gerard’s to participate.”
Mark Miloro, Principal, St Gerard’s Primary School.
“Thanks for the day, it was great. I had a tear in the eye when they sang I am Australian.”
Diane Mount-Bryson, Education Assistant, Tuart Hill Primary School.
The students from Tuart Hill Primary School choir give a rousing song for their peers in the Octagon Theatre
Koondoola Primary School give a song and dance performance to the delight of the audience.
|
