Magdalene Catholic College Narellan eNewsletter

From the Music Department

HSC TRIAL MUSIC PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS

Congratulations to all Year 12 Music students who performed at the Trial Music Examinations on Thursday 27 July. Most students presented four pieces during the day along with Composition and Viva Voce electives. The performances represented a wide variety of repertoire and featured bass guitar, vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, cello and drums.

25th Anniversary Showcase - Friday 18 August

Year 12 Music students will perform selections of their HSC Practical repertoire for the Magdalene Community on Friday 18 August at the 25th Anniversary Celebrations. The evening to be held in the College Hall will also feature performances from our younger Music students from Years 7-11.

Cheryl Curtis

Leader of Learning - Performing Arts

West African Music Workshop – Year 8 Students

On Tuesday 25 July all Year 8 students participated in a West African Music Workshop with professional presenters and musicians. Each student was provided with their own djembe and experimented with a variety of dynamics and expressive techniques. The students also learnt and sang a traditional West African song and provided their own accompaniment both in unison and with some improvisation.

Student Feedback:

Helen Al Morani

I appreciated the music workshop since it taught us vital concepts about Africa, its culture, and its essential elements. The djembe was a fascinating instrument since it showed my peers and I how to interact with various pieces or play freely. The programme gave us a better understanding of African culture and taught us how to do various things. It became so important to us because it has been a vital component of West African spiritual and ritualistic life for many generations.

Isaac Athanassiou

I enjoyed the workshop yesterday as it gave me an insight of cultural instruments used in parts of Africa.

Cooper Clare

I enjoyed the African Music Workshop workshop very much, it was very interactive and enjoyable to play the Djembe and learn the culture from which it had originated. It was a memorable experience and helped me understand the importance of African Music to society.

Sienna Harley

I really enjoyed the African workshop! Both instructors were extremely engaging, cooperative and talented. I learnt not only how to play the Djembe drum, but the different parts of the drum and the African culture. I love how they incorporated us (the audience) into their teaching - getting us to sing and play!