Year 8 Music

In Year 8 Music this term students stepped back in time and explored the history of rock and pop music from its origins in the 1950s to the 2000s. They learnt about what was happening in the world and how this affected the music of the era in terms of the development of stylistic music elements.

Music in the 1960s

From controversial elections and war to the origins of the greatest rock band of all time, the 1960s’ impact on music changed the essence of sound, producing tear-jerking, raging expressions of anguish and urge for peace in the name of music.  

During our task we discovered the culture behind 1960’s music and gained insight into the era’s political context; from the first-ever televised presidential debate in 1960, to the moon landing: “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” in 1969.

The 1960s saw humanity’s anger, with protests for people’s rights. With this, the era lost some of the most influential leaders in history, such as John F Kennedy (November 22, 1963) and Martin Luther King (April 4, 1968). We were also exposed to the rawness of The Vietnam War which killed thousands and affected millions of people worldwide. What was happening in the world was reflected in the music with protest songs and reflective ballads.

We couldn’t research the 1960s without learning about the fabulous fashion. The fashion in the 1960s was stylish and trendy touch, with the youth of the day turning to a more laid-back hippie style. They chose brightly coloured clothing and wore unusual combinations, such as vests and peasant blouses. Women were inspired by the top models and wore geometric dresses, mini-skirts, stiletto heels, boots and boxy jackets. Men preferred slim-fitting, single-breasted, continental-style suits and skinny ties. 

Overall, we were fascinated by the power and impact of the 1960s, the decade of voice and change. We were captivated to learn about the era in depth, as well as analyse the music that made the 1960s what it was.

Rhiannan Marie-Jeanne and Daria Syrotyuk
Year 8

Year 9 Music

The Year 9 Music class has been participating in a ‘Song Writing’ unit, where students were taught the process of composing an opening riff, chord progression, lyrics and melody.

Students enjoyed the opportunity to write about a topic of their choice, either as soloists or as a part of a small group, then record and submit their song.

Throughout the process students kept a journal of the process which included records of their ideas and the development of the final product.

Two students accepted the opportunity to perform their original works at our Year 9 Celebration of Achievement Evening, and both were a great success.

I hope that the students continue to explore their creativity in this way, into the future.

Kara-Lee Rabbetts
Teacher

Senior Performing Arts

This term, VCE Performing Arts students of Dance, Theatre Studies and Music worked diligently to refine their solos for the externally assessed examinations. 

VCE Unit 2 Drama students also performed their devised solos based on the theme, ‘Australian Identity’.

The solos are the culmination of hours of research, planning and rehearsal over many weeks.

It was wonderful to have performance evenings, once again for family and friends, to give our senior students an opportunity to share and celebrate their creative achievements before their final assessments.

We wish all our senior students the very best for the future in their Performing Arts journey.

Keryn Holden
Learning Leader: Performing Arts