Media and News
Harp joins budding Year 3 String Musicians
Release Date: 17-Feb-2011 | Go Back
The expanding Junior Instrumental Program at Roseville College will this year include a harpist among its Year 3 String Instrument musicians.
Roseville College Year 3 student, Mari Watkins, loves playing her harp and now, as she and her peers start the Year 3 String Program, she is looking forward to being the first harpist among a class of violins, violas and cellos.
Head of Music at Roseville College, Mrs Noni Katada, says the Junior Instrumental Program began three years ago to give young girls in Year 3 an opportunity to “try-out” a string instrument for a full year in a fun learning environment. The program takes place within the regular music curriculum with specialist teachers. Girls with previous experience playing a string instrument extend their skills as members of an Advanced String Group, of which Mari is now part.
“Girls enjoy the social aspect of learning and playing music together, whilst seeing whether they like a particular instrument,” explains Mrs Katada. “The program continues into Year 4 and girls can choose to continue playing string instruments or can try their hand at a wind instrument; this year, the choice includes the clarinet, trumpet, cornet, euphonium and baritone.”
The success of the program is best measured by the reactions of students like Mari and violinists Gabriella Chippeck and Arabella Shearman, also in the Year 3 Advanced String Group, who look forward to their music classes and are excited about performing for their parents and teachers.
“It’s fun to see each other’s instruments and we really like going to music classes,” they enthuse. “The harp sounds so pretty.”
Roseville College’s music programs continue to Year 12. In the 2011 HSC, students ranked 3rd and 4th in NSW for Music 2, and 3rd in NSW for Music Extension. Three students were nominated for ENCORE (Music 2 - Compositions) and one for ENCORE (Music 2/ Music Extension - Performance).
Since 2008, music programs at the School have enjoyed facilities in the state-of-the-art Joy Yeo Performing Arts Centre, a stunning performance and learning space. The Centre includes a 356-seat auditorium with grand piano and full stage production facilities, a specialist Music and Recording Studio, and multi-purpose rooms with sound proofing music tuition/practice.
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Photograph: Harpist Mari Watkins with violinists Arabella Shearman and Gabriella Chippeck of the Year 3 Advanced String Group.
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