Drama
Drama plays an important role in the development of students, specifically by improving confidence and encouraging creative expression and exploration.
From Kindergarten to Year 8, there is the opportunity to develop performance skills through class run assemblies and involvement in the whole School Musical every second year.
In the Senior School, Drama is offered as an elective in Years 9 and 10. At this level, the focus is on the development of performance skills through a range of different styles. This class also assists in the School Musical through set and costumes design, marketing and as part of the backstage team.
Drama is also offered in a senior capacity for Years 11 and 12. Conceptual understanding and critical thinking is developed through analysing the purpose and style of many forms of theatre. This allows for a broad understanding of the nature of theatre.
There are also opportunities to enjoy live performance, as we often visit Canberra Theatre and Sydney Capitol theatre for professional productions such as Bell Shakespeare and enjoy Poetry in Action, Circus Warehouse and others in workshops at the College.
Music
We are created in the image of an incredibly creative, beautiful and powerful God. Through comprehensive music education we seek to inspire, motivate and foster within each child a deep love of music and of their Creator.
All students in Years K-8 take part in classroom Music lessons where they explore and develop understanding of the basic elements of music through creating, making and presenting. Classroom Music heavily emphasises practical work, ensemble composition and performance.
Each year has a particular musical focus. Year 2 students learn how to play the recorder. In Year 3, students participate in the String Starters program where every student receives small group lessons with professional string tutors and take home a violin, viola or cello for one semester. Students then have the option of continuing with their string instrument in Year 4 with private one-on-one or group lessons.
In Year 5 all students engage in the NOVA Band program where they receive small group lessons with a professional music tutor on a concert band instrument. As part of this Band program all students receive an instrument on loan for the whole year. Students are then encouraged to continue playing this instrument in Year 6. This is made more accessible for parents with our Instruments for Rent program where parents can rent an instrument for their child for a small annual fee.
Year 6 students have Choir as a focus and Year 7 students learn to play the guitar. (Check this with Mark. I'm not sure about these classes). Music is offered as an elective for Years 9 and 10 and is available as an A or T course in Years 11 and 12. Here students gain a much deeper level of understanding of the elements of music, compositional and performance technique, and historical and cultural contexts of music.
Co-Curricular Music
Co-Curricular Music activities are available to all students at the College to further develop skills in performance and musicianship. With many performance opportunities throughout the year such as the Fete, Floriade and the Australian National Eisteddfod, students are regularly serving the local community with musical performances.
The College currently offers the following Co-Curricular Music activities:
- Junior School Choir
- Middle and Senior School Choir
- Middle School Worship Group
- Senior School Worship Group
- String Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra
- Junior Concert Band
- Intermediate Concert Band
- Senior Concert Band
- Flute Ensemble
- ROCK Band ensemble
Peripatetic Music Programs
At the College we have a number of peripatetic music tutors who offer private lessons on a wide range of instruments. We currently have experienced tutors who can provide tuition for voice, piano, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, violin, viola, cello, trumpet and low brass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe and percussion. Lessons are a private arrangement between the parent and tutor and lessons are scheduled during school time on a rotating timetable.
