http://www.victorianopera.com.au/www/html/589-teacher-training-program.asp?intSiteID=1#anchor591

10% off PD course fee if booked this term (term 1, 2011)

The next exciting event in the aMuse 2013 PL calendar is a full-day “The Singing Classroom” workshop.

A PL designed to encourage primary teachers to sing more regularly with their classes. The workshops aim to build teacher confidence, provide a range of resources and to model skills in teaching songs.

If you’re interested, please come along.

If you know someone who would be interested, please pass this info on.

http://www.amuse.vic.edu.au/PL2013/singingclassroom2013_allday.htm

Monday, March 18

10.00am – 3.00pm

Statewide Resource Centre

150 Palmerston Street, Carlton

$100 per person

$40 for tertiary students

Lunch and morning tea provided

www.victorianopera.com.au

There are still places available for our Victorian Opera Teacher Training Program for 2011. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with professional creative and performing artists who work regularly with our company. After an over-subscribed course in 2010 Anna Connolly returns to lead courses in vocal pedagogy, and Jan Goodall will work with primary choral directors in a newly created course for 2011.

Please also take note of our new Masterclass Series running each term. Specialists include Merlyn Quaife (appearing in our production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute) and Jan Gooda

Amuse presents three a cappella workshops

featuring Amelia Alder and Chris Blain of Vocal Australia

WORKSHOP 1: GETTING STARTED

Date: Wednesday 27 June

Includes introduction to a cappella styles and introduction to beat-boxing / vocal percussion.

INTRODUCTION TO A CAPPELLA

We will delve into the history of unaccompanied singing, whilst exploring its current incarnations in an interactive session. We will cover many styles of vocal harmony, using demonstration pieces to feel first hand what the differences are. We will also examine uses of a cappella music in current popular media – a great avenue through which to get your students and/or choristers enthused about singing.

INTRODUCTION TO BEAT-BOXING / VOCAL PERCUSSION

One of the most striking differences between the a cappella of yester-year and today’s exciting offerings is the use of vocal and body percussion. We will examine the basics of how to create sounds and construct rhythmic patterns with just the voice. We will look at the production of basic drum kit sounds, learn some modes of notation, and examine some great teaching methods through creative group activities.

You should attend this workshop if:

You have or would like a strong choral music program at your school or in your community

You would like to get more boys involved in singing programs at your school or in your community

You would like some tips on how to engage students and singers with vocal harmony

You enjoy singing vocal harmony and would like to know more

If you’re not sure whether this session is right for you, please email info@vocalaustralia.com

WORKSHOP 2: ARRANGING FOR A CAPPELLA

Date: Thursday August 2

An exploration of some proven methods for arranging contemporary a cappella in four – eight parts as well as an interactive workshop devise new original arrangements.

ARRANGING METHODS

Explore some proven methods for arranging contemporary a cappella in four – eight parts. We will explore the whole process from conception to completion with an interactive example piece through a step by step process. Explore handy tips on software use, resource collection, support avenues and more.

VOCAL MIXUP

Vocal MIXUP is an interactive workshop to put our new arranging methods to good use. Participants will work in groups to devise original arrangements of well-known a cappella songs using the skills they have learned in the arranging session. No prior experience or scoring or notation required.

You should attend this workshop if:

You enjoy singing vocal harmony and would like to know more

You would like to be able to arrange music that appeals your class, group or choir

You have a basic knowledge of music theory

You would like to speed up and refine your arranging process

You would like assistance in teaching your year 12 music students

If you’re not sure whether this session is right for you, please email info@vocalaustralia.com

WORKSHOP 3: SONGWRITING

Date: Wednesday 14 November

A complete  package that explores the process of writing, arranging, scoring and performing original a cappella music from start to end. Participants will work in groups to explore, devise and create original songs which will be arranged into 4-8 part harmony and performed for exploratory purposes. We will explore solid processes for everything from brain-storming themes to texturing vocal backing parts.

You should attend this workshop if:

You enjoy singing a cappella music and would like to write your own

You have tried to write songs in the past but have got “stuck” along the way

You have a basic knowledge of music theory

You would like support and tips on writing original music

If you’re not sure whether this session is right for you, please email info@vocalaustralia.com

COST (per workshop)

$130.00 (members)

$190.00 (non-members)

TIME

9.30am – 3.30pm

VENUE

Statewide Resources Centre

150 Palmerston Street, Carlton

Melway reference — Map 2B:H6

Booking essential

Lunch is provided

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM <http://amuse.vic.edu.au/PL2012/acappella2012.pdf>

About Vocal Australia

Vocal Australia aims to develop, grow, support and nurture the a cappella singing scene in Australia, through the production and provision of education, events and resources. Vocal Australia sees an improved and developed Australian culture and community, which embraces expression and creativity through group harmony singing.

Vocal Australia’s Key Goals:

• To develop and promote the      vocal music scene in Australia;
• To connect groups and      singers, fostering collaboration and competition;
• To support new and      established a cappella groups with musical, planning, business, touring      and performing assistance;
• To grow the Australian a      cappella scene through education programmes in schools, universities and      communities; and
• To promote the best of      Australia vocal music internationally.

Biographies of the directors, Amelia Alder and Chris Blain, plus further information about Australian a cappella can be found at: http://vocalaustralia.com/about-us/

Step 1. Just get your school, music class, choir or even just one person from your group  to choose a piece of classical or jazz music.
Step 2. Send your request to  -   3mbskids@gmail.com
Step 3. We’ll e-mail you back to let you know when we’ll be playing your request.
Step 4. Tune in and listen! Easy as that. You can listen on the radio (in/around Melbourne) and stream the show online (all over the world).

Classically Kids EVERY Saturday from 8am – 9am on 3MBS 103.5 FM, with Jacqui and Adam

www.3mbs.org.au

www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/freeing-the-song-an-approach-to-directing-vocal-groups

This book ”Freeing the Song” is about running a vocal group. It’s full of useful ideas and advice. No sheet music included, just a few musical examples to illustrate points he makes.

For sheet music, consider Tony's other 2 books:

A cappella : rehearsing for heaven, an a cappella choral workbook / Tony Backhouse

http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/a-cappella-rehearsing-for-heaven-an-a-cappella-choral-workbook

&

Move on up : an a cappella gospel songbook for choirs and quartets / transcribed and
arranged by Tony Backhouse

http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/move-on-up-an-a-cappella-gospel-songbook-for-choirs-and-quartets

aMuse presents two more a cappella workshops

featuring Amelia Alder and Chris Blain of Vocal Australia

ARRANGING FOR A CAPPELLA

Date: Thursday August 2

An exploration of some proven methods for arranging contemporary a cappella in four – eight parts as well as an interactive workshop devise new original arrangements.

ARRANGING METHODS

Explore some proven methods for arranging contemporary a cappella in four – eight parts. We will explore the whole process from conception to completion with an interactive example piece through a step by step process. Explore handy tips on software use, resource collection, support avenues and more.

VOCAL MIXUP

Vocal MIXUP is an interactive workshop to put our new arranging methods to good use. Participants will work in groups to devise original arrangements of well-known a cappella songs using the skills they have learned in the arranging session. No prior experience or scoring or notation required.

You should attend this workshop if:

You enjoy singing vocal harmony and would like to know more

You would like to be able to arrange music that appeals your class, group or choir

You have a basic knowledge of music theory

You would like to speed up and refine your arranging process

You would like assistance in teaching your year 12 music students

If you’re not sure whether this session is right for you, please email info@vocalaustralia.com

SONGWRITING

Date: Wednesday 14 November

A complete  package that explores the process of writing, arranging, scoring and performing original a cappella music from start to end. Participants will work in groups to explore, devise and create original songs which will be arranged into 4-8 part harmony and performed for exploratory purposes. We will explore solid processes for everything from brain-storming themes to texturing vocal backing parts.

You should attend this workshop if:

You enjoy singing a cappella music and would like to write your own

You have tried to write songs in the past but have got “stuck” along the way

You have a basic knowledge of music theory

You would like support and tips on writing original music

If you’re not sure whether this session is right for you, please email info@vocalaustralia.com

COST (per workshop)

$130.00 (members)

$190.00 (non-members)

TIME

9.30am – 3.30pm

VENUE

Statewide Resources Centre

150 Palmerston Street, Carlton

Melway reference — Map 2B:H6

Booking essential

Lunch is provided

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM <http://amuse.vic.edu.au/PL2012/acappella2012.pdf>

In 2012, a3 – Australian Arts Alive will present four performing arts focused Professional Development workshops for primary classroom and specialist teachers in Melbourne and Sydney.

Visit www.aspagroup.com.au/a3 for more information or to download a registration form.

Start or Revive Your School Choir
Want to make your students sing with glee? Learn simple and effective tricks of the trade to enable you to launch and run a vibrant school choir that students will want to join!

Friday 17 February – 9.30am – 3.30pm

Fun and Easy Dance
So you think you can’t dance? You’ll be amazed at how much fun and how easy these routines are to learn and to teach!

Tuesday 1 May – 4.30 – 6.30pm

Music for Your Classroom
Want to make your curriculum sing? Whatever your skill level, learn how to present music using a fun and integrated approach.

Friday 3 August – 9.30am – 3.30pm

Confident Conducting for Confident Choirs
Need a helping hand? From beat patterns to body language, learn how to take your choir to the next level.

Tuesday 16 October – 4.30 – 6.30pm

Kass Brown

Administrator – PR and Programs

Australian School of Performing Arts

t:  03 9001 1879 or 1800 338 142

e:  kbrown@aspagroup.com.au

w:  www.aspagroup.com.au

From Page to Stage
Professional Development Workshop

Join Sally Gawley as she takes music from the page all the way to the stage in this exciting professional development workshop presented by a3 – australian arts alive.

Content includes:

·         Fun and achievable repertoire ideas including two take home pieces

·         Approaches to teaching

·         Simple choreography

·         Performance polish techniques

Presenter

Sally Gawley began her music career in the jazz department at the Adelaide Conservatorium and is now one of the Australian Girls Choir’s National Music Coordinators. Sally has taught voice to individual singing students at schools in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canada and has led choirs as large as 1200 – both trained and groups of non singers alike. Sally’s forte is bringing songs to life and creating performances on large and small scales.

Details

·         Suitable for: Primary classroom and primary specialist teachers

·         Date: Friday May 24

·         Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm

·         Location: Kew East Uniting Church – Normanby Road, Kew East

·         Cost: $220 – includes morning tea and lunch

·         Accreditation: This workshop is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching

For more information or to download a registration form visit the a3 website or phone 03 9001 1879.

http://www.abc.net.au/learn/sing/

This is a listing of all songs printed in ABC "Sing" books from 1975 to
2006. It contains searchable database and links to the ABC shop.

ACCET Choral Conductor Summer School
Monday 16 – Thursday 19 January 2012 @ Xavier College, Kew VIC

Whether of advanced, intermediate or beginner standard conductors will have hands-on conducting tuition every day. In 4 stimulating days there will be opportunity for participants to increase knowledge of training the voice, of warm-ups, diction and rehearsal techniques, building musicality through body movement, and expressing emotion through singing. There will be repertoire sessions especially for primary/children’s choir; for secondary/youth choir; and for community and church choir. All full attendance participants will get a donated package of some 50 choral pieces.

Australian Choral Conductors Education and Training    www.choralconductors.org.au

ANCA Victoria is pleased to invite you to the State Choral Festival

‘SING IN THE CITY’ on 16 – 18 September 2011. Registration is now

open for this exciting choral event.

SING IN THE CITY is a unique opportunity for the Choral Community to come

together and do what they do best – SING!

Join us as three of Australia’s legendary choral conductors and two of

our country’s most successful singing teachers share their insights and

talents. This Festival has something for every stage of development of the

choral musician: singers from age 10 to 100, choral conductors, singing

teachers, educators, music students and everyone who enjoys the beauty of

voices raised in song!

You can choose to come as an individual or get your choir to come along;

if you’re a conductor, come and sing or observe rehearsals with a chance

to learn about singing issues from leading teachers. Our three streams will

feature Australian music for Primary students, the best of current

repertoire for Secondary Schools and a complete performance of the Mozart

Requiem in the Community Stream. Repertoire is listed in the brochure.

The Professional Development Stream will offer workshops in breathing,

posture for choirs, a Q&A session with our conductors and a chance to

observe them in action.

• Primary Choir Stream

Conductor: Mark O’Leary (Founder and Director of the Young Voices of

Melbourne)

Venue: VCA School of Music

Cost: $300 per choir or $50 per individual

• Secondary Choir Stream

Conductor: George Torbay (Hailed by The Sydney Morning Herald as ‘one of

Australia’s leading musical lights’)

Venue: St John’s Southgate

Cost: $300 per choir or $50 per individual

• Community Choir Stream

Conductor: Margaret Pride (Music Director for Collegium Symphonic Chorus

Perth WA)

Venue: BMW Edge @ Fed Square

Cost: $300 per choir or $75 per individual

• Professional Development Stream

Presenters: Ron Morris (Speech Pathologist, Audiologist and Counter

Tenor), and Anna Connolly (Senior Lecturer in Voice at the Melbourne Conservatorium of

Music)

Venue: To be advised

Cost: $150 per participant (includes BOTH days)

REGISTRATION & MORE INFORMATION

To download a brochure go to

http://anca.org.au/vic-news-view/sing-in-the-city-209

Online registrations can be made via the link http://tinyurl.com/5szumhe

Registration closes 1 August 2011.

ArtsMmad page – after signing in (free) you will have free access to bundles of free Music posters, song sheets and MP3 recordings

www.theaustralianvoices.com/audition

Now auditioning for 17-35 year old singers.

Music for Your Classroom – Professional Development Workshop

a3 – australian arts alive is proud to present ‘Music for Your Classroom’. We are delighted to announce that this full day workshop will be presented by Mark Puddy. Mark has worked in music education for the past 25 years and is a renowned choral clinician, composer and arranger. Mark has over 60 published works, many of which are performed by the Australian Girls Choir as well as school and community choirs nationally and internationally. Mark is also regularly invited to present at Kodaly and Orff Schulwerk workshops.

Content will include:

·         Fun games and activities involving tuned and un-tuned percussion, simple rounds, singing activities and drama

·         Introduction to musical concepts using simple games and activities: dynamics, tone colour, duration, rhythm, metre, pitch and structure

·         Preparing simple and effective assembly performances

·         Great resources – where to find the right music

·         How to teach singing even if you are not a confident singer

·         Engaging kids using contemporary ‘beats’

·         Incorporating tuned and untuned percussion into your classroom performances

·         Integrating music into other Key Learning Areas

Each registered participant will take home a resource booklet with outcomes oriented classroom activities, warm ups, two age-appropriate songs with sheet music and word sheets for use at their school and a CD with learning and backing tracks

Details:

Friday August 3, 2012

9.30am – 3.30pm

Kew East Uniting Church – Normanby Road, Kew East, VIC

For more information or to download a registration form visit www.aspagroup.com.au/a3 or phone 03 9001 1879

Go to resource: Aussie rhyme and song sinaglong with Matthew Perry by Matthew Perry, and published by Jane Curry Publishing, 2005, is a volume of Australian songs for students aged 0 to 5. Read more…

Register your school in Australia’s biggest music program

Our program song has been recorded and is now up on the website for your listening pleasure. There are already 500 schools registered to take part in this year’s program which will unite more than half a million students in the performance of ‘We’ve Got The Music’ on Thursday, 1^st September at 11.30am. Don’t forget participation in the program is FREE. The audio files, arrangements, lyric sheet and classroom activity kit: it’s all downloadable once you register your school.

So listen to the song, register now and get your school community on board!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgvJg7D6Qck Bobby McFerrin vocalises “Ave Maria” accompaniment while the audience sings the melody Use it to inspire male and female singers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTB58ZmnudA&feature=youtube

Go to resource: Catch a Song: a developmental music program by Deanna Hoermann and Doreen Bridges, illustrated by Bruce Treloar, was published by Holmes McDougall Australia-Dominie, Brookvale NSW, 1988. Read more…

Go to resource: The Childrens Music Portal (USA) is a free portal that offers links to resources for children’s music.

Read more…

Ideas for Primary choirs and how to choose music and repertoire.

Sydney Morning Herald Article

http://news.smh.com.au/national/choral-singing-makes-you-happy-survey-20080710-3cyg.html

Choral singing makes you happy: survey

26th November, 2011 @ Canterbury Girls Secondary College

Choral Music reading day – of Australian composers

More information: contact@printmusicworks.com.au

8.30am – 5pm … morning tea & lunch provided … cost $55.00 … booking essential

Presenters = Paul Jarman, Kathryn Sadler, Harley Mead, Mark Puddy

Please help colleagues around Australia (and the globe) by recommending repertoire for school choirs via this online form.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dEprUnptZU45TXA2ak5kZ09rUXlMQUE6MQ

THANKS!

Music: Play for Life

MESSAGE FROM MARK O’LEARY:

Here are the details of my choral workshops for 2013. Let me know if you would like me to send you a registration form.

Melbourne Friday 3rd May 2013

Primary Choirs for Beginners

See Workshops Introduction for workshop description.

10.00am – 3.00pm

Friday 3rd May 2013

DC Bricker Social Room (Princes Park)

Beech Street, Caulfield South

$105.00 per person

This workshop is designed for those working with primary school or primary aged choirs who have little or no experience. If you are full of enthusiasm but are not sure if you are doing it quite right, then this workshop is for you. This is a practical workshop covering areas such as how to get kids singing, how to teach songs effectively, how to make it fun and how to make it sound good.  We will also look at what songs to sing in the first year, how to plan a rehearsal and how to make the choir look good on stage. Lastly we will learn some basic conducting tips so that you will feel more comfortable about waving your arms around in the front of the choir.

Melbourne Thursday 30th May 2013

Just (Choral) Conducting

10.00am – 3.00pm

Thursday 30th May 2013

Caulfield Park Pavillion

Balaclave Road, Caulfield

$105 per person

A full day workshop for those who would like to improve their choral conducting technique and increase their understanding of the conductor’s role in the art of choral music making. Topics covered will include:

• Basic conducting patterns, and ways to practice them

• Starting and stopping

• Cueing

• Indicating dynamics & phrasing

• Score preparation

• Methods of introducing new songs

• Hints on rehearsal technique

• Suitable for those working at primary or secondary level.

Melbourne Friday 31st May 2013

How to Run a (Better) Primary School Choir

10.00am – 3.00pm

Friday 31st May 2013

DC Bricker Social Room (Princes Park)

Beech Street, Caulfield South

$105.00 per person

This is a full day workshop for those working with Primary School choirs or with young choirs in the community. The workshop covers a wide range of areas including :

• Getting started (decisions that need to be made, planning for success)

• Keeping up momentum (administering a good programme, keeping kids motivated)

• Planning rehearsals

• Teaching kids to sing (vocal development)

• Selecting and obtaining appropriate repertoire

• Developing music reading skills

•  What to sing?

• Songs and singing games for beginning choirs

• Songs for established choirs

• Developing part-singing

Best wishes

Mark

Mark O’Leary

Young Voices of Melbourne

ABN 65 175 035 512

www.yvm.com.au

1 Anthony St

Ormond 3204

Australia

phone: +61 3 95785459

fax: + 61 3 95767430

mobile: 0418 327426

Go to resource: ChoralWiki has over 11000 public domain choral scores by over 1550 different composers.

Read more…

THIS YouTube clip shows a group of friends (all Cornish fishermen in the UK) singing the beautiful harmonies they come up with while fishing. Real-life sea-shanties!

Go to resource: Creative Musical Experiences, by Robert Smith, is published by RIC Publishing, WA, 2006. Read more…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLhsmFHa2vM

A 3 minute documentary showing the ‘making of’ Somewhere Over the Rainbow – a track by Sandy Hook students to help keep the memories of loved ones alive. Music therapy in many ways.

TIME: This year’s performance time is Thursday 1^st November, at 12.30pm AEDT (It will be 9.30am in the West).

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

For all teachers who have signed up (free) for MCUI 2012, there is now access to Music Pods – FREE short video segments to help you teach the song  View a sample HERE.

A UK education program which trains primary school students to lead singing games in the playground – with cross-curricular results!

http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/case_studies/Ex_Cathedra_singing_playgrounds.html

Attention Singing Teachers, Choir Conductors and all Choral Enthusiasts,

Arts Centre Melbourne invites you to experience a new way to participate in Choral Singing with our iPad Choir.

Step 1              Register Your Interest

Step 2              We deliver the music to your iPad

Step 3              Practice at home with sheet music that plays back (or don’t practice if it’ll make the event more fun!)

Step 4              Come to the one off event and sing your heart out!

We hope to have a wide cross-section of Melbourne’s Choral Community represented, and it’s a great opportunity to sing in the Riverside Mezzanine performance area of the redeveloped Hamer Hall.

Venue:              Riverside Mezzanine in Hamer Hall

Time:                12.30pm

Dates:              Thursday 14 March

Duration:           1 hour

Cost:                free – but you must register to participate

To register call 9281 8748 or email ipadchoir@artscentremelbourne.com.au

You can visit the event page here.

Please note, this event is for adults and not school children, unless they have particular skill in this area.

I look forward to hearing from you,

www.wikifonia.org/

www.jozzbeat.com/MCUI2011/home

This is a fun way to learn / teach the Music: Count Us In song for 2011 (We’ve Got the Music). In fact, the song will teach itself, all ready for the massed-music-making MCUI event on 1st September, 2011.

If you don’t yet have a free login, and have registered for Music: Count Us In, please send an email to mcui.admin@mca.org.au requesting a Jozzbeat login.

ENJOY!!!

We would like to invite you to host a FREE Music Count Us In/The Singing Classroom workshop at your school during September or October.

Here’s a final reminder of the opportunity to have a workshop in your school.

Bookings are filling fast – we already have more than last year!

Please send an expression of interest asap if you are interested.

The workshops will be 1.5 half hours long, run after school and open to all of your staff as well as other teachers in your area. Each participant will receive a resource booklet packed with useful songs, action songs, games and composition ideas, which includes this year’s MCUI song – and a CD!

This year’s workshops will be delivered by Susie Davies-Splitter and Sue Arney.

Below is a list of dates that we are available to come to your school/venue to run a workshop. All dates are open – we have indicated dates which would be best for us to come to country areas, however everything is negotiable and we are happy to discuss options.

Please let me know asap if you would like to book one of the dates below to host a workshop in your school.

Warm regards,

Sue Arney s.arney@bigpond.com

Project Officer

Association of Music Educators

September

Tuesday 11

Wednesday 12

Thursday 13

Friday 14

Tuesday 18

Wednesday 19 (country)

Thursday 20 (country)

Friday 21

October

Monday 8 (country)

Tuesday, 9

Wednesday 10

Thursday 11

Friday 12

Tuesday 16

Wednesday 17

Thursday 18

Friday 19

Monday 22 (country)

Tuesday 23

Thursday 25

Friday 26

Learn about the history of Contemporary A Cappella and how it has changed and flourished from the days of barbershop right through to the new face of contemporary a cappella that can be heard on shows like GLEE and The Sing Off. Discover how to incorporate the basics of vocal percussion into your repertoire while still focusing on vowels, harmony and blending voices. Be prepared to get vocal and mix things up while learning how to develop strategies to encourage your students’ creative side with this interactive session.

GET VOCAL: Contemporary A Cappella Professional Development Day – Friday 5 August, 2011

South Melbourne Town Hall

…with Special Guest Presenter, Robert Dietz (USA) joining the Vocal Australia team.

Introduction to A Capella, Vocal Percussion, Arranging for A Cappella & Vocal MIXUP

View the PD schedule: http://www.vocalaustralia.com/posters/pd2011_email_flyer.pdf

A really positive (UK) article about getting middle school boys to sing!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/may/05/singing-schools

GONDWANA NATIONAL CHORAL SCHOOL

I am writing to you from Gondwana Choirs – Australia’s national choral organisation under the direction our internationally renowned Artistic Director and Founder, Lyn Williams OAM. Our programs are developed to foster the future of Australian choral music.

NATIONAL CHORAL SCHOOL 2013 is a two-week intensive experience to be held in January 2-13 (Sydney). Young musicians gather from all states and territories to participate in one of our three programs –

·         SING

·         CONDUCT

·         COMPOSE

Our four national choirs include -

·         Gondwana Chorale

·         Gondwana Voices

·         Gondwana Singers

·         Junior Gondwana

Participation in our January National Choral School may allow choristers to perform domestically and internationally throughout the year. We have many exciting development and touring opportunities planned for next year and more information can be found at our website (information below) or in our NCS 2013 material.

Our choristers, composition students and conducting interns always have a fabulous time at national Choral School. It is a unique experience for like-minded young people to develops their professional skills and to enhance and share their musical abilities.

We ask that you take the time to view our Gondwana National Choral School video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXD5887t3vE

Please read the information you receive and distribute it to appropriate candidates. More information can be found at our website www.gondwanachoirs.com.au or on Facebook – Gondwana National Choirs.

Greasy Kid Stuff is a children’s music radio program which has also released albums of music. Read more…

Click HERE for more info.

Message from “Welcome to Music” :

Message from Susie Davies-Splitter:

Hearts in Harmony Community Music (HHCM) day Sunday 6th October, 2013 at MLC (Vic)

With special guest RICHARD GILL OAM

Dear aMuse friends,

We invite you and your students and their families and friends to join our HHCM day on Sunday 6th of October at the Methodist Ladies College, Kew as participants or volunteers (wonderful professional development) or as part of the massed intergenerational choir. Read all the details below and see the general flier attached.

The workshops – Come along and participate in inclusive music making for all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Workshops include ‘Music for Mini’s’ with Heather Monro from Kids Music Company, ‘Folk Dancing from around the world’ with Audrey Fine, ‘Sing your heart out’ with Susie Davies-Splitter and Phil Splitter, ‘Marimbas and wacky instruments’ with Jon Madin and ‘Singing’ with Richard Gill.

‘Time to Sing’ Concert – 2.30-3.45 – Performances include various school and community music groups, GTR-Good Times Roll Band and featuring the ‘Hearts in Harmony’ massed and intergenerational choir, including over 200 choristers made up of local schools, community groups, individuals and families conducted by special guest RICHARD GILL OAM.

‘All In’ Finale – within a part of the workshops, you will learn an easy marimba and dance accompaniment to an in common popular song. Once learnt, you are invited to choose one of these groups, join our ‘All In’ rehearsal and then perform in the ‘All In finale’ at the concert.

HHCM massed and intergenerational choir – Choir Call – Expression of Interest – This unique choir is for all ages and abilities including school choirs, adult community choirs, families and individuals. Four songs are chosen by an expert panel in different styles and languages. The minimum requirement is to learn the melody line of each song and some simple movements and attend the rehearsal at 9.45am on the day of the concert. More advanced choristers are encouraged to purchase the sheet music and learn the harmony parts. Each school and community choir leader/conductor is invited to attend one further rehearsal on Sunday 22^nd Sept.

Volunteers - Would you like some excellent and free professional development? – Volunteers are required from 8am to 5pm and attend all workshops and the concert. Tasks include: Setting up and packing up, registration, setting up equipment and instruments, meeting and greeting, guiding and directing people between locations, security, stage hands for concert etc.

General Information – Children under 12 are only $5, full time secondary and tertiary students and concession holders are just $10 and for the employed it’s only $20 for the full day! There are also family tickets at $25.

For bookings -– www.trybookings.com.au/CUVB

Facebook – www.facebook.com.au/heartsinharmonycommunitymusic

helpful article – Music teaching ideas for when you are ill or weak-of-voice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lExW80sXsHs This video clip of 3 a cappella singers starts with gregorian chant, the focuses on 1900 – 2010’s. Watch with your class and ask for suggestions of changes in music through time.

Go to resource: I Can by Cathy Blair is a book of songs for early-childhood and infants students. Read more…

ABC interview (with songs at the start and end of podcast) at:

Idea of North are appearing at the Illawarra Music Festival on Sunday 26 May, 2013, holding a workshop in the afternoon at 2pm and a concert at 5pm.

IDEA OF NORTH a cappella vocal group @ The Regent Theatre

Keira Street, Wollongong NSW, Australia

These two YouTube clips feature the gorgeous music of the Stiff Gins, sung in Indigenous language.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8Iz2nyy6F4 Yandool

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikilFioL9SQ with Sydney Children’s Choir at TEDx

Go to resource: Integrating music into the classroom, by William Anderson and Joy Lawrence, is published by Wadsworth Publishing, California, 1991. Read more…

Jersey Boys (the musical) has compiled free, high quality lesson plans for teachers. The resource includes lesson content for Drama, Music, English, Art, Dance and History.

THIS YouTube clip of 3 Swedish girls singing “Rudolph” with empty yoghurt tubs for accompaniment is most entertaining!

Dandenong Ranges Music Council Choral Directors’ Workshop with Rhonda Davidson-Irwin
Date:           Wednesday 27 July 2011.  09.30am Registration – 03.00pm
Venue:  Dandenong Ranges Music Council, Upwey High School
1451 Burwood Hwy, Upwey  3158
Cost:           $35 includes lunch
Bookings:       Karen Noonan Karen@drmc.org.au ph 9754 6566

The Kidzsongs Professional Development Conductor Workshop is open to all musical directors, music teachers and conductors.

You do not have to have a choir to attend. You may be interested in the project or conduct a community choir and feel you need more information, experience or confidence.  The session will involve: Warm up techniques, repertoire choices for your choir, choralography, conducting technique, voice training, choir management, massed item repertoire, hints and tips in teaching repertoire.

Go to resource: Kiravanu is an opera written by James Humberstone and Mary Elizabeth, specifically designed for children and integrated with the curriculum. Read more…

KMEIA Victoria is holding the “Autumn Seminar” early next term on Friday 6^th and Saturday 7^th May.  This year we have a variety of workshops which are specifically aimed at children in Kindergarten and early primary school – lots of ideas for music-making with little kids!  You can come to both days of the conference, or only one day if that suits you better.

At this year’s Autumn Seminar for the first time an Early Childhood Stream of workshops has been added. The sessions on offer are suitable for those working with children 0-8yrs. If you cannot attend both days it is possible to come for one day only.

Sessions on offer include:

Hushed Moments – Music & Spirituality in Early Childhood

Early Childhood Music Teaching Techniques

Sing Me Another Story – Picture Books for Children

Materials to Nurture Numeracy  and Literacy

Songs, Rhymes & Dances for  the Young and the Young at Heart!

FRIDAY 6 & SATURDAY 7 MAY 2011

Venue: Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre in Preston

Key presenters: Daniel Crump & Gail Godfrey (Queensland), Susan Searle, Robert Stewart & Julia Trifonov (Melbourne).

Early Childhood Presenters: Gail Godfrey, Melissa Dods, Anna Mlynek-Kalman

Website: www.kodaly.org – click on ‘Events’ and then ‘Victoria’.

The Kodaly National Conference 2-5 October  2012 in Adelaide

“It’s TIME: The Importance of Music Education”, will be held at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide

There is still time to book for what promises to be a fantastic event:

Keynote Speakers:

• Helga Deitrich (Budapest) Internationally recognised authority and practitioner in Kodály music education specialising in the early years.
• Richard Gill (Melbourne) Music Director of Victorian Opera, and Artistic Director of the Sydney Symphony’s Education Program.
• Dr Deanna Hoermann (Australia) Educator, teacher, lecturer, researcher and consultant in music education, leadership and change management.
• Cyrilla Rowsell (London) Kodály music education speciaslist, and teacher of solfège, methodology and conducting

More information at  kodaly2012.com

Registrations now open and can be done using: goo.gl/PPAFG

Les Miserables has been turned into a movie (with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe) retaining the original music. Watch the extended trailer HERE – they describe the way the singers sing live during the filming, with a live pianist on-site.

Have you signed up yet to be part of Making Music Being Well?

This national initiative, which takes place from 16 – 22 May, is a collaboration between Music: Play for Life and the Australian Music Therapy Association and it’s all about a grassroots celebration of the links between music making and wellbeing.

When you register to participate – it’s FREE – we’ll send you event posters, stickers and brochures and you’ll get access to lots of downloadable resources including event planning and promotional tips. How you participate is up to you.

The best way to be involved is to take something you may already have planned for that week and hitch it to the national wagon of Making Music Being Well 2011. You don’t have to do something on every day during the week – one event is enough. Your event will be outlined on the MMBW website and you and your group members or students will be helping to shine the national spotlight on an important fact: music is good for you!

Here are a few ideas based on previous years: Open the doors to the community for your rehearsal that falls within the MMBW week and turn it into a free performance. Take your choir or group to a nursing home, hospital or school. Organise a big sing at your workplace. Turn a school assembly into a musical celebration and tell students and parents about the value and benefits of making music. Convene a drum circle in your school playground. Run an open mic session at your local pub or club. Organise a gathering of community music leaders and organisers in your area and discuss how you could pool resources and share skills.

Register to be part of it at www.makingmusicbeingwell.org.au

AND … don’t forget – registration for our biggest school music initiative, Music: Count Us In, opens soon too!

This national initiative, which takes place from 16 – 22 May, is a collaboration between
Music: Play for Life and the Australian Music Therapy Association and it’s all about a grassroots celebration of the links between music making and wellbeing.

When you register to participate – it’s FREE – we’ll send you event posters, stickers and brochures and you’ll get access to lots of downloadable resources including event planning and promotional tips.

How you participate is up to you.  The best way to be involved is to take something you may already have planned for that week and hitch it to the national wagon of Making Music Being Well 2011. You don’t have to do something on every day during the week – one event is enough. Your event will be outlined on the MMBW website and you and your group members or students will be helping to shine the national spotlight on an important fact: music is good for you!

Here are a few ideas based on previous years:

• Open the doors to the community for your rehearsal that falls within the MMBW week and turn it into a free performance.
• Take your choir or group to a nursing home, hospital or school.
• Organise a big sing at your workplace.
• Turn a school assembly into a musical celebration and tell students and parents about the value and benefits of making music.
• Convene a drum circle in your school playground.
• Run an open mic session at your local pub or club.
• Organise a gathering of community music leaders and organisers in your area and discuss how you could pool resources and share skills.

Register to be part of it at www.makingmusicbeingwell.org.au

Mark O’Leary and Young Voices of Melbourne publish high quality choral Music suitable for school choirs.

Mark O’Leary will be presenting three choral workshops in Melbourne this year.

Bookings are now open.

Primary Choirs for Beginners

Friday 16th March 2012

10am – 3pm

DC Bricker Social Room, Beech St, Caulfield South

$99.00 per person

Just (Choral) Conducting

Thursday 31st May 2012

Packer Park Hall, Leila Rd, Carnegie

$99.00 per person

How to Run a (Better) Primary School Choir

Friday 1st June 2012

10am – 3pm

DC Bricker social room, Beech St, Caulfield South

$99.00 per person

Further information or a workshop registration form, send an email or visit:

http://www.yvm.com.au/workshops_2012calendar.html

I will be presenting three major workshops for music teachers in Melbourne this year:

Primary Choirs for Beginners
Friday 20th May
10am – 3pm
Kingston Arts Centre

Just (Choral) Conducting
Thursday 2nd June
10am – 3pm
Kingston Arts Centre

How to run a (better) primary school choir
Friday 3rd June
10am – 3pm
Kingston Arts Centre

Cost is $95 per person, and bookings are now open.

More information can be found by visiting www.yvm.com.au/workshops, or by contacting me at mark@yvm.com.au or 95785459

Ann Lierse has shared a list of repertoire used by boys during Year 9 and 10 massed choral lessons at Melbourne High School (2010). Many thanks for sharing, Ann!

Sample of repertoire for Massed Singing

Night and Day – Cole Porter                          Thriller – Michael Jackson

Don’t dream its over – Neill Finn                   Dancing in the storm – Boom Crash

The Rain – Kassey Chambers                         Africa – Toto

At the end of the day – Schonberg                 All Night, All day – Traditional

All that Jazz – John Kanter                            The Vagabond – Vaughan Williams

Oh Pretty Women – Roy Orbison                 All that Jazz – John Kanter

Bridge over troubled water – Paul Simon       Violet Hill – Coldplay

Foxy Lady – Hendrix                                      The Ballad of Swiney Todd – Sondheim

Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Derek Sharon           Orpheus Lament – Gluck

Selections from Pirates of Penzance – Gilbert and Sullivan

Nessum Dorma – Puccini                               Finlandia – Sibelius

Pilgrim’s Chorus – Wagner                             Requiem – Mozart

Carmina Burina – Orff                                    Les Miserables – Schoenberg

Chorus of the Hewbrew Slaves – Verdi          A Tribute to Foster – Grainger

Officer Krurpke – Bernstein                           The Masochism Tango – Lehrer

Music: Count Us In 2012 song parts for ALL school instruments are now online: www.musiccountusin.org.au

Obtaining a login is free and easy for Australian schools (and home-schools). If there are parts or arrangements you would like, but cannot find, please email: schools.mpfl@mca.org.au

All parts may be played along with the radio version of “Different People (Stand Together)”. ENJOY!!

CLICK HERE FOR FLYER

11-1 free concert – sing and dance – ANZ Pavilion @ Vic Arts Centre (Melbourne) – Music: Count Us In

Mai Fali Eh!          2012 Melbourne Millennium Chorus        presented by The Boite

Enrolments open!

The Melbourne Millennium Chorus is an annual project presented by The Boite. Each year, 300 or more singers from Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria rehearse for 9 weeks in venues across the state. At the end of this fun and hard working season of rehearsals and workshops, singers from across the state perform on one stage alongside a line up of inspiring artists and performers at a big concert.

This years MMC concert is directed by Ego Lemos, Timor Leste’s most famous singer songwriter, and Andrea Khoza, with assistance from Stella Savy and Dani Fry. Timor Leste’s newest choir, Coro Loriko, representing all regions of the country, formed especially for this years Millennium Chorus and Schools Chorus concert series, will perform at the concert.

Mai Fali Eh means Come Home in Tetum, Timor Leste’s most commonly spoken indigenous language. It is the name of a lullaby where a mother calls her children home at sunset. It also beckons those who have left Timor Leste to return.

We invite you to enrol in the choir and be part of this very special event.

Rehearsals start Sunday June 3.

For more information

www.boite.com.au

A MESSAGE FROM DARREN WICKS:

Making singing work with secondary school students is never easy! Both the National Review of School Music and my own PhD research have highlighted the many problems surrounding singing in Australian secondary schools, including: low participation rates, maintaining student motivation and the poor level of teacher training.

I’d like to help get your students excited about choral singing and hopefully more motivated to participate in your school choral programs. With the help of the City of Port Phillip and in partnership with several youth-oriented organisations, we aim to assemble a youth chorus of 80 secondary students.  We will offer the students the   experiences of socialising, learning and performing in two professionally managed concerts with top class musicians as well as mixing with tertiary students from the areas of music, events and hospitality.  On top of that, we will put them on stage with a 90-voice community gospel choir to back them up and help them feel “the big sound” experience.

Introducing Melbourne Singers of Gospel

MSG is an adult choir community of 90 voices rehearsing and performing in the City of Port Phillip continuously since 2003. The choir performs songs of soul and purpose in the Gospel, Soul and Motown traditions with jazz-blues accompaniment from The Soul Train. MSG is directed by Darren Wicks and managed by a committee of management. The choir is secular.

Darren is a VIT-registered secondary teacher with postgraduate qualifications and 20 years teaching experience.

Project Description

Each year, amongst its other engagements, MSG stages two major concerts. MSG’s 29 June concerts are called SOULFOOD and will be held at St Kilda Town Hall. The theme for these concerts is engaging youth in performance making. Alongside MSG, Soul Food will feature:

• the MSG youth chorus
• Sweethearts, an all female, 20-piece neo soul school band studying Certificate IV Music based at Geelong’s Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College.
• SKYS / HEAT (Hospitality Employment and Training) based in St Kilda and South Melbourne
• JMC Academy (tertiary study in Creative Industries) based in South Melbourne.

As a special part of its youth engagement approach, MSG is putting the call out to secondary schools in the City of Port Phillip and surrounding regions to create a chorus of 80 students to learn a repertoire of 6 songs.

There is no financial cost to the school but a small fee to students to cover staff, music and venue costs.

For more information, please contact:

Sandra Sanders, Youth Chorus Manager at youthchorus@msgchoir.com.au, 0401 766 348

2012 Melbourne Festival of Choirs 7 – 9 April (Easter)

Dr Jonathon Welch AM (best known as the Founding Director of the ARIA, Helpmann and Logie winning Choir of Hard Knocks, ABC TV’s Jail Birds and Channel 7’s Battle of the Choirs), is inviting you to participate in the  2012 National Melbourne Festival of Choirs to be held over the Easter weekend.

Following the stunning success of the 2nd National Melbourne Festival of Choirs in 2011, with over 400 participants, here is your opportunity to collaborate with some of Australia’s best music directors and sing in an amazing selection of Melbourne’s spectacular venues, including the magnificent  National Gallery of Victoria, BMW Edge Theatre and Federation Square.

Over the festival weekend, you will enjoy workshops, masterclasses and participating in the Massed Festival Choirs working with some of Australia’s finest choral conductors.

We are excited to announce another diverse and exciting program for 2012 featuring some of Australia’s most dynamic and outstanding choral directors, singers and musicians that will lead workshops and conduct the Festival Men’s and Women’s choruses including Kate Sadler, who took Vox Synergy to the finals of Battle of the Choirs on Channel 7, Peter Mousaferiadis will conduct the Festival World Music Chorus and Chris Blain, dynamic director and leader of the outstanding boy-band a cappella group SUADE, our Choir in Residence for 2012!

All genres of choirs are welcome to participate in the festival (gospel, contemporary, a cappella, classical, youth, world music, barbershop, etc. ).

If your choir is not participating or you are currently not singing with a choir, you are also invited to register as an individual participant and join in this wonderful weekend of singing and fun!!

Register your interest NOW via email: choirfest@hotmail.com

Website: www.festivalofchoirs.com.au

SINGING WORKSHOP for SONG LEADERS – Melbourne
WHEN: Sunday 17th July 2pm – 5pm
WHERE: Princes Park Bowl Club, 109 Bowen Cresent , North Carlton, VIC 3053
BOOKINGS:  Call Emily Hayes to book limited places 0400865427 or 03 93437733
COST: $50 Waged, $40 Concession

www.moorambilla.com/

Check out the great work being done with young voices in small towns around Western NSW!

6^th Annual Mornington Peninsula Choral Festival – “Harmonies Unite”

This unique event is a celebration of choral singing on the Mornington Peninsula.

There are five events taking place in the beautiful surrounds of Toorak College and The Peninsula School, Mt Eliza.

Festival Day – featuring Community, Church and School Choirs.

Saturday 2 June, 2.00-5.00 pm in the Toorak College Music Centre and other venues.

Adults – $12; concession – $6; children – free.

Refreshments will be available.

“Let’s Sing” Concerts for School Choirs

Monday 28 May, Tuesday 29 May, Wednesday 30 May  and Thursday 31 May- 7.00 – 9.00 pm in The Ansett Hall, The Peninsula School.

Adults and concession- $6; children free

For more information phone – Sue Gilbert at the Peninsula School – 9788 7839 or email – sgilbert@tps.vic.edu.au

Go to resource: Multicultural Perspectives in Music is a NSW Department of Education and Training site, and a collaboration between the NSW Creative Arts Unit, Musica Viva Australia, and Sirocco. Read more…

http://www.musiccountusin.org.au/remository?func=select&id=45

The 2011 (free) Teaching Kit for “We’ve Got the Music” just went online. It features free lesson ideas and teaching resources for Primary and Middle School classes, as well as brilliant ideas for inclusion and special needs. It is designed for generalist classroom teachers and music teachers alike.

All feedback welcome. Bring on 1st September 2011!!

If you haven’t signed up, please do, then you’ll be able to view the Teaching Kit.

Watch this space – the teaching kit for Music Count Us In 2011 is coming soon. It’s full of free ideas to enhance music education delivery in your school, including cross-curricular lesson ideas. Many free ensemble charts are already on the website www.musiccountusin.org.au . Don’t be scared of signing up – it’s really easy!

MYM is seeking more males aged 15-30 for it’s Summer School in Musical Theatre (16-20 January, 2012). For more info, visit www.mym.org.au or call 03 9376 8988.

MusicTime! Great Classroom Ideas for Years 5 – 8

Presented by Dr Ros McMillan

Want to finish Semester 1 fired with enthusiasm for Term 3? This workshop, designed for teachers of students in Years 5 – 8, will provide participants with a wealth of ideas for units of work as well as one-off activities that will appeal to students from upper primary to junior secondary.

This is not an easy group to cater for as many Year 7s will experience music for the first – and last! – time in their lives in this school year, while Year 8 students can be one of the most difficult age-groups to engage in music-making of any kind. Upper primary school students, too, are not always the amenable students of earlier years, with most of them having strong views on what makes music as a school subject ‘good’.

Thus, Year 5 – 8 teachers face the difficult task of planning a curriculum that is enjoyable and relevant for their students as well as fulfilling to teach. At the same time they may be required to provide music classes for a one-year, or even one-semester, subject that their school administration believes is all that students need to continue the study of music in later school years.

Working with typical classroom resources, participants at this workshop will be assisted to plan stimulating and rewarding lessons for students of all abilities. Through a variety of hands-on activities, teachers will be shown how to fulfil the requirements of the new Australian Curriculum, one in which a rich, creative and coherent curriculum is at the centre.

COST
$130.00 (members)
$190.00 (non-members)

DATE
Friday 24 June

TIME
9.30am – 3.30pm

VENUE
Statewide Resources Centre
150 Palmerston Street, Carlton
Melway reference — Map 2B:H6

Booking essential
Lunch is provided

http://amuse.vic.edu.au/2011_PL/ros_mcmillan.htm

Ros McMillan has been teaching and researching music education for almost 50 years, including 20 years at the University of Melbourne where she was Senior Lecturer then Head of Music Education, and 13 years as Director of Music at the PresbyterianLadies’ College, Melbourne. For the last decade she has been writing music workbooks for teachers and students with over 10,000 students using her books. Ros is a keyboard player, specialising in improvisation.

On April 12th 2011, a dozen talented teenage singer-songwriters were mentored by John Foreman, Claire Bowditch, Holly Throsby,  Rai Thistlethwayte (Thirsty Merc) and Kavyen Temperley (Eskimo Joe).

The result was the 2011 song for Music. Count Us In (1st September 2011).

Watch this space for free lesson plans, free MP3 material, free Professional Development (for teachers) and free instrumental arrangements. Let’s get more music in more Australian schools!! www.musiccountusin.org.au

http://www.musiccountusin.org.au/

This year’s program song is about to hit the air-waves. Registration is being accepted by schools for the 2011 massed singing event on September 1st, 2011 @ 11.30am (AEST).

Associated free lesson plans, teaching kits, free MP3, sheet music, and instrumental arrangements will soon be available via the website.

Signing up via the website is free and easy!! http://www.musiccountusin.org.au/

This year’s wiki site for ‘Music Count Us In’ is up and running. So far there are lyrics, scores, mp3’s, a sing-along movie and  a karaoke movie. Keep looking because more resources will be added over the next weeks. Just follow this free link:

http://musiccountusin2011.wikispaces.com

Hope you enjoy it, Sally

www.musiccountusin.org.au

CHECK  IT OUT! Listen to the new song on the website … sign up for all the great free resources (for both primary generalist teachers AND secondary music specialists) … let us know what you think

FREE teaching kit and lesson plans are coming VERY soon.

Go to resource: MusicTime! : discover things! by Ros McMillan, was published by Hal Leonard Australia, Melbourne, in 2008.   Read more…

The National Folk Festival (Australia) is developing educational resources. These include a free CD of 2009 festival highlights & IWB resources about the fiddle.

http://forteachersforstudents.com.au/NFF/

Clare Bowditch and co-writer Jim McPherson have been busy penning Tales From The Life Of Eva Cassidy, the story of an amazing artist and her songs.

For those of you unaware of Eva Cassidy, she was known as The Songbird, who sold and continues to sell millions of records worldwide, but only after her premature death at age 33. It will be your chance to hear Clare sing a very different repertoire, including songs Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Fields of Gold, Wade In The Water and more. You can find out more information about the show here: www.talesfromthelifeofevacassidy.com.au

4MBS Classic FM, Brisbane’s classical music community station, has introduced a new digital radio service, MBS Light. The new service caters for the large number of people who enjoy the lighter classics, such as the music of Andre Rieu.
The service also offers a greater jazz component than 4MBS Classic.
There are plans to further develop content for MBS Light to provide opportunities for Bribane-based artists and performers via the introduction of radio theatre using talented local actors, directors, musicians and composers.

MBS Light has also provided broadcasting opportunities for a dozen additional announcers. 4MBS is one of several community digital radio stations in Brisbane to introduce a new service. For updates on community digital stations visit radius.org.au.

THIS clip shows Monday night’s Sydney Town Hall concert of 600 govt secondary school students singing Mozart’s Requiem, with NSW Combined Schools Orchestra. Brett Weymark did a brilliant job conducting on 13/5/13, as organised by the Arts Unit, NSW. http://vimeo.com/user11416839/review/66213329/84bcb23e4f

Why Should the Kids Have All the Fun!

Ooolation! Tasmania Singing Adventure June 30 – July 10 2011
Young Voices of Melbourne, in association with Festival of Voices and Ooolitic Music is running a singing camp for singers aged 18 – 28 (with flexibility) with three outstanding US leaders – Malcolm Dalglish, Moira Smiley, Joshua Kartes and Jeff Fellinger, along with Sydney percussionist Peter Jacob, Amelia Alder and Mark O’Leary.

We will rehearse for 5 days on the beautiful and remote Maria Island, before heading to Hobart’s wonderful Festival of Voices where the Ooolation! Singers will play a key role. We are looking for singers with experience who love music, performing, the outdoors and have a sense of adventure! Malcolm Dalglish has been runnning these camps in the USA for years, but this will be the first time Ooolaion has come to Australia.

More information is available at:
http://www.oooliticmusic.com/

If you are looking for some musical enrichment in the July school holidays this might be for you. Please pass this information on to any senior or past students who might be interested.

HERE is a link to Paul Kelly’s 2011 TEDx talk. He describes how he came up with the song “How to Make Gravy”, then performs it live and acoustic. Watch this with your class, make a list of other songs which tell stories, then brainstorm ideas for your own story-song.

For Paul Kelly’s last concert of the season, he will be streaming live from the Opera House concert … to YouTube!

Message from Paul Kelly:
Get some popcorn, get some drinks, gather your pals. On Monday 18th March YouTube will be streaming FINKEL live from the Sydney Opera House.

9 PM (AEDT) sharp. Neil, Elroy, Dan, Zoe and I will be singing it up for our last show! PK

http://www.youtube.com/liveatthehouse

Inspiring Performance Skills workshops for Secondary Students
with Living Music Now

Taking advantage of industry experienced musicians with a professional performance background is now becoming increasingly more important with the renewed focus on performance at VCE level.  After refining her approach for the tertiary sector Melanie Atma, performer, musician and composer is now in her second year of delivering her unique and inspiring performance workshops specifically for secondary age students.

LMN workshops provide students with confidence building tools that combat nerves, teach the power of mental preparation and the skill of asking for and offering feedback.

· Complimenting the work of instrumental music teachers
· Students perform their own work in an open and supportive environment
· Great for group or solo contexts developing students prior to recitals and performance exams
· Greater on-going enjoyment for both performers and their audience.
· 90- minute workshops presented at your school

Through the use of (More than just a master class) innovative techniques and tools LMN workshops shift the focus away from competition and comparison, encouraging students to reflect upon their own personal goals, acknowledging their own unique gifts & strengths.

For more details visit: www.livingmusicnow.com.au <http://www.livingmusicnow.com.au>
Or contact melanie@livingmusicnow.com.au

www.petercousens.com/masterclass_peter_cousens.html

Peter Cousens is available for student masterclasses.

In a joint Masterclass for students and lovers of musical theatre, Peter Cousens and Anne-Maree McDonald (soprano, pianist and music director) bring to you their passion and skill in interpreting a song, communicating to an audience, finding character, addressing technical issues and becoming emotionally connected through text and music.

These master classes are tailored to suit students of HSC Performance, students of Singing, students of Acting and students of Musical Theatre.

Here’s a lesson idea inspired by YouTube’s “Picture Songs”. Ask a group of students to find 16 interesting / weird photos online and put them in a chosen order. Using another group’s pictures, groups create 4 beats worth of lyrics for each picture. Try to rhyme some of the lyrics. Ask a guitar-playing to vamp a 4-chord progression (eg. C, Am, F, G) while each group raps or songs their 16 lines of lyrics.

Primary Choral repertoire ideas from AMAF

Pure Drop – high quality audio and video footage (free) from the ABC & AFC & Federal Government, complete with free lesson plans and worksheets. Topics include Indigenous Music and World Music

free article – an article full of quotes from female music legends

THE REASONS WHY WE SING AND MAKE MUSIC

from Community Music Victoria’s ‘Music In Schools’ Statement

www.cmv.org.au

LEARNING CAPACITIES

Singing and music making together develops memory capacity, attentiveness, pattern recognition, rhythmic understanding and facility, body/mind coordination, volume control, connectedness, curiosity and creative initiatives.

Singing together is particularly good for learning literacy and numeracy. It develops language structure and grammar, playing with language (eg: rhyming, alliteration), pronunciation, accents and rhythm of language. Because there can be limited text and much repetition with singing, it helps to reinforce many of these concepts in an enjoyable way.

TEACHING METHODS

Singing and music making is an effective memorisation device and an engaging introduction to history and culture. It’s great for mood control, for example: facilitating relaxation and calm, focusing and energizing learners as well as content delivery, integration of play and instruction, and the enhancement of events and occasions.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Making music together brings an awareness of self and others, provides emotional expressions and outlet, and develops identity, confidence, self-esteem, a sense of achievement, expressiveness and health (mental and physical).

SOCIALISATION

Making music together fosters cooperation and interaction (together we can do more than we can alone), simultaneous listening and vocalisation, group awareness (bonding/sense of belonging), the direct experience of synergy (the sum is greater than the parts), and embodies the values of diversity and respect across gender, age, culture and skill level.

IN ADDITION!

Studying and practising music is valuable as an end in itself (not just as a way of becoming better at literacy, mathematics or personal development). It develops an understanding and appreciation of a beauty that is uniquely musical. We learn that by manipulating the elements of music we produce different results and can explore this unique and ephemeral art form.

WE BELIEVE THAT MUSICAL ACTIVITY SHOULD BE A DAILY EVENT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

• The focus should be on inclusive practical music making with an emphasis on singing.

• Classroom teachers should feel empowered and equipped to lead or provide the opportunity for their students to engage in singing and music making activities.

• Music Specialists as well as providing more in depth musical experiences, including music literacy and instrumental experiences, should be helpful in resourcing the classroom teachers as well as sharing ideas and expertise with classroom teachers.

• The daily classroom music practice need only be a few minutes at the start or end of a session.

• It can be integrated into a current classroom theme or used as a teaching method or tool for other subject areas (see ‘Learning Capacities’ and ‘Teaching Methods’ above.)

• It is important to develop a culture of singing and music making and for it to feel like a normal classroom activity. Five minutes at the start of each day will be more effective for developing a culture than one half hour per week.

A lesson idea for “National Sorry Day” … or any day.

Watch the Colli Crew’s song about reconciliation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsWo9CxqsN8&feature=related

In small groups, brainstorm phrases that rhyme with “reconciliation” and “it’s up to us”

Watch the Colli Crew’s 2010 ARIA Award winning song “Change the Game” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0rJajbIs-o

Create a class rap, make an audio recording, and place it on the school’s website.

Email a link (or a copy of the song) to schools.mpfl@mca.org.au

Listen to Indigenous Australian music from “Black Arm Band”, “Saltwater Band”, “Gurrumul Yunupingu” and “Archie Roach” on YouTube, iTunes, CD or GrooveShark.

The Victorian Chapter of the Australian National Association of
Teachers of Singing  Inc. (ANATS) is holding a workshop with the
renowned speech pathologist, Ron Morris on Sunday, 18 September at
Melbourne Girls’ Grammar, Anderson Street, South Yarra from 1-5.30pm.
Ron will be working on accent method, breathing and articulation. This
is relevant, not only to teachers of singing but drama teachers. those
involved in productions choirs and speech teachers and therapists.

For further enquiries phone Wendy Todd on 0422 548 237.

Listen to the first minute or so of each track from the recent Royal Wedding (soundtrack available from iTunes).

For each piece of music, discuss the time signature (how many beats per bar) and the instrumentation (which instruments and voices are heard).

Discuss the sound of hymns – organ introduction & massed voices singing throughout (rarely changing colour or texture). Decide which tracks from the Royal Wedding are hymns.

Discuss the process of commissioning a new piece of music. John Rutter was commissioned to compose “This is the Day” to be sung as an anthem for this wedding (performed 29/4/2011).

Remember young Jennifer Condon? Music Forum carried a cover story a few
issues ago about her extraordinary project to record Peggy Glanville-Hicks
"Sappho"? Well, the project is finished, with major world singers and the
Gulbenkian Orchestra, and the recording will be broadcast at 7pm on Sunday
Nov 4 on Classic FM - just prior to release of the CD. No-one has heard this
music before, though it was written decades ago. And there is a follow-up
interview in the November Music Forum.

description of TV show here

ABC aired a TV show highlighting the choral direction of 91-year old Jessie Carmichael.

Go to resource: Sibelius Groovy Music is a software program that assists with teaching music to five to eleven year old students. Read more…

click here to see the sheet music of the “Silly Solfege Song”

… and here is a video to go with the song

Go to resource: Sing Along Midis and Lyrics is a site hosted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Services (USA) and features songs from well-known children’s movies. Read more…

Go to resource: Sing and Dance Around the World is written by Greg Gilpin and published by Heritage Music Press (2006). Read more…

Cadence Choir is a new community choir for adults rehearsing on Saturday mornings with Steph Payne www.stephpayne.com.au in Port Melbourne. If you are interested, you will find more details at: http://www.cadencechoir.com.au/Home.html

For enquiries phone Rosemary on 0407 332 725 or email romac@iinet.com.au
Joining a choir is a great means of Personal & Professional Development!!

http://www.learningplace.com.au/deliver/content.asp?pid=51305

August 20-23, 2013

The Singing Classroom at GPAC

A collaboration between gpac:ed and Amuse

Details:

Date: Monday 4^th March

Time: 10.00 – 3.00

Facilitator: Sue Arney

Location: The Geelong Performing Arts centre

Cost: $100 – lunch is provided

Bookings: contact Kelly Clifford – kelly@gpac.org.au 5225 1207

PDI recognised

This workshop for generalist primary classroom teachers offers support, confidence, skills and resources to sing more regularly with students.

aMuse will be launching the fabulous new project next week called ‘The Singing Classroom’, a workshop program for generalist primary teachers that aims to support, encourage, provide skills, resources and confidence for them to sing more regularly with their students. Please come and join the official launch: Wednesday, March 7, 5.00 – 6.00pm at BMW Edge. Speakers include Dr Ros McMillan, Lorraine Milne, Mandy Stefanakis, two PS choirs, all-in-sing with Susie Davies-Splitter and a lovely cup of tea!

For more details on the project visit the aMuse website: http://www.amuse.vic.edu.au/PL2012/singingclassroom2012.htm

The Singing Classroom is a Professional Learning program designed and delivered by aMuse for generalist primary classroom teachers offering them support, confidence, skills and resources to sing more regularly with their students.

The workshops are interactive and fun (often hilarious!). Each participant receives a resource booklet and CD.

Two workshops are now available:

1. In-school workshops where the presenter comes into your school to work with all staff:

http://amuse.vic.edu.au/PL2013/singingclassroom2013.htm

2. Full-day workshops where individual or groups of teachers can attend a centre for a five-hour workshop:

http://amuse.vic.edu.au/PL2013/singingclassroom2013.htm

We encourage you to consider a workshop in your school, or to encourage friends and colleagues to get involved.

Sue Arney

Professional Learning Coordinator

Association of Music Educators

150 Palmerston Street.  Carlton 3053

P 03 9349 1048

F 03 9349 1052

Singing Teaching for Beginners

Presented by

Jenny Caire
Estill Master Teacher & Estill Course Instructor

Saturday July 9th, 2011; 2 pm ˆ 5 pm

NewHope Baptist Church, Springfield Rd
Blackburn North, Victoria

Teaching beginners to sing?  Beginning to teach singing?

This workshop is for YOU!

Good technique: where do I start?

How much anatomy do I need to know?

How much anatomy do I need to teach?

Repertoire for beginning singers?

Warm-ups for students?

How can I correct breathy tone?

Smooth transition across the passagio?

Bring your questions or send them prior to the workshop for discussion on the day

Cost: $70

Registration and pre-payment essential to confirm a place.

jcaire@optusnet.com.au; 0404919854

For students in Years 10 – 12 who are learning singing … the annual ANATS VCE singing day on April 28, 2013

This workshop will feature

• Performances by a selection of last year’s top (A  and A+) singers
• Advice for teachers and students
• A masterclass where current VCE students to perform and receive feedback.
• Performances from both the contemporary and classical syllabus.
• Superb masterclass presenters:  Jeannie Mash and Linda George

This workshop aims to:

• Inspire students in Years 10/11 to consider VCE singing as an option
• Provide a performance opportunity for current VCE students
• Support and resource teachers of VCE singing
• Provide opportunities for networking and communication among students and teachers

This is an important email to give you the opportunity to nominate a student or students in year 9 or above to take one of 12 places at the Music Count Us In 2011 songwriting workshop. Their response to the brief (as a one minute MP3) must be submitted to us by next Monday 21st March. I know the time is short, but we have to move quickly so the song can be arranged, recorded, produced, pressed and released by early May. Please help spread the word.

There is no cost to the school or student in participation in the songwriting workshop. But each must be free to take a day or two off school (depending how far away from Sydney they are) around the 11 April and be free to travel to Sydney with a parent or carer. All flight costs, meals, on-ground transfers and accommodation are covered by Music: Count Us In. We are still negotiating to secure this year’s mentors, so I can’t give you names yet. But – they are GREAT and I’m sure your students would jump at the chance to work with them.

Last year, nine lucky secondary school students from around Australia – including from Albany and Perth, WA;Darwin, NT; and Coffs Harbour in regional NSW - were flown to Sydney with a parent/carer to work with songwriting mentors Melinda Schneider, Audius and Paul Greene, and producer, John Foreman, to help write the program song. Without exception, each student found it an inspirational experience and a wonderful ‘immersion’ exercise in music generally and songwriting in particular. Lasting friendships were made, career aspirations consolidated and musical – and social skills – built. You can see a videoclip of last year’s songwriting process at the media page here.

All the details about applying for a place are here, including the song brief and submission process.

Tina Broad, Campaign Director, ‘Music. Play for Life’
Tel: 02 44 54 3887  Fax: 02 44 54 3882  Mob: 0439 022 257
www.musicplayforlife.org
The people’s movement for more music: in schools, communities, everywhere

Music: Count Us In offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a talented young person to have their song sung by over half a million students.

• A small group of students will be selected by our judging panel to work with a celebrity mentor for the songwriting session in April.
• Their song will stop Australia in its tracks on October 31st.
• Students must be quick, work to the brief and send us an optimistic, upbeat song idea of 1-3 minutes by 22nd March.
• Successful students will receive payment for their work.

Download the brief at musiccountusin.org.au/the-song

THIS link takes you to suggestions for graduation ceremonies for all ages – with a religious slant.

Go to resource: Songs for Teaching is an American website that offers downloadable songs for teaching various non-music subjects, integrating music into learning tasks. Read more…

http://songlibrary.net/

THIS $2.99 app for iPhone and iPad is designed to aid sight singing skills.

www.funmusicco.com/squiltsheet.pdf

FunMusicCo has provided a free worksheet for use with ANY music listening activity.

Go to resource: Staring a Primary school choir – advice from Sarah Malburg (UK) for “children’s chorus”. At the bottom of each article page is a link to the next topic (eg. Choir Warm-ups & Song Selection)

Message from the Arts Unit (NSW):

The Arts Unit is excited to announce that Richard Gill, one of Australia’s leading music educators, will be working with students at this year’s State Senior Music Camp.

Richard will be conducting the full camp item – Faure’s Requiem. He will also conduct the vocal ensemble and run HSC performance and composition workshops.

In order to give all students the opportunity to work with Richard, we have extended the closing dates for applications to Friday 10 May 2013.

The application form and information about the camps can be found by visiting https://www.artsunit.nsw.edu.au/music/music-camps/state-music-camps

Thank you in advance for advertising this opportunity to your students.

Kind Regards,

Scott

Scott Ryan

Instrumental Music Programs Assistant

The Arts Unit

Go to resource: The Sydney Symphony Orchestra offers programs for school children, and provides in conjunction with these, resources for teachers. Read more…

Go to resource: The Great Australian Songbook – celebrating 100 years of classic songs for Aussie kids, published 2000 by ABC Music, is a CD of Australian songs suitable for children. Read more…

“The Singing Classroom”

A Professional Learning Program for Primary School Teachers

Following a fabulous launch at BMW Edge, AMUSE is pleased to announce that the workshop program for ‘The Singing Classroom’ is now up and running!

The workshops are run in YOUR school for your WHOLE staff. Options include a 1.5 – 2 hour after school workshop; a 3 hour workshop or 1 hour ‘modelling’ workshops with a class.

The workshops are interactive, fun, non-threatening and provide resources that teachers can take into their classrooms and use the next day.

The workshops are a great way for generalist primary teachers to gain confidence and to be given resources that will enable them to sing more regularly with their students. This is great for schools with no music program, but also a fantastic support for Music Specialists in schools.

Bookings are now being taken.

You may be interested in booking a workshop for your school, or may have friends/colleagues in primary schools who could benefit from them – please pass on the details if you can.

Some feedback from workshops so far . . .

“I feel much more confident to sing with my students now”

“I’m excited about how I can use singing and music-making to enhance learning in subject areas like maths and literacy”

“This links really well to our school focus on kinaesthetic learning, student involvement and student engagement”

“The children are pestering me to keep singing the songs we learned in the workshop and I have the resources now to do that”

Kind regards,

Sue Arney

“The Singing Revolution” movie trailer HERE … a documentary film about Estonian people using the power of massed singing to achieve political independence in 1991. More info HERE.

Il Volo = 3 Italian teenagers singing opera.

Newspaper article about Il Volo – the Three Teeners

YouTube clip of Il Volo singing O Sole Mio

London is preparing to host the inaugural International Opera Awards – the “opera Oscars” – but there is no British company in contention for the most coveted award.

www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2013/apr/07/opera-oscars-london-shortlist

Go to resource: Upbeat Music Education in the Classroom, produced by Jeffrey Leask, is published by Bojangles Music, NSW, 1984. Read more…

Go to resource: Using Music in the Classroom, an article published on the site “Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age” gives resources and hints on incorporating songs with other subjects such as Maths. Read more…

Bookings for the 2012 Education Program are now open at Victorian Opera. This includes a special Cinderella theatre experience for primary pupils in a series of one hour presentations of Rossini’s La Cenerentola.

We will once again offer a Professional Development program for teachers and singers as well as further opportunities to host a workshop in your school with our Outreach to Schools program.

Upper Secondary school groups attending our mainstage productions will have an additional experience preceding a performance with the opportunity to meet with an artist from the production in our new Seminar series.

http://www.victorianopera.com.au/explore/

The VMTA has it’s VCE Masterclass coming up on September 16th at Melbourne High School.

There will be three sessions:

>Piano – Igor Machlak, 1.30pm

>Classical Voice – William Bamford, 1.30pm

>Contemporary Voice – Darren Wicks, 2.30pm

This is the link to the event on TryBooking:

www.trybooking.com/29618

There is also information on our website:

www.victorianmusicteachersassociation.org.au

VCE masterclass day

… for voice and piano on September 4

at Melbourne High School

LINK to entry form

Go to resource: Vocal Ease is a NSW Department of Education and Training publication that focuses on singing and choral activities in schools, and supports the music strand of the Creative Arts syllabus. Read more…

Vocal PD for Choral Directors with Kate Sadler at The Sadler Studio
After a lot of interest and questions from Sounds Great delegates, colleagues might like to know about:
THE SINGERS’ SUPPORT UNIT
These 4 x fortnightly Monday evening sessions are run four times per year and are designed to give insights to the workings of the voice and troubleshoot vocal curly corners. The courses have been attended by singers from some of Melbourne’s great choirs, music therapists and singers who have wanted specific help with songs.
All topics covered are of interest to the Choral Conductor who wants draw out a strong, vibrant and cohesive sound from his/her choir.
For more info:
www.thesadlerstudio.com (look for The Singers’ Support Unit)
Contact Kate Sadler:
0421 709 708 or thesadlerstudio@bigpond.com

Voice Workshop for Secondary Students

Your students will have the chance to experience a group warm-up and Feldenkraisworkshop with MCM Convenor of Voice Stephen Grant, masterclasses with stafffrom VCASS and the MCM, and ensemble singing with VCASS Head of Choral Studies Claire Preston. A day not to be missed for the serious singing student!

This workshop has been designed for classical voice students aged 14 to 18, and is especially relevant to those undertaking VCE Music Performance or preparing for AMEB exams.

Date: Friday 4 May, 1:00pm – 6:00pm

Cost: $55 per participant

Venue: VCASS, 57 Miles Street, Southbank, VIC

Enrolments: http://www.conservatorium.unimelb.edu.au/programs/youth/voice

We’ve got the Music & Music: Count Us In online resources are up and going, Jozzbeat-style. They are accessed via this page:

www.jozzbeat.com/MCUI2011/home

Jozzbeat will give each school a free log-in (after the school has registered for Music: Count Us In at www.musiccountusin.org.au)

OR

Existing customers of Jozzbeat that come through as MCUI registrees can just use their existing JozzBeat website password/username to access the resources.

Grab a group of kids, log on, learn the song, add some percussion, and have a fun lesson

http://youtu.be/pAV-fJOl0J4 Watch this well-edited video with your class, then discuss the benefits of music-making to students and teachers. Make a list of songs that make kids feel happy and positive. Brainstorm why massed singing makes us all feel special on the inside!