09 Jun 2015
This year a K-2 recorder group was initiated to augment the band program. Students are learning to play tunes as well as to read music. The group performed at the Easter Hat Parade and will present more songs at assemblies throughout the year. Students in the recorder group will be able to progress to other Woodwind instruments as part of the school band program.
The school band continues to grow and develop with more students involved than ever this year. At the beginning of term 2 the band was invited to play the National Anthem at the Taara Gardens RSL Retirement Village ANZAC ceremony at Thirlmere. From term 3, the band will play the National Anthem at all K-6 assemblies and special occasions. Students are currently working on pieces that they will present at the Wollondilly Music Festival in August, which will include a combined band presentation with Thirlmere Public School band. Later in the year the band will participate in a tour in Wollongong, where they will perform for other public schools. The band will also feature in "Light Up Tahmoor".
Many students in the band program also undertake small group tuition on their respective instruments. Tuition aims to develop technical instrumental skills as well as music reading ability. Year 6 students in the tuition program are invited into respective high school bands and generally experience greater academic achievement, which is a benefit related to the development of musical ability.