Japanese World Music Incursion raised the roof of the CM Wood Centre
On Monday 22 April in the CM Wood Centre, Years 7 and 8 students enjoyed a Japanese Taiko drum performance by Anne and Toshi. two incredible musicians who introduced us to their instruments in an engaging and interactive way. Volunteers were asked to come up on stage and play a certain beat, and they helped us to learn the names of the instruments in Japanese. They played two different types of instruments: the shakuhachi and the taiko drum. The shakuhachi is a flute made with bamboo. The musician plays the different pitches using their breath, head, and throat, as well as the holes in the bamboo. Unlike other flutes, the shakuhachi is played vertically, instead of horizontally. The taiko drum is played by hitting the surface of the drum with drumsticks, known as bachi. There are different sizes of taiko drums and bachi, known as either oki (large), or chisai (small). After this wonderful performance the Year 8 classes currently studying music enjoyed a workshop with Toshi where we learnt how to play the taiko drum, and how to play different rhythms and timbres. Toshi then taught us a group piece with multiple parts. Each part had a different rhythm that suited the tone and size of each drum and drumstick. Many agreed that this was one of the best world music concerts we have had so far! Everyone who participated had so much fun!
We are so grateful to have had this opportunity, and we can’t wait for the next incursion in Semester 2.
Siddaley Basile and Alysha Veith | Students 8B
Music Festival pays respect and wows the audience
This year the Tintern Grammar Chamber Orchestra was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in the biennial Richard Gill OA Memorial Festival for strings.
The festival brought together the Senior String ensembles from several schools including the host school, Camberwell Grammar as well as Methodist Ladies College, The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, and Tintern Grammar. Our students worked very hard throughout Term 1 to prepare the individual parts for Saint Saen’s famous Organ Symphony. Over the course of the weekend festival, the combined orchestra rehearsed intensively under the guidance of professional conductor, Graham Abbott.
The festival was established to honour and remember the legacy of Richard Gill OA. Richard was a musician, conductor and educator who is universally fondly remembered by generations of educators and performers for his warm heart, and passion for music and its provision in every child’s education. I was lucky enough to have worked under his baton on several occasions prior to his untimely death and these are musical memories that I will cherish for a very long time.
The Sunday afternoon performance, which was enjoyed by family and friends, featured a speech by Richard’s widow, Maureen, followed by an item from each of the participating schools. To finish with, every participant of the festival came onto stage for the Grand Symphony. This epic work, arranged for organ and massed String Orchestra, sounded incredible with over 120 musicians on stage. Don’t just take my word for it, listen for yourself.
I would like to congratulate each participant for their effort and commitment to this amazing event.
Tim Veldman | Head of Strings
Twilight Concert
On Tuesday 26 April, Tintern held the first concert in our Twilight Concert Series, where several students from Senior and Middle School performed as either soloists or in duets. The assorted pieces were performed with a wide range of instruments such as clarinets, pianos, cellos, vocalists and others. Many students who performed are preparing for their AMEB music exams or VCE performances and teachers, friends, and family alike certainly enjoyed the varied performances. A number of items were accompanied at the piano by our music teachers, Ms Heather McKenzie and Miss Tori Wood, as well as Mr David Bathgate accompanying a piece with his acoustic guitar. For many of these students, these performances were a large step from their music lessons and work in ensembles and choirs, into the limelight as solo performers. The entire concert was an enjoyable evening of exciting musical talent and entertaining performances from a wide range of students.
Xavier Kemm | Choral Captain 2024
Congratulations to our Piano teacher, Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor has taught piano at Tintern for the past six years and is well known to the cast members of our School musicals as one of the regular rehearsal pianists at production rehearsals, alongside our Head of Keyboard Studies, Ms Heather McKenzie. Ben is currently in his final year of a Master of Teaching Degree at Deakin University and is undertaking his final pre-service placement at Tintern, so he has also become a familiar face in our music classrooms.
We are delighted to share that Ben has recently received two awards at the 2024 Deakin University School of Education Post-Graduate Awards namely the ASME and the VMTA Graduate Teacher Awards, for outstanding results and engagement in music education. Congratulations Ben on this notable achievement.
Alison Bezaire | Director of Music
