Music

In the Music room at Newington, students find many opportunities to express themselves, their thoughts and ideas. While learning music each year, students use their singing voices and a wide range of instruments, alongside elements of dance and drama included in the curriculum, to explore the world in a practical way.

In Foundation and Grade 1 students inquire into rhythm, pitch, tempo and form using Boomwackers, marimbas and other percussion instruments. They consider whether instruments have families too and start lay the foundations of notation and the musical elements to set them on the path of musical learning. They move their bodies to express their understanding and explore mood by changing the tone, word emphasis and pitch of their voice.

Every Grade 2 student is provided with a school violin so that they can participate in our amazing Grade 2 Violin Program. With weekly group lessons for a semester, students improve their fine and gross motor skills and exercise their higher order thinking skills while learning and performing engaging violin pieces.

Across Grades 3&4 students take part in both the NPS Recorder Karate program, earning belts as they achieve new levels of learning,  and learn the Ukulele, playing and singing a wide range of traditional and contemporary songs to build their knowledge and increase their understanding of harmony and form. Games that include movement and theatre skills are also a feature of the 3&4 curriculum.

Our Grade 5&6 students grow their musical knowledge and skills while learning to play drums, guitar, keyboard and bass, then bring all of their practical skills and accumulated musical knowledge all together to perform in a class band. They plan and execute all aspects of their performances including, comparing, stage management, and any choreography required.

Composing and performing our own music, with elements of the other performing arts, continues throughout our entire time in the Music room. And, of course, singing, listening to and performing music from Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Straight island culture, alongside many other cultures around the world, helps us to find our place in the world and to see the world from many perspectives. Add to this the opportunity to learn elements of dance and drama and you have the performing arts program at NPS.

Outside the classroom there are many opportunities to take learning further. You can have instrumental music lessons from one of our team of visiting instrumental teachers or become part of the Saplings Choir and perform at the Royal South Street Eisteddfod or on tour to local kindergartens and nursing homes. Regular performance opportunities take place throughout the year, giving everyone a chance to showcase their performance skills.