Music

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Helping catalyse students’ intrinsic motivation for Music learning is our driving consideration in Redlands Music, and this value remains central in our planning and programming decisions. Self-Determination Theory of motivation suggests that the ideal condition to catalyse intrinsic motivation for any task, is the satisfaction of three basic psychological needs: Autonomy, Competence & Relatedness. (Deci & Ryan, 2000) It’s not hard to see – in our current lockdown context – how all three of these needs are likely to feel a bit challenged, and a wane in intrinsic motivation for learning would not be an extraordinary event. It’s not the end of the world. Let’s take the pressure off, and refocus on ways we can still seek to address and nourish these needs – even in small ways – in the current climate. Our students loving music remains our end game.

We encourage our students, teachers and parent teachers to find ways of supporting our learners’ autonomy by bringing focus to their own personal goals. Looking beyond curriculums, classrooms and exams, what do they love about Music? Why are they drawn to it? What/who inspires them? Where do they dream music could take them? Could the less *sparkly bits* (like practising scales) serve their goals and help them get where we want to go?   Keeping our WHY in focus is especially critical at this time.

In our Cocurricular ensembles, the challenges with Zoom and lag make it challenging for us to feel that rich reward of competence and efficacy when we bring a piece together with our peers. Perhaps instead we turn our gaze to the importance of these ensembles for maintaining relatedness and belonging, celebrating the unique opportunity for multiple year groups to connect with each other within the Music offerings.

Whilst early morning Zoom rehearsals on the Junior Campus pose too great a challenge for many families already juggling a myriad of logistics (we understand!), many Junior students are still checking in with work being left on Google Classroom and engaging in happy discussion with their peers and teachers there! Senior ensembles have had fantastic turnouts at their scheduled Zoom rehearsals! This week’s Music Gameshow was a particular hit on a week day afternoon!  It’s so heartening to see our students keeping connected and staying vitally involved. There is no doubt that a glorious, thriving Music centre waits to spring back to life after this temporary winter.

Learning Music from Home

As our home-learning continues, so do the routines and patterns that are now in place. All Extracurricular and Cocurricular Music Lessons, Classes and Ensembles continue in the now established home-learning patterns. Conductors will communicate directly with ensembles should they wish for a Zoom session be scheduled in support of the weekly resource upload.

Year 12 Trial Examinations

Congratulations to our Year 12 students who completed their written Trial Examinations in Music this week! Though things were a little different to normal, we’re proud of you for bringing your best, and we are cheering you on as you step closer to the finish line!

Music Awards 2021

This week would traditionally have seen our wonderful Friends of Music hosting the Music Awards Dinner at Manly Golf Club. Though we were unable to have our much-loved annual Small Ensemble showcase, the Awards process itself has been business as usual!

Music Tutors, Conductors & Heads of Ensembles reviewed lists of nearly 200 Cocurricular Music participants for 2021, and voted for 5 students in each year group from 8-11 who they had observed in consistent demonstration of the values of SERVICE, EXCELLENCE, DEDICATION & LEADERSHIP.  Obviously, these values are such that all our Redlanders aspire to demonstrate them – so we would like to congratulate the many, many students who received nominations, creating narrow margins in several Award categories.

Yr 7 students automatically receive a Music participation award in their first year in the Program, while Yr 12 receive a medallion, to honour their contributions throughout their Redlands school journey. These prizes and the final Award Recipient trophies will be available to collect from Senior Music Reception as soon as we return to campus.

We would like to congratulate the following Music Award Recipients for 2021:

Redlands Composition Competition

Thank you to all the students who entered the Redlands Composition Competition (also dubbed the ‘Comp Comp’ or ‘Comp²’!)  The panel will be reviewing all entries this coming week and will be publishing the successful candidates in next week’s Note Day.

Welcome

The Music Department would like to welcome Mr Brian Sim to our Tutor team, as he joins us to work with our budding Cello and Double Bass students from P-12. Should you be interested in lessons with Mr Sim or any other of our fantastic tutors, please contact Junior or Senior Music Offices.

Date Changes

Please keep your eye on the Music Events dates on Pulse in case of adjustments in the term ahead, in light of our rapidly changing context. The Senior Instrumental Competition is now needing to be postponed from the 13th September 2021 and we are investigating potential dates in Term 4. We will confirm soon.

AMEB Exams

As mentioned previously. we have been working with the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) regarding our examination candidates and can confirm that all students will now all be sitting Video Repertoire examinations (in place of face to face exams).  We are pleased to advise that we have arranged an extension of the due date for these uploads to later in the year – and so we aim for exams to be recorded in the first few weeks of Term 4, assuming we have returned to face to face learning.  We will advise if anything changes. Please discuss this change in examination type (Video upload) with your child’s Tutor for further clarity.

Contact Us

As always, our administrative team remain ready to help you with any queries you have. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to James Olds (seniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au) or Jacqueline McGlade  (juniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au) and they will be happy to assist you.

Have a lovely week,

Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12 (Acting)
seniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au 
9968 9820