The music program at NHS has an active hands on approach to music education. Instruments, dance and singing are at the core of all lessons. Students are encouraged to be music makers. Students undertake music lessons each week and cover all key music skills through activity and performance.
The program has key focus areas that include African drumming, Marching drumming, ukulele, Salsa dancing and singing. Skills are developed in these areas and others over time starting in reception. This builds self-confidence team work and lifelong skills. It is our aim that all students can play an instrument, make music as a team and dance before graduating from our school.
In addition to the classroom music students can take their learning further in music by joining our extension groups. These include the Primary Schools Festival of Music Choir and School Choir, The North Haven Guitar Group, The Instrumental Music Services Hub Band (concert band), and The Piano Group.
Singing
All students sing. Students learn singing technique and harmony as well as reading music. All students sing starting with traditional folk songs, singing games, rounds and songs that accompany dances. This is by memory and develops a learnt vocabulary and rhythms of speech. Pitch and intervals are developed with the natural patterns of children’s development. Students further develop their singing skills with part singing and harmony using choir material and songs from the Festival of Music Program. Current popular songs are learnt and students are encouraged to perform, interpret and make singing part of their everyday lives.
Ukulele
All students learn the ukulele introduced in reception and build on their skills each year. Ukulele is an approachable way for students to lead into a whole range of stringed instruments. Fun, affordable and sweet sounding. The online resources for continued learning at home are excellent and enable students to learn the songs of their choice. The skills learnt with ukulele lead directly into the guitar syllabus offered in the Guitar Ensemble.
African Drumming
All students in all year levels learn to play African hand percussion instruments using traditional West African rhythms. Multiple parts, interlocking rhythms and musical structures are covered as well as that all important time feel in a circle of drums.
Marching Drums
Students learn traditional marching drum patterns on snare drum, triples and bass drums. Reading music notation, stick control and team work are covered in the class lessons forming solid foundations for all future drumming and to move into the drum corp.
The school choir is part of the Festival of Music program which culminates in a performance at the Festival Centre. Singers who want more than the classroom singing can hone the technique and develop their performance skills. Students learn to read music notation, sing harmony and work as a musical team. Students need dedication and commitment to get the best from themselves in the North Haven Choir. The choir offers pathway opportunities for aspiring singers and those looking to study voice in high school. The choir performs regularly during assemblies, community events such as Remembrance Day ceremonies and at the Entertainment Centre as part of the Schools Festival of Music.
Concert Band
Through the Department of education Instrumental Music Program a whole range of concert band instruments are offered to students in years 5 to 7 this is during school time at Le Fevre Peninsula Primary School. Instruments include flute, trumpets, saxophones, clarinets and more. Student learn as part of an ensemble called the Hub Band and with group lessons with specialist teachers. This program offers pathway opportunities for aspiring musicians looking to pursue music in the senior education.
