Performing Arts
Performing Arts is an area at Coomandook that has continued to grow over the past five years and provides many opportunities for students across all year levels at our school.
Coomandook provides opportunities for students to pursue their interests and discover their talents. As every student is different we provide opportunities for all students to experience all curriculum areas and as many different additional programs as possible. Performing Arts is one curriculum area that we pride ourselves on being able to support our students to explore throughout their schooling.
Specialised Performing Arts R-11
All students from Reception to Year 11 have the opportunity to participate in specialised Performing Arts lessons as a part of their curriculum. These lessons are provided by specialised Performing Arts teachers and allow students to be exposed to all elements of the Performing Arts; Dance, Drama and Music. Performance options throughout the year provide students with chances to showcase what they have learnt.
Primary Schools Music Festival
Students in Years 5,6,7 are involved in choir every year as a part of their classroom Performing Arts curriculum. As a member of choir all students are given the opportunity to perform as a part of a 400 voice choir at the Adelaide Festival Centre in front of thousands of people. Coomandook students may also be selected to audition for solos or two of the 24 compere roles hosting the Primary Schools Music Festival and have successfully done so in the past.
Coomandook is also a member of the Murray Mallee Music Festival which provides our students a second opportunity to perform throughout the year at Murray Bridge. Here students are also selected to perform solos or act as a compere for the evening.
School Productions
Coomandook has developed a tradition of providing all students with the opportunity to perform as a part of a musical. Students from Reception to Year Ten all participate in our bi-annual whole school production as a part of their Performing Arts Lessons. Students in Year 11 and 12 can choose to participate through Community Studies Performing Arts, Research Project or as an extra-curricular activity. Students all take on either on stage roles or senior secondary students may choose an element of the production team such as lighting, costumes, hair and make-up etc to develop skills in.
Previously students from years eight to twelve have participated in a secondary school production in alternate years but this year have opted for a new experience choosing to participate in Wakakirri.
Wakakirri
For the first time in 2018 students from years six to eleven will be involved in Wakakirri.
What is it?
Wakakirri is a story dance competition for school students across Australia. Schools come up with a three to seven minute story dance that theatrically tells a story using a combination of dancing, acting and creative movement to pre-recorded music. A Wakakirri performance can tell any story and use any combination of dance, creative movement, acting, music, props, costumes, sets, and in some cases; film and projections. Students are the creative force behind each Wakakirri performance, deciding on what the story is that they would like to tell and being responsible for the majority of the creative work.
Performing in Wakakirri is an experience students never forget. Schools spend show day rehearsing and meeting other schools and that same night walk the red carpet with the Wakakirri Panel and perform on the big stage at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
For more information about Wakakirri and to see what we are so excited about being involved in have a look at the Wakakirri website. http://www.wakakirri.com/
More information will be coming out soon about our story and how you can help and be involved in this new and exciting adventure with us!
Carols by Candlelight
In week nine every year Coomandook Area School host the Coomy Carols by Candlelight on the school oval. This is an opportunity for members of our school and community to come together and celebrate the year that has been. Each year community members and groups are invited to perform along-side all of our students from kindergarten to year twelve either on stage or as a part of our student and community band. The student and community band rehearse throughout the last term and perform for the community carols. If you are interested in being involved please keep an eye out for expressions of interest in term three or four.
Year 3/4 Recorder
Coomandook students are introduced to reading music and playing an instrument in year three and four through our classroom recorder program. Student’s progress through a structured recorder program with a specialist teacher who teaches them music theory along the way. This provides students with skills ready to transition into our year five music program and learn trumpet, clarinet or flute.
Instrumental Music
Beginning in year five students are able to learn either a woodwind instrument (clarinet, flute or saxophone) or a brass instrument (trumpet or trombone). Lessons are provided free of charge by the department but students are required to pay for the hire of instruments. This hire fee is approximately $4 a week and can be paid in a lump sum or through instalments throughout the year. Students who are learning an instrument are invited to attend Murraylands band workshops throughout the year which provides them with the opportunity to perform as a member of a large band and work with professional musicians and other local teachers and students.
Year 5 Music Program
2018 has seen the introduction of the year five instrumental music program. All students in year five are provided with an instrument free of charge for the year to be able to experience instrumental music lessons. These students work with their instrumental teachers and participate in workshops throughout the Murraylands over the year the same as all other instrumental music students.
VET Music
Instrumental music students in years eight to twelve have the opportunity to be involved in VET Music. Students can complete units towards achieving a Certificate I in Music Performance through their instrumental music lessons and involvement in Murraylands Band workshops and performances. Successful completion of a unit gives students 10 SACE Credits (equivalent to a one semester subject in year eleven).