Music Department
"If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music." - Albert Einstein
As we look forward to the Spring Term unfolding, the Music Department will be involved in Orientation programmes, the Presentation Assemblies and Speech Nights, plus the last traditional concert of the year, the Junior and Middle School End of Year Concert. Please note that this event will now be held in the Dickinson Centre on Friday, 31 October at 6.30pm. Several Instrumental Tutors are also holding instrument-specific Soirees as well to enable their own students to perform to each other in front of families. These are always enjoyable events.
The change of the Academic Year, particularly as Year 8 moves in 2015 to be part of Middle School, has enabled potential changes to be made to the co-curricular Music Ensemble Programme. However, specific details are still being worked through because while Senior boys have risen one academic year level, sport requirements haven't changed. This particularly impacts new Year 9 boys who are still participating in Year 8 sport teams and new Year 10 boys who are still playing in Year 9 teams. I appreciate that it takes a couple of days to sort sport commitments and musical ensemble membership and I hope to have any clashes resolved as soon as possible.
Achievements by boys: Joseph Banks (Year 8 2014) successfully sat his Fourth Grade Australian Music Examinations Board Saxophone Exam at the end of last term and followed this a couple of weeks later performing two items in the City of Cockburn Eisteddfod. Firstly, the Under-Fifth-Grade Piano Solo, Joseph achieved a mark of 80 with the second performance, the Under-Fourth-Grade Woodwind Solo achieving a mark of 85 and First Place. For the latter item, Joseph collected two trophies including one for Best Performance of an Australian Composition (Devil May Care by Kerin Bailey).
Congratulations also to Ms Ream who was married during the holidays. We wish her an enjoyable honeymoon and welcome Ms Coleman as acting Head of Woodwind until Week 4.
Upcoming events include:
Monday 20 October, FOSM Ordinary Meeting and AGM, 7.00pm, Senior Music Department
Friday 31 October, Junior and Middle School End of Year Concert, 6.30pm, Dickinson Centre
Many of the events listed above are supported by FOSM. If you would like to join the Friends of Scotch Music (FOSM) - a group of parents who enthusiastically support the work of boys and staff in the Music Department, the process is very straight forward via the FOSM email below. FOSM meets once or twice each term with all meetings beginning at 7.00pm. Meetings go for approximately one hour, and are held in the Senior School Music Room with everyone welcome. Please consider becoming involved in the FOSM Parent Support group as an excellent way to support your son and the Music Programme at Scotch College. The next FOSM Meeting is to be held Monday, 20 October and will include the Annual General Meeting.
Contact Details
The Instrumental Programme is administered by the Senior School Music Department and all queries should be directed to the Music Administrator, Julia Robinson (9383 6841) music@scotch.wa.edu.au. Alternately, please contact Mr David Coughlan, Head of Music, via email DGCoughlan@scotch.wa.edu.au or phone 9383 6842.
If you wish to become more involved in supporting the Music Department by receiving information about the work of FOSM, please contact FOSM@scotch.wa.edu.au.
Mr David Coughlan
Head of Music