by Sue Haylock

Instrumental Music students are to be congratulated for persevering and engaging with their music lessons during the long period of remote learning.

For many, it has been very challenging having music lessons through a computer screen each week via Webex or the Microsoft Teams platform. Instrumental staff have successfully problem solved along the way and adapted to change, such as posting out new reeds, re-tuning instruments remotely, creating their own music demo videos, uploading all music resources to Compass, even fixing a flute at a student's front door with a mask on!

Family pets have made frequent guest appearances, making music lessons fun and very entertaining. Percussion students have had to play rhythms on table tops or saucepans, YouTube became our best friend and students relied on digital recordings for playing along with their band parts. Who would have thought that playing an instrument in pyjamas or a onesie would suddenly become the norm!

Many students developed further technical and reading skills on their instruments through weekly lessons and interactions with their music peers. Music lessons provided a sense of wellbeing through sharing ideas, playing along with the teacher and promoted healthy conversations and contact; much needed during the lock down environment. School Instrumental Music Staff have worked hard to provide a sense of continuity, wellbeing and engaging music lessons, enabling the school Music Program to be maintained and continue to thrive. Never underestimate “the power of music!”

Attached is a pic of Year 7 students Ava and Tahlia during a remote Guitar lesson.