Newsletter – 9 March 2021

Rob Weule, Year 4 Teacher & Band Conductor

Excuse me Madam…We’re on a mission from God. We’re getting the Band back together.

The Blues Brothers

God created music to aid us in our praise, honour and worship of Him and to bring others and ourselves joy and fulfilment. The learning of a musical instrument involves specific skill development that can bring lifelong pleasure. The learning of an instrument is a tool for developing a sense of personal identity, it is a T.E.A.M. activity as much as a personal activity and it enhances all other layers of learning.

Learning music provides children with the cognitive foundations for effective learning, which ultimately helps them become confident learners, ready to make the most of their education.

Dr Anita Collins (Bigger Better Brains)

Music is one of the few activities which engage the entire brain. Learning music can help students’ self-confidence, self-discipline and team work. Music helps students progress in other important learning areas such as Maths and English. Indeed, countries with a strong focus on music education tend to have higher scores in literacy and numeracy. Engaging music programs have been shown to help with attendance and can be particularly beneficial for students who are not achieving well in school. All of this evidence for music’s extrinsic benefits make a strong case for music education, but should not overshadow the sheer joy people experience making music, nor the value of the art-form itself. Music is a vital part of everyday life and school life.

Music education can help spark a child’s imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion. When you provide a child with new worlds to explore and challenges to tackle, the possibilities are endless. Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be a part of every child’s world of possibility.

Hillary Clinton

Seven Facts About School Music… (yep these are supported by research)

• Music makes a contribution to kids’ development that no other subject can match.
• Music students are more likely to be good citizens.
• Learning music helps under-performing students improve.
• Musical training can enhance brain function.
• Incorporating music learning into other curriculum areas helps kids learn.
• Playing music improves concentration, memory and ability to express feelings.
• Australia lags behind other countries in the provision of music in school.

With these thoughts in mind, it is most exciting to be part of the Year 4 Band Program that began six years ago at Kuyper Christian School.

Here are the numbers for 2022:

• 23 enthusiastic Year 4 Musicians
• 6 Flutes
• 4 Trombones
• 3 Alto Saxes
• 4 Clarinets
• 4 Trumpets
• 1 Drums
• 1 Bass
• 1 Conductor
• 3 Instrumental Tutors
• Countless hours of home and school rehearsal ahead
• 1 amazingly supportive School Board and Principal
• A lifetime of learning awaiting

The Year 4 Band are involved with an instrumental tutorial and whole band session each week (Thursdays and Fridays) as well as being involved in regular individual rehearsal at home (thanks Band Families). We look forward to this exciting musical adventure with our Year 4 Band. Stay tuned for their first ‘public’ performance.

The Concert Band is also back after 272 days since our last rehearsal: Friday mornings, 8am in the (well ventilated) hall. We used to meet in the music room but have out-grown the space. The Concert Band just missed out on their tour last year due to COVID restrictions. We are now in the process of re-building the band after a very disrupted 2021.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:1-3