12 Jun 2017
By restructuring the RFF program at the school it was possible to solve the music program issue. Ms Caponas has taught at the school since the beginning of 2016 and has brought with her outstanding music learning and enthusiasm to have students perform with confidence. We have witnessed this at presentation days, assemblies and most recently at the Celebrate 2044 festival put on by Inner West Council.
The issue of the band at St Peters was very different. It is very difficult for bands to operate in small schools unless they are specialised musical schools. Bands only can take primary school aged students because of the sizes of the instruments involved. Consequently St Peters with its small number of 3-6 students was at a disadvantage. However, I know there are schools around us that had bands and then I began to wonder if it would be possible for our students to join and become part of that initiative. I spoke to Tempe Public School who we share many activities with such as stage 3 camps and sporting carnival and it seemed very possible. Hugh Miller (now principal of Petersham PS) helped to make it happen at the Tempe Public School side and for the beginning of 2016 we had an agreement for St Peters Students to enter the band program.
The intention was to call them the 2044 band but perhaps some people do not realise that there are in fact 3 bands that operate. They are the training band, the performing band and the stage band.
The training band is where students start to learn their instruments and develop their abilities. In 2016, we had three students, Marlow, Maya and Ruby in the training band and two of them Maya and Marlow have now in 2017 joined the performing band. We also now have Josie who has joined the training band. We have been very fortunate to have been welcomed so warmly by the parents and students at Tempe even with our very small numbers.
Students have an opportunity to play a range of instruments orientated around the classic band format. They also have the opportunity to make new friends, mix with children from Tempe PS as well as develop an amazing skill.
This year Marlow and Maya had an opportunity to attend a Band Camp at Stanwell Tops near Wollongong. Led by Tempe teacher Miss Stevens, some parents and their marvellous conductor Murray Jackson, the two had an amazing time practising with their instruments and getting to socialise with the other band members. As well as play their instruments a great deal, they were able to do cool activities like archery and play games like survivor. Maya commented that they played so much music that her lips were sore afterwards but from Marlow's comments it seems like the Hot Chocolate that was dished out made up for it. I think you can see from the photographs that the camp was very cool indeed.
This Wednesday the band is holding a fund raiser and information evening for families with children looking to join the school band. Just come to Tempe Public School Hall, entering via Union St Tempe by 6pm. A short concert starts at 6:30pm followed by a BBQ sausage sizzle. It's a $10 entry with all proceeds going towards the running of the band. Make a decision to come along and find out more and help grow your child's learning repertoire.