Music in Primary School
Mrs Mary-Ann Parer loves teaching music at MCCC. She has been teaching at our College for nine years, and currently teaches music across Kindergarten to Year 6.
This term Primary students engaged in a variety of activities across three stages. Infants learnt to identify different instruments and learnt to read simple notation to perform beats and rhythms as a class band. Years 3 and 4 focused on African drumming, vocals, and various percussion rhythms. Finally, Years 5 and 6 learnt how to perform Smoke on the Water on piano, guitar, ukulele, and xylophones, both individually and as an ensemble group.
On Tuesdays Mrs Parer leads a contemporary rock band for primary students. This gives students the opportunity to develop their skills further with their instrument and within an ensemble. They perform at the Eisteddfod, chapels and at various school events. She believes all students should engage with Creative Arts.
Research shows that students who learn an instrument, enhance their cognitive learning, as they engage both the right and left side of the brain.
Mrs Parer believes the Primary Music program is brilliant for a child’s social and emotional development. It allows them to connect with community, develop teamwork and language skills and helps with overall expression and confidence. Encourage your child to connect with one of these groups. last year, and now serves as the Secondary Head of Music. She has loved watching the Secondary students’ enthusiasm for Music grow in her time with the College.
Music in Secondary School
Miss Anna Davidson started teaching at MCCC at the start of last year, and now serves as the Secondary Head of Music. She has loved watching the Secondary students’ enthusiasm for Music grow in her time with the College.
Secondary Music currently has two elective classes in Stage 6, which is comprised of a large Year 11 class and a large Year 12 class. We also have compulsory Music in Years 7 and 8, and Elective Music in Years 9 and 10.
Secondary students have the opportunity to play and perform in a variety of contexts throughout the College Year. Interested students play in the College chapel band each week, and Elective Music students are able to form bands and ensembles to play at the Taree Eisteddfod, College Presentations and many events throughout the College year.
Our Music department has grown this year, with Mr Brent Weightman joining us, and is already a huge asset to the team. Mrs Alecia Hambly still continues to bring joy to the classroom by taking Year 8 music.
Miss Davidson believes that the MCCC Music program is vital for our students as it helps them to think creatively, work in a team, learn new and challenging skills and have fun making something beautiful with their friends.