CHOIR is all about teamwork for grade six singer Hope. Each pupil has their role to play in performing and supporting each other in bringing songs to life.
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Sebastopol Primary’s choir is growing and builds on a music therapy program in the school that encourages children to find a voice.
“My passion for music means a lot to me,” Hope, a choir vice-captain, said. “The thing I love about my music is the way it controls emotions.”
In one rendition of The Dying Stockman, Hope and choir captain Heather said some classmates were crying because the music made them feel sad – and it was okay for music to make you feel emotions.
Heather said the choir was definitely getting better. There were far less nerves and they sang a little louder this year, compared to last, at the launch of the Kmart Wishing Tree in Delacombe.
Guiding Star Masonic Lodge visited the school assembly on Wednesday afternoon to deliver enough money for the school to purchase a new keyboard with weighted keys, allowing it to be played like a piano, so the choir can sing at other schools or in public more often.
Sebastopol principal Michelle Wilson said this would be a great confidence boost to the choir, which was going from strength-to-strength.
Ms Wilson said the school introduced music therapy sessions in mid-2016 as a way to promote student well-being and help with any issues or worries.
Sebastopol is one of the few primary schools in the region to run music therapy, but Ms Wilson said music within the school had great benefits to all pupils.
“If you teach children music, and have it as part of the curriculum, there are really good outcomes across all learning areas. You can see it in reading and math,” Ms Wilson said.
“Music supports student cohesion. If you’re not into sport, this is another avenue, another way to feel part of a team and make a difference. The sum of it is greater than the individuals.”
Hope and Heather are both keen to continue learning music in high school. Hope wants to keep singing while Heather wants to learn drums.
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