Syndal South Primary School

The Arts (Visual and Music)

The children at Syndal South Primary are very fortunate to have such a wonderful environment and great resources at the school to stimulate their creative development.

Visual Art

A purpose built Art Room is well equipped to allow children to explore a wide range of creative experiences. A covered courtyard is attached to the Art Room, and is often set up with easels to bring out the "artist".

The Visual Arts Program allows for the students to use the Art Room for one hour each week, whereby activities could include:

Painting Drawing Model Making Art Appreciation

Printing Pottery Textiles Construction

Units of work being explored in the classroom are often supported with the lessons in the Art Room. Arts and craft that reflect special events and special times of the year are also woven into the art program.

Students are involved in practical experiences, which lead to imagining, exploring, creating, discovering, reasoning, inventing, experimenting, selecting and appreciation of art.

In addition to the lessons in the Art Room, children also experience many art–related activities in their classrooms each week.

Music

At Syndal South, we pride ourselves on the breadth and variety of musical experiences given to our students. The school has an extensive resource of high quality instruments for student use, including computer software and hardware to extend children’s knowledge/experiences.

In music, students use their voice or musical instrument to compose, improvise and perform. They develop skills such as keeping beat, rhythm reading and music notation. They listen, respond and move to music from different times, styles and cultures. They learn to take risks, be imaginative, explore sound, engage in music discussion and develop an appreciation for a variety of music.

All children receive a planned, sequential 30-minute class lesson each week.		Year 2 students learn the Xylophone during a separate weekly session.

For Prep to Year 2, the program is strongly influenced by the Kodaly philosophy of music education. It’s an extensive, interesting and challenging music program designed to develop each student’s music potential.

All children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 receive a 30-minute recorder lesson. In Years 5 and 6 children elect to play on larger recorders - trebles and tenors.

The Year 6 students participate in a drumming program. It’s a fun “call and response” style lesson where all children have a chance to be part of a highly positive musical experience.

In addition, Year 5 and 6 children undertake a 6 week unit of work where they develop the technique of mallet work on tuned percussion, playing tunes from memory, playing music in 3 parts and performing to younger grades.

Choir is an elective program for students in Years 5 and 6. Our choir program extremely keen members. A 30-minute lesson is held each week. Choir members are given the opportunity to perform for the school and the wider community.

The school holds an annual concert where all children make a contribution.

In addition, private tuition is available on piano, violin, guitar, flute, saxophone and clarinet.

The range and breadth of this program would not be possible without the assistance of school staff and parents.