Darkthorn’s Blog

RSC MUSIC
rsc music program/herbert/july 24/310 words
By Rosemarie Herbert

2008 has been a boom year for music at Rosebud Secondary College.

The opening of the Southern Peninsula Performing Arts Centre and associated music classroom upgrades last year have provided much needed space for students.

Five individual practice rooms as well as two larger classrooms provide space for both instrumental (brass, strings, woodwind) and classroom (drums, keyboard, guitar) music.

Mr. Matthew Flynn, an instrumental teacher at several other local schools as well as the College, said that the number of students he is required to teach is getting excessive.

“I had to write over 400 reports last semester, and yet more students have joined the music program since then,” he said.

On days their other music teacher is away, students are still looking to escape regular class, claiming the need for ‘practice time’.

A senior music student mentioned that some of the students participating in the compulsory after-school band rehearsals were very disruptive.

“They can’t seem to concentrate for very long, they are forever giggling during practice,” she said.

Students are encouraged to enjoy various music events throughout the year, including SoundWaves (a vibrant interschool event), a camp and several concerts.

A recent school camp to Wilson’s Promontory involved over thirty members of the school’s concert band.

Activities on the camp included team building exercises, watching inspirational movies, several rehearsals a day and giving concerts at local primary schools.

Teachers said that the students were well-behaved and that another camp would definitely be in the works for 2009.

“With all the up-and-coming year 9 students, plus the new intake of students in year 7 next year, we will be considering a camp in the near future.” said Sam Clough, the band’s leader.

Expressions of interest for assisting at the proposed 2009 camp, or with the college music program in general, can be directed to the Music Department on 5986 8595.

ENDS