The April Holiday Mercy Music & Performance Academy workshops were a great chance to develop musical talents and meet new friends! Students had the chance to collaborate in an ensemble setting, meet like-minded musicians and development their skills, technique and overall musicality. All three workshops were thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended!
The Big Sing Vocal Workshop with professional singing teacher Amelia Nell took place on April 20. Nell’s experiences at both the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing and Australian Girls Choir have contributed to her holistic approach towards teaching students. With a focus on positive learning, fostering individuality, building confidence and mastering technique, students were able to develop their solo and ensemble performance skills. The workshop also guided students on the best ways to prepare for performances and exams by practising activities, which developed vocal production, breathing pitch and tone.
April 21 saw the Christina Creede Music Centre transformed for two very different workshops! Under the instruction of professional drum teacher Rob Di Marzo, the Big Bash workshop introduced students to the wild world of percussion. Rob’s experiences in various ensembles and performance venues inspires students to recognise that percussion is everywhere. It just takes a little bit of creativity, imagination and flexibility to turn anything into an instrument. The workshop explored various aspects including the origins of drumming, score reading, drumming techniques and were even encouraged to improvise their own creative piece.
The Seasonal Strings workshop, on the same day, helped students develop a variety of ensemble and performance skills. Suzuki-trained and qualified string teacher Kirrily Biskupic facilitated the workshop, which focused on a love for music expression and appreciation. A key factor of her workshop included fine-tuning student’s playing technique, as well as improving their tone and resonance. Students were instructed on the importance of mastering the foundations and basics in all aspects, including aural and theoretical knowledge, in order to express themselves through music.