As part of our commitment to school music education, NECOM hosted a professional learning workshop for Primary music teachers with Paul Jarman on Wednesday 22nd February. Paul is one of Australia’s most engaging conductor’s for children’s choirs and has composed many iconic works for children’s choirs including Shackleton and Pemulwuy.
The purpose of the workshop was to introduce the set work for the 2017 Eisteddfod The Hour That I Like Best by Dan Walker. The NECOM Year 3-6 choir Cantilena Singers were used as the model choir for the workshop and Paul led teachers through warm-ups and strategies for teaching the piece to their own school choirs. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the teachers who attended from the following local schools: Armidale City PS, Bald Blair PS, Ben Venue PS, Martins Gully PS, Newling PS, Sandon PS, Walcha Central School, The Waldorf School, St. John’s Primary School, St. Mary’s Primary School, TAS and PLC.
NECOM plans to record a rehearsal CD for these schools as many of them do not have accompanists for their school choirs. Armidale and surrounding towns are truly fortunate to have teachers such as these who are committed to providing the best possible music education opportunities for their students. Stay tuned for our next choral workshop for Primary teachers on Wednesday 17th May!