Hello to everyone, welcome back to school, and, what a beautiful start we have had to this Term with our NAIDOC Week Assembly. As ever, there is much to look forward to this Term and already we are surfing the waves of rhythm with the return of Kofi and his African Drumming Program. Our Instrumental Music Program is continuing strongly, and this Term we welcome back Jen Timming to teach flute as Kylie is on leave. And, our choir is back in full swing with a focus on singing songs from Ghana. Please read on via the link…

Thank you to everyone for a deeply moving NAIDOC Week Assembly in which we honoured the life and legacy of Uncle Archie Roach. The resounding message that was shared was that although Archie had suffered greatly as a child of the Stolen Generations, he lived his life devoted to his country and culture, loved all people, and strove for national healing through truth-telling and reconciliation. Archie’s music was able to reach far beyond the spoken word and helped us to understand aspects of our country’s difficult and painful past. It was so important that the students had the experience of adding their voices to Archie’s lyrics as they sang ‘Let Love Rule’ in Assembly. It was important that the students could also listen, and thereby think about the meaning of the words that were so beautifully sung for them by Ruby in the first verse. It’s all about giving and receiving: hearing the song’s message as was sung from the heart for us, and then giving by adding our voices to the song. Thank you to everyone for adding your voices to the meaning of Reconciliation and NAIDOC Week. Thank you to Ruby for leading our singing, to John, Nick and the super 5/6 Uke Club to accompanying us. When our beautiful community sings together, we really deepen our connections to each other and our purpose.

The buzz of African drumming rhythms are back in the air and it feels great! When PHPS first invited Kofi Kunkpe to lead the students in a program of African Drumming in 2016, my dream was that as our students grow through their Primary school years, they would have the opportunity to work with Kofi every two years to build on their drumming skills, and deepen their connection and value of the concept of culture. This dream really is happening! It has been a fabulous first week of drumming. I am absolutely over joyed to see the students ‘blow’ Kofi away as they immediately locked in with precision, focus and energy. I’m loving watching the students and teachers surrender to the beat and experience the freedom of rhythm. We are delighted to welcome Bassidi Kone to PHPS. Bassidi is a stunning Balafon (wooden xylophone) player and his mastery of this instrument is noting short of breath taking. I remember a comment one of the 5/6 teachers, Jeff Segal, made in 2016, that to work with a true master in any field is deeply inspiring.

This year, Kofi is lifting the the skill level for each year level, and the students are ‘good for it’! The Djembe and kmanlogo (floor drums) routine from 2021’s 5/6s is being ‘nailed’ by the 3/4s, and the Yr 1/2s are all over the drumming patterns that the 3/4s had two years ago. This is really impressive evidence that the students are retaining their skills and awareness of expectations. Bassidi is really challenging the 4/5s and 5/6s with Balafon routines as the students need to memorise melodic patterns and coordinate left and right hand mallets.

Over the next 3 weeks we will continue to practise our routines and learn about the culture of Ghana. Our concerts in Wk5 will not only feature drumming and Balafon playing, but also traditional songs from Ghana. Bravo to everyone for your exceptional focus and energy, a huge thank you to all the admin team for helping to make this project happen, and a heart felt thank you to families for supporting the drumming program this year. We are certainly drumming the winter Blues away! Have a great couple of weeks everyone. Cheerio Deb.