Music Parent Letter September 2018

Tel: +27 (12) 348-1221 110 Clearwater Road
Fax: +27 (12) 361-1917 Lynnwood Glen
Cell: +27 (83) 2354318 Pretoria 0081
Twitter: @StalbansZA
 Private Bag X01
www.stalbanscollege.com Lynnwood Ridge
Email: [email protected] 0040
South Africa
Rainer von Schlichting
Director of Music

18 September 2018

Dear Parents

Heading towards the end of the year, we are proud of the Music Department’s achievements in the
first two trimesters, and excited about the activities lying ahead of us.

We miss the Form 3 Journey adventurers and are looking forward to welcoming them back into class,
music lessons and group practices on 1 October; they are leaving a void, especially in our music groups.
The Form 4’s will soon be stepping into different leadership positions in the Choir, Band, Barbershop,
Drum Circle, Ensembles and Music and Arts Portfolios. The Form 2 boys need to think carefully about
their Subject Choices for next year. Most of the Form 1 boys will have settled into a reasonable routine,
and are no longer as excited, scared or lost as they were at the start of the year. Soon, they will say
their goodbyes to their Form 5 Mentors.

The Form 5s are in the process of moving through their list of “lasts”: Portfolio tasks, practical exams
and orals, sports matches, concerts, dinners, Valediction and Speech Day, all coming up soon or already
completed. The Form 5 Subject Music students have performed their final Practical Exams on 11
September, and are in the process of completing their Research and Composition portfolio tasks.

The Cultural Dinner on 6 September was a truly special event, with an out-of-the-ordinary supper
menu, beautifully decorated tables and a celebration of the year’s cultural successes. We were
honoured by the presence and contributions of Guest Speaker Robert Forbes (Class of 2000) from
Radio 5fm and Guest Performers Daniel Conradie (Class of 2011) and Michael Hyams. Three Music
Awards were presented at the Cultural Dinner:

Spears Choir Award: Luke Sweetlove
Most Improved Musician: Tautona Moloi
Most Promising Musician: Tiago Teixeira (in his absence)

Please take note that the Music Mix Concert date has been moved to 9 October. Our sister school, St
Mary’s DSG, has their Speech Day scheduled on 10 October; the change will allow parents, brothers,
sisters and staff to attend both events. Please make note in your diaries of the following activities which
involve the Music Department:

Music Mix Concert: 9 October 19:00 Auditorium
Valedictory Service: 12 October 18:00 Marquee
Speech Day: 13 October 09:00 Marquee (Last commitment for Form 5)
Note4Note Concert: 25 October 18:30 Auditorium
Subject Music Recitals: 1 November 18:00 Auditorium (Only for Forms 1, 2 and 4)
Carol Service: 23 November 18:30 St Alban’s Cathedral

Please support your son’s participation in these activities. At the Music Mix Concert, we will pay tribute
to the Form 5s who were actively involved in the Music Department during their High School career.
Closer to the time, they will receive an official invitation. The last official music commitment including
the Form 5s is Speech Day; thereafter, they are excused from all Music Department activities.

“It takes a school with vision to prepare a young man for life”

In preparation of the Carol Service on 23 November, the following rehearsals have been arranged for
Choir, Barbershop and instrumentalists involved:

15 November: 15:00 – 17:00
16 November: 14:00 – 16:00
20 November: 14:00 – 16:00
23 November: 15:00 – 18:00 at the St Alban’s Cathedral
Choir and Barbershop members, and other boys involved, are required to include these rehearsals
into their study planning schedule.

Please be reminded that boys need to excuse themselves from their practical lesson at least 24 hours
in advance. The teacher may rightfully charge for lessons when boys do not adhere to the 24 hour
notice period. Apart from real emergencies, the teacher is not required to make up missed lessons in
this regard. A teacher may also refuse to teach a lesson if lesson fees are in arrears.

A number of pupils are enrolled for Practical and/or Music Theory exams through UNISA, ABRSM, Trinity
College of London and Rockschool in October and November. We wish them best of luck; hard work,
effort and persistence are the cornerstones of achieving success in these exams, as talent alone does
suffice in reaching potential.

Subject Music practical requirements this term are as follows:
Forms 1, 2 and 4: 1 new piece to be performed at the Recitals on 1 November.
To be examined during the Practical Exams scheduled during the November exam period: 2
pieces, new or old (pieces played during Terms 1 and 2), at the correct level; full technical
requirements of the respective syllabus and grade; sight reading.
Form 3: not required to perform at the Recitals.
To be examined during the Practical Exams scheduled during the November exam period: 2
pieces, new or old (pieces played during Terms 1 and 2), at the correct level; full technical
requirements of the respective syllabus and grade; sight reading.

We wish the Matrics all the best for their last stretch! May the hard work pay off in the final portfolios
and imminent exams.

Rainer

Rainer von Schlichting
Director of Music