For the past 15 months, Sophie Richter -a primary school teacher and now founder of Musica Encore- has been visiting the school to teach the core elements of music.

Students have been immersed in rhythm, melody, pitch, composition, timbre, harmony, theory, improvisation, and score reading.

Through a Carl Orff (singing, chanting, movement, body percussion, tuned and un-tuned percussion) based approach, students have learnt about Australian Ballads and folk songs, beat out the bossa beat and are now playing recorders.

Teachers at Kangaloon were keen to implement the program, already knowledgeable about what Sophie calls the extraordinary potential of a music education.

Sophie’s research into music has found that it strengthens literacy, language and numeracy skills, fine and gross motor skills and essentially provides a complete workout for the brain.

“Our brains work harder when playing music. A person uses multiple skill sets when playing music- oral, aural, visual, fine, gross motor and memory skills are all engaged when playing music. Music empowers children,” she said.

Keen to continue the cooperative and collaborative learning at Kangaloon, teachers group the students with their learning buddies, which enables students to work in a group and as a group.

Supportive relationships, high achievement and improved self esteem are the results of such learning.

Kangaloon teacher Lyn Dunn said the lessons had proved extremely beneficial to students.

“Sophie’s lessons are highly engaging and have provided our students with a wide range of experiences in listening, performing and composing music,” she said. 

“I have been amazed by the rate of progress and the level of musical proficiency of our students- they are reading and performing music.” 

Drum sticks have now arrived and large buckets are being collected for bucket drumming.

For more information contact Sophie at Sophie@MusicaEncore.com.au or call 0416 266 976

More on Musica Encore: www.MusicaEncore.com.au