By PETER DOUGLAS
KALLISTA Primary School recently unearthed many talented young musicians through its performing arts day.
With 10 different sessions running throughout the day, there was no shortage of fun and education for the students.
School principal, Christine Finighan, and literacy co-ordinator, Marg, worked hard with the Musical Appreciation Group to prepare the many and diverse activities.
Ms Finighan said the musical event was well received.
“It was an inspiring day with lots of valuable forms of learning, and children were engaged in a rich variety of performing arts experiences,” she said.
Fortunately for the school, there were many talented parents who contributed.
Included among these was Brad Barry, who plays bass guitar in the renowned Australian band Eddie Current Suppression Ring.
Barry ran a session on hip-hop song-writing, where children wrote and performed their own rap songs.
Also helping out was Chris Gelok, who is a talented double-bass player and who introduced the junior school to the ukulele.
Ms Finighan said the musical helpers made the day.
“The day was a great success because of all the parent volunteers who ran the sessions, or provided support,” she said.
“And the whole school community participated by contributing food for the volunteers on the day.”
Meanwhile, the Monbulk Secondary College junior band ran an exciting session where the audience enjoyed a chance to be mini-conductors.
There was also a didgeridoo workshop, while Hart School of Dance had the children pulling out some cool dance moves.
Another parent used everyday household objects to demonstrate, learn about and experiment with the science of sound.
Children in this session were fully engaged and asking wonderful questions.
A Kallista teacher, Hilary, ran a bush dancing session where children experienced some Australiana and learnt their do-si-dos.
Ms Finighan said she particularly wanted to thank parent Kerry Wardlaw, who was instrumental in co-ordinating the day.
