Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2019

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THE POWER OF CONNECTING THROUGH MUSIC

vinyl records have made a comeback (Leimkuehler, M., 2019), as have Polaroid cameras (“Fujifilm sales increased”, 2018), and despite the immediacy and accessibility of online music streaming, last year more than 18 million tickets to live music concerts were sold in Australia—the highest sales in the past 10 years. At the heart of these real-world experiences lies the importance of human connection, not just with objects, but most importantly, with each other. These special connections and relationships undoubtedly lie at the heart of Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Instrumental Music Program. The School’s Music environment creates a culture of respect and trust, setting the stage for students to experience empathy and develop a heightened sense of our shared humanity. This year promises to provide rich opportunities for connection for Instrumental Music students at Girls Grammar, with many workshops, masterclasses, camps and tours supplementing regular specialised teaching and learning. Already this year, the Instrumental Music Department has hosted the second annual International Women’s Day Concert held on Friday 8 March, where students premiered three newly commissioned works in a stunning concert that celebrated and paid homage to women in music. Female composers and artists throughout history and from around the world were represented in a musical showcase spread across multiple venues within the School grounds.

AUTHOR Mrs Emma Dron Director of Instrumental Music

The future is often predicted to be a world in which science, technology and innovation will lead to the automation and possible elimination of many tasks which, until now, have been delivered by humans. Many question, somewhat fearfully, what will happen to the values and relationships that have shaped our modern world. And yet, despite the proliferation of screens and social media, or in fact perhaps because of this, many young people are seeking out more tactile, tangible and physical experiences in this ultra-high definition, three-dimensional environment we call the ‘real’ world. The physical, material nature of objects—their colour, texture, shape, size, weight and smell—engage our senses in ways that digital products cannot. It is fascinating to see younger generations rediscovering and resurrecting older analogue technologies. Printed book sales are on the rise (“The market down under”, 2018),

GRAMMAR GAZETTE