Creative & Performing Arts
Drama
There are many benefits gained from studying drama as a subject. A
lot of what happens in the drama classroom requires students to think
on their feet. Through improvisation activities, students learn to be
spontaneous and creative. Group work requires cooperation and
collaboration. As students actively explore characters and situations of
their own imagining, and in written scripts, they build on their
ability to empathise and understand. All of these benefits have an
impact on their work in other subject areas. Probably the most evident
benefit drama provides, however, is a confidence to perform in front of
others and to express ideas confidently. Some students who take drama
have aspirations to become actors, theatre workers, film producers,
comedians or television stars. For most students, Drama is a way of
building self-confidence. Drama cannot claim to be a direct pathway or
requirement for a particular career. It does, however, help to prepare
students for life.
Girls at PLC Armidale have the opportunity to take Drama as an
approved Board of Studies elective subject from Year 9.
In Years 9 and
10 Drama is about making, performing and appreciating Drama and Theatre.
A large focus is on improvisation and play building. Students also
learn to record and reflect on the learning process through the use of
the drama logbook. Theatrical forms and styles, such as melodrama and
physical theatre, are explored and students learn to apply the features
of a particular style or form to create their own work. All students in
Years 9 and 10 have the opportunity to participate in the Speech and
Drama section of the Armidale Eisteddfod and may nominate to also
participate in the annual AHIGS Festival of Speech and Drama. From time
to time students will also perform for a wider school audience or for
their parents and friends. Girls who take Drama as an elective find that
experience allows them to make a valuable contribution to whole school
Guild Drama in Term 4 each year.
Drama is also available as Stage 6 subject in Years 11 and 12.
Students would normally progress from Year 10 but may commence studies
in Drama in Year 11. Currently, students in Years and 11 and 12 combine
with students from other independent Armidale schools.
In Stage 6 Drama the practices of making, performing and critically
studying interrelate. The Preliminary (Year 11) course comprises;
• Improvisation, Playbuilding, Acting
• Elements of Production in Performance
• Theatrical Traditions and Performance Styles
The HSC (Year 12) course comprises:
• Australian Drama and Theatre (one topic from a choice of two)
• Studies in Drama and Theatre (one topic from a choice of seven)
• Group Performance
• Individual Project either Critical Analysis, Design, Performance, Scriptwriting or Video Drama
The more popular choices for the Individual Project have been Performance, Video Drama and Design.
For further information about the Stage 6 Drama Course visit the NSW Board of Studies Website.
Music
Music has always played a prominent role at PLC Armidale and continues to be one of the signature aspects of excellence in the overall curriculum at the College. As a
subject, it is offered from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 and taught by our specialist teachers. All students are encouraged to perform, compose and
to listen. Our Music department facilitates numerous opportunities four our students to perform, including weekly In-House concerts which build confidence.
Our College offers elective music in Years 9 to 12 and many
of these talented musicians have been placed in the top 10% in the state
for HSC Music. Music at PLC Armidale consistently enjoys outstanding success in the local and wider community.
Co-Curricular
Music Tuition
Tuition is available from highly qualified teachers for all
orchestral string instruments as well as classical guitar; woodwind,
including recorder, piccolo, flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet and
saxophone; brass, including trumpet, trombone and French horn;
percussion; piano; organ; and voice. Tuition can also be arranged for
the Celtic harp and bagpipes.
Students are expected to enrol in appropriate AMEB and/or Trinity College music examinations each year, and are permitted to arrange
one music tuition lesson per week within class time on a rotation basis.
Ensemble Music
In our Junior School, all girls are required to participate in
either K – 2 Choir or 3 – 6 Choir. These are timetabled into the school
day once a week. There is a Junior Vocal Ensemble, called the "Treble Makers" which rehearses
outside of class time.
We also have a Junior String Orchestra, Junior Wind Ensemble and
Junior School Orchestra. Strings and wind are also timetabled into the
school day and occur once per week.
In our Senior School there are a number of large and small
instrumental ensembles. These include the Senior Orchestra and Senior
String Orchestra, as well as various chamber music groups.
These groups include Junior and Senior String Quartets, Chamber Orchestra
and Recorder Consort. Other chamber music groups are formed when
required to cater for current student needs.
Our Senior School also has a Choir and Vocal Ensemble. All of these
ensembles rehearse outside of class time and are involved in a number
of performances within the school and community each term.
Extra-Curricular
A number of extra-curricular music activities are available in the
Armidale community. Most of these are run by the New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) and include choirs for all age ranges,
instrumental ensembles and the Armidale Youth Orchestra. Rehearsal and practice studios are available for boarders and day girls’ use.
For
more information on music contact:
Mr Matthew Minter
Director of Music
Tel: (+612) 6770 1700
Public Speaking and Debating
The Speech & Drama program at PLC Armidale is reknown for its
comprehensive and confidence building program which is nurtured on a
daily basis right from start in the foundation years of Junior School
across many areas of the school curriculum. Girls are provided with lots
of opportunities to practice across the school calendar.
Guild Drama, held on the final day of each school year, would have to
be the most special day on the annual calendar. It involves girls from
Kinder to Year 11, where each plays a role. From the creative script to
the music, costumes and choreography, the twenty minute drama
performance is all initiated and performed by the girls themselves.
Each year, students in Years 7-10 participate in the Middleton Public
Speaking competition, as well as the statewide AHIGS Festival of Speech competition. Our College also presents an annual Starry Night of Drama in Term 4, which is another opportunity to showcase their skills and talents to our community.
In 2015, PLC Armidale placed equal sixth out of the
twenty-seven schools that participated in the festival, most coming from
far larger schools. This was an outstanding result, and the highest
team placing that PLC Armidale has achieved in recent years.
Speech and Drama lessons are offered to students in either small groups of 2-4 students, or private lessons.
Please contact the teacher, Mrs Jan Patterson directly for fees and lesson times.
Please complete the form below to join Co-Curricular Speech and Drama at PLC Armidale.
Co-Curricular Speech and Drama (PDF 183.3KB)
For more information on Speech & Drama, please contact:
Mrs Jan Patterson
Speech & Drama Coordinator
(+612) 6770 1700