Word is spreading fast about our Glee Clubs and we have been asked to participate in several performances this year. We recently sang in Union Street and took part in the parade for the Christmas festival where the lights were switched on. We have also been asked to perform in John Lewis on Thursday 1st December, the Trinity Centre reindeer parade on Sunday 4th and for some business lunches at Chevron. These are fantastic opportunities for the pupils to perform and so far they have done the school proud.

Recently we took a group of our Advanced Higher, Higher, Intermediate 2 and Standard Grade pupils to see a concert by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra as part of their Maestro Music project. Two of our pupils were lucky enough to get the opportunity to perform Beethoven’s 5th Symphony with the orchestra. Rebecca Lindsay from S6 was chosen to play flute and Beth Nicol from S4 was chosen to play violin. This was a fantastic experience for them to rehearse and perform as part of a professional orchestra. The pupils who watched the concert also enjoyed seeing a live orchestra.

Rehearsals for our school show “Our House” are well underway.  We have a fantastic cast and crew of talented, enthusiastic and committed pupils and staff, working hard both onstage and behind the scenes to ensure that we put on a great show.  Rehearsals are running during lunchtimes and on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3.30-5.00 and the songs, dances and acting are shaping up well.  The show will run from Tuesday 13th – Friday 16th December.

The Glee Club at St Machar has become so popular that we have had to split into 2 Glee Clubs, both of which run on Wednesday after school from 3.30-4.30 in the Music Department.  The original Glee Club is run by Miss McPherson, Miss Gardener, Mrs Robertson and Miss Tanner, while the 2nd Glee Club is run by Miss Barrie and Mrs Porteus who are training them up well.  Our journey to St Machar Glee Club domination has begun with some up and coming performances this term.  Two of our Glee Club members, brother and sister Hannah and Aidan Corrigan performed at a recent open day at Clan.  This led to us being invited to perform at a womans guild event at Northfield Parish Church on Monday night, followed by a performance at the Beach Ballroom on Wednesday 28th September at the Aberdeen City Council Children and Young Person Services Awards.  This is a huge honour for the school and we are sure that the Glee Club will do us proud.  We are hoping to start looking for sponsorship next so we can design and buy customised t-shirts for our performances.  Watch this space for details of more up and coming performances.

On Friday 9th September pupils at St Machar were treated to a special performance by new up and coming band “Luminites”.  The “Luminites” are a five piece band consisting of a guitarist, keyboard player, beatboxer and singers/rappers and was described as being a cross between N’Dubz and Mumford and Sons.  They are backed by A&R legend Hugh Goldsmith (whose credits include Take That) and are managed by Blue’s former manager Daniel Glatman.  As part of our new Curriculum for Excellence Music course the entire S2 cohort were invited to attend the concert which took place in the school hall, in order to experience being in an audience for a musical performance.  The “Luminites” performed several songs, signed autographs and participated in a question and answer session with the pupils.  It is safe to say that they left St Machar with an army of new fans and we wish them well on their road to success.

The new term sees two new members of staff joining the Music department team.  Miss Ruth Barrie has joined us as a full time permanent Music teacher from St Modans High School in Stirling.  Mrs Catriona Porteus is a newly qualified Music teacher who joins us for her probationary teaching year.  Both bring a huge amount of new ideas, enthusiasm and talent to the department and will help to ensure that Music at St Machar continues to go from strength to strength.

Music and Drama Concert

The Music and Drama departments have joined together to put on an evening of entertainment on Monday 13th June 2011 at 7.30 in the school hall.  Acts will include Glee Club, Rock Challenge and Rock Band as well as various solo acts, short plays, dance acts and staff Glee Club.  Tickets will be on sale soon.  More details to follow.

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UPDATE:  The first ever Music and Drama concert was a huge success.  The audience thoroughly enjoyed the concert and the feedback was fantastic.  We managed to raise over £1000 which will go towards the purchase of radio microphones to help with future shows.  Thank you to all who performed, helped and attended for your support.  Bring on the next concert!

Glee Club

Glee club started up again last term and rehearse on Wednesdays after school from 3.30-4.30.  Glee Club is run by Miss McPherson, Miss Gardener, Mrs Robertson and Miss Tanner.  The group consists of pupils ranging from S1-S5 but new members are always welcome.   Our first performance was at St Machar Cathedral for the Easter Service last term and the pupils were fantastic.  The group will be performing at various events coming up such as the concert, the Multi Cultural concert and the End of Term Ceremony.

Rock Band

This is a new group which will be starting on Monday lunchtime with Miss McPherson in MU4.  We are looking for guitarists, bass guitarists, keyboard players, drummers and singers so anyone interested is welcome to join us.

SCHOOL SHOW

We’re bringing it back to St Machar….SCHOOL SHOW….”OUR HOUSE”….DECEMBER 2011….AUDITION DETAILS COMING SOON

S1 pupils do not have a timetabled Music period this year so we would like to offer all S1 pupils the chance to try out musical instruments in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.  S1 Music Club will take place on Thursday lunch times in the Music department and will be run by Miss McPherson and a group of senior pupils.  S1 pupils will be able to come to the department and try out instruments such as drums, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and tuned percussion.  Pupils will also be given the opportunity to sing if they wish and can also join the choir.   S1 pupils will be allowed to drop in any time from 1.00-1.35 on Thursday lunch times.

We have spaces available for instrumental lessons on various instruments including drums, guitar, keyboard, woodwind and brass.  If you are interested in getting lessons please let one of the music teachers know and we will arrange a tryout session with the relevant instructor.

Congratulations to Greig Hadden in S5 who has just passed his Trinity Rock School Grade 4 drumkit exam.  Greig is sitting Higher Music this year and plans to start working towards his Grade 5 drum exam now.

Also thanks and well done to Dylan Middleton and Esther Dickson for performing at a concert at Kittybrewster Primary School last night.  Dylan sang two songs including an Elvis number, and Esther played “Candyman” on clarinet.  These pupils stepped in at the last minute to help out and their performances went down very well with the audience.