Monthly Archives: February 2015

Parent volunteers wanted!

Are you great organiser, good at working in a team and are passionate about the arts? Then Andrew and Chelsea have just the job for you! We are looking to form a Bell Biennale Parents Committee that will assist with the organisation and running of the Bell Biennale (arts festival), which will be in late Term Two. Jobs and tasks will vary from fundraising and promotion to helping mount artworks and create exhibition displays. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please sign up at:  bit.ly/bbparents 
Our first meeting:
  • 2nd of March
  • 3:40pm
  • Music room
– Andrew and Chelsea

 

Barong Mask initial sketches with Grade 3/4

We have some incredibly talented artists at Bell Primary School! Here’s a sneak peak at the first stage of designing their Barong masks. It’s important for students to understand and implement good developmental processes in their art making. As a class, we looked at different pictures of Barong masks and talked about their cultural significance in Indonesia. The students have started with an initial sketch, followed by a one-on-one conversation with me of what they would change to improve their design and push themselves further. This constructive feedback does wonders for their artistic skill development. If these are what their sketches look like, than their masks are going to look fantastic!

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What’s Happening In Music This Term!

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Exciting times for music at Bell 2015! We have a new music room that is an amazing space. We at Bell are so lucky to have such a rich arts program and the new space is going to support the program very well.

Prep

In term one we will be focussing on the building blocks of music. These include pitch, rhythm, timbre and texture.We will do this using a variety of games, singing, and simple composition exercises. We will also be starting simple listening tasks using a variety of genres and styles. This will be done using both video and audio examples. This is to encourage the children’s visual and aural thinking processes.
Grade 1 and 2

The students will make and present music works using a range of music elements, skills, techniques and processes. Specifically, the students will be exploring pitch and melody using percussion instruments to create simple compositions. The students will also participate in singing sessions and we will start to learn how to part sing through simple chants and songs. Student will also engage in various audio/visual activities working towards developing their music analysis skills.
Grade 3&4

In term one, grade 3&4 students will begin their focus on Asian music looking at elements of Javanese /Balinese Gamelan as well as elements of North Hindi Indian Raga. Through these foci, students will draw on a range of musical skills to support their creativity thinking. They will be empowered to adopting the role of composers to create short melodic and rhythmic compositions inspired by their exposure to the main elements of Javanese/Balinese Gamelan and Indian Raga. Students will also be given opportunities to develop their collaborative skills when working with others in their small composition groups.

Grade 5&6

In Term 1 grade 5&6 students will begin to look at elements of Chinese Lougu Percussion Music. This is the music that accompanies the lion and dragon dance that you often see at chinese new year celebrations. This music will allow the students to experience the various instrumentation, rhythms and tempo that are unique to the Chinese Lougu ensemble. Towards the end of the term 1 and into term two the grade 5/6 students will be empowered to adopt the role of composers and begin to create their short Chinese Lougu inspired rhythmic compositions. Throughout the unit students will also learn about the cultural background to the Chinese Lougu and why the dragon and lion are important chinese symbols

Happy Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

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At assembly on Monday, 16 February, we’ll be celebrating Chinese New Year with a Lion Dance performed by the Chinese Masonic Society. Please wear red (which symbolises fortune, good luck, and joy) or any Asian dress up clothing or hat.

In 2015, which is the Year of the Goat, Chinese or Lunar New Year is officially on Thursday, 19 February. It is based on the lunar calendar and many other countries besides China observe one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. It is a time for families and friends to get together and is the biggest, most exciting event of the year.

No New Year is complete without the appearance of the lucky dragon or lion. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and cymbals with the dragon dancing aggressively can evict bad or evil spirits. The dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the customer and the lion dance team is rewarded with a red packet/envelope containing money.

chinese newyear

 

Chinese New Year events you may like to attend:

ACMI

http://www.acmi.net.au/live-events/creative-workshops/chinese-lunar-new-year/

To celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, ACMI lights up with a special evening of family activities including magical green screen workshops, lantern making demonstrations, free film screenings, and extended opening hours for the Yang Fudong: Filmscapes exhibition.

Thursday, 19 Feb. FREE

Preston Library

http://www.darebin-libraries.vic.gov.au/ or call 1300655355

Come and celebrate the Chinese New Year. A Chinese-themed story time session will be followed by a craft activity where kids will make a Chinese dragon mask.

Saturday, 21 Feb. 10:30am FREE

 

 

Chinese New Year Melbourne

http://www.cnymelbourne.com.au/

What’s happening in art this term?

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Prep
This semester in art the students will be discovering Asian Art. The Preps will be creating a large-scale collaborative Chinese Dragon. Students will learn about colour and texture, whilst creating two dragon scales using a variety of different media. We will then travel east to Japan, where students will learn about the cultural significance of koi and will create their very own koi kites using dispersing paper and paints. In addition to these works, the students will look at Hokusai’s Great Wave painting and will then create their own painting inspired by the movement and colour of the original painting. These are just some of the many art pieces the students will create in the Asian Art unit this semester at bell. There will be a special assembly on the 16th of February, which will announce an exciting art event happening later in the year.
Grade 1/2
This semester in art the students will be discovering Asian Art. Students will learn about Gond tribal art from the Gondi people of central India. While working on their drawing skills, students will use markers to create vibrant drawings of animals in the Gond tribal art aesthetic. Moving east, students will being immersed in Chinese art, with a particular focus on the iconic willow design. By learning about monochromatic colour schemes, students will create their own willow design plate. These are just some of the many art pieces the students will create in the Asian Art unit this semester at bell. There will be a special assembly on the 16th of February, which will announce an exciting art event happening later in the year.
Grade 3/4
This semester in art the students will be discovering Asian Art. We will be travelling north to Indonesia to learn about Barong masks. The students will learn about the cultural and historical significance of Barong masks in Indonesia and will then create their own mask. We will then be travelling east to Japan, where the students will learn about kimonos and will create a mixed-media self-portrait with the kimono as the focal point. There will be a special assembly on the 16th of February, which will announce an exciting art event happening later in the year.
Grade 5/6
This semester in art the students will be discovering Asian Art. In art we will be travelling north-west to China to learn all about the cultural significance of the Chinese Dragon. Armed with this knowledge, the students will create their very own dragon puppets using cardboard, paint and fabric. Following on from this, we will be heading further east to Japan, where students will be looking at the work of contemporary illustrator Yoko Furusho. Students will design and create a landscape inspired by Furusho’s illustrations. There will be a special assembly on the 16th of February, which will announce an exciting art event happening later in the year.
Asian Art Club Term 1 and 2
On Friday lunchtimes students will have the opportunity to create large-scale works in the Asian Art Club. It will be held in the art room and run by Chelsea and other classroom teachers.
– Chelsea (Visual Arts teacher)