Lyndale Secondary College is located in North Dandenong, approximately 27 Kilometres South-East from the centre of the City of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The college has over 1200 students and is one of the state's larger Years 7-12 single campus educational providers. Established over 40 years ago to serve the North Dandenong area, it is well developed in terms of its educational, sporting and cultural resources. Lyndale is highly regarded within its local community. Eight hectares of grounds contain extensive outdoor activity areas and all necessary specialist and general classroom accommodation. The college has a well-resourced library, senior studies wing, hall, student cafeteria, drama centre, careers room, media centre, computer laboratories, Arts/Technology wing and new Olympic sized sports stadium.
This year, over 20 students participating in the 2012 Instrumental Music Program have been involved in a new and, so far, very successful weekly music meeting with year 6 students from Lyndale Greens Primary School.
During the sessions, our students worked with the primary school students demonstrating many of the playing techniques, reading skills and musical exercises that they have learned in their individual lessons. Divided into separate instrumental groups - brass, woodwind, guitar, voice and drums- they rehearsed a common tune and it was a notable achievement that all were able to come together and perform it as a large ensemble at the end of the session.
Many of these Year 6 students will be returning to Lyndale Secondary next year as new year 7 students, so I am sure that the sessions will serve to give them a taste of what is to come in the following years and gain a valuable understanding of the College even before they officially become Secondary College students.
Many thanks to Mr. Len Mizzi and Michelle from Lyndale Greens for their support and wonderful teaching, to all their primary school students, and to all our students who have so patiently and enthusiastically worked together with the younger students.
We look forward to the further development and continuation of this program, and
also to performing a selection of the pieces learned in these sessions at a suitable occasion later in the term.
