Growing confidence through creative expression
Proven to impact positively on children’s lives, the creative arts are a treasured part of our students’ experience at GSG. In fact, many of our past students say that their creative art pursuit was their favourite aspect of life at school.
And it’s no wonder — embracing creativity, getting messy, and making some noise is proven to enhance student wellbeing. Not only that, Arts education boosts literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills.
All subjects are taught by specialist teachers with professional experience in their subject area.
A vibrant community
Great Southern Grammar participates in community art, music, and drama events each year including ANZAC commemorations, the Albany Eisteddfod, Art in the Park, the Albany Agricultural Show, community fundraising events and the Christmas Pageant.
Events include:
- the biennial Kingfisher Whole School Art Exhibition, which showcases artworks by students
- the Kingfisher Concert, which gives music students a chance to shine on stage at the AEC
- Radioactive; a collaboration between GSG and the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
Visual Arts
- ATAR courses offered
- Ceramics Club
- Regular visiting artists
- Arts Camp to Perth annually to visit key cultural venues
- Opportunities to exhibit
- Bi-annual Whole School Arts Exhibition
- Opportunities to enter competitions
- Beautiful light airy art rooms, with well stocked materials
- Artist in residencies
Media
- ATAR courses offered
- Film Club: world cinema and documentaries
- Media Club: opportunity to learn about filmmaking without the constraints of assessment: shot types, lighting, continuity editing, transitions, prop and set building and animation
- Attend Cinefest Oz events
- Regular entrants into Film competitions
- Photography
Drama
- ATAR courses offered
- Opportunities to perform in our own theatre venue and local theatre venues
- Attend theatre performances regularly
- Circus Club
- YOH Fest
- Drama provides students with an opportunity to work on and off stage and learn essential skills such as public speaking, teamwork and improvisation.
Music
Your child will have many opportunities to enrich their life with classical, jazz, and
contemporary music, thanks to our vibrant Music programme.
Musical performances are part of all formal school occasions at GSG, and are a regular part of school assemblies, chapel services, and events. We are proud of our children’s musical achievements and showcase their success at Twilight Concerts and Solo Music Nights, developing their confidence and love of learning.
In Primary School, all our children have two opportunities to experience and try learning an instrument. Our Year Two String programme provides every child with an experience of learning both violin and cello over several weeks.
In Year Five, every child will learn a brass or woodwind instrument for a year as part of their classroom music. As part of this programme, all Year Five students will collaborate to form a Beginning Concert Band and experience playing in an ensemble together.
Special Extension Music Theory for experienced music students are in years Five to Seven with a focus on music theory and collaborative learning from years Five to Seven.
From year Eight, students can choose to follow a contemporary programme with a more practical focus that can lead to completing a VET Certificate course in Year Eleven and Twelve or a broader Specialist programme focusing on theory and performance, providing students with the required skills to complete ATAR music in Year Eleven and Twelve.
Instrumental music lessons
If your child is keen to learn from a specialist instrumentalist teacher, they’ll love the choices on offer at GSG. We offer individual tuition on a huge range of instruments, including:
- violin
- viola
- cello
- classical guitar
- electric guitar
- vocals
- trumpet
- French horn
- trombone
- flute
- clarinet
- saxophone
- piano
- keyboard
- drum kit
- bagpipe chanter, bagpipes, and pipe drums
Cocurricular music
Ensembles give your child the chance to learn in a larger group, with the opportunity to perform together, and represent the school in the wider community. Ensemble performances give your child experience with presentation — and their feelings of excitement and pride will stay with them for years to come.
With ensemble options for students of every age and skill level, music ensembles are a great way for your child to develop self-confidence, connect with other students, and develop their unique interests.
If you’ve got any questions about Music at GSG, please contact the Music Office on 9488 0327, or email us: music@gsg.wa.edu.au.