THE DUNGEON – ISSUE 02
WELCOME TO THE SECOND EDITION OF THE DUNGEON!
The Dungeon is a monthly newsletter for music kids, named after our music centre’s very own dungeon. It features each month’s music events, photos of those events and an advice column for some problems that you may come across as a music kid. As always, our email address is the place to send suggestions on topics to cover for the advice column, and/or photos for the newsletter, so don’t be afraid to send ideas over!
A huge thank you to everyone who read the pilot edition, it means a lot 😀
SHOWCASE 1 – JUNE 18
Showcase is an event that occurs twice a year, and is a chance for all SIM and Core music students from years 7 – 10 to perform the pieces they have been working on during the semester. There are two concerts (7 and 9s, 8 and 10s) that include percussion, band, strings and choir from each year level. It’s designed in a way that younger students can look up to older ones, and see where they could be in a couple of years time. It’s a great thing to be in awe of more advanced performances, and also to be on the other end of that when you get older, getting the chance to be a role model for younger students. Both concerts were super great this year, really fun to watch. Some teachers this year had to direct ensembles they may not normally direct or accompany with instruments they wouldn’t normally play, and we commend them for that. This was the first year in probably a good 20 that S.W.A.T was not performed in year 7 or 8 percussion, resulting in varying levels of disappointment or relief. Many of the year 10s remembered the mallet beheading incident of 2022, in which they witnessed the head of a bass drum mallet flying off in the middle of band, and wondered if they too would be subject to this now that they were in that year level. Luckily, no such incident occurred (although it would have been hilarious) and we look forward to the next one in semester 2!
SYMPHONY BY THE SEA – JUNE 22
Symphony by the Sea is an annual concert in collaboration with the Rotary Club and showcases some of our school’s ensembles and symphony orchestra. As well as those ensembles, they also give winners of the Rotary Solo Competition in years 7-10 opportunities to perform and flex their musical abilities a bit. This year Sinfonia, Brighton Chamber Orchestra (BCO), Stimson Wind Quintet and Brighton Symphony Orchestra (BSSO) all performed to a full house, and were rewarded with a thunderclap of applause after every piece. Each piece had thought put into it, ensuring that the audience enjoyed the concert to the fullest. Personally, editor 1 and 2 agree that Ritual Fire Dance composed by Manuel de Falla and performed by BSSO was pretty fire (we’re funny we know), as well as Tango Sentimentale composed by our very own Mr Barrett. We also commend the soloists for their amazing performances, and the self-directed string trio playing in the foyer of the Concert Hall playing music for audience members as they walked in. We look forward to next year’s concert and what pieces it will bring to the table.
CHORAL EISTEDDFODS: 6TH JUNE
The Adelaide Choral Eisteddfods are a competition for Adelaide school choirs, and this year we took 3 choirs: Bel Canto, Brightones and Treble Choir. To put it simply, we cooked.
Brighton has an extremely strong choral scene that was definitely bumped up when the class of 2026 joined (arguably). Treble Choir tied for 3rd place, Bel Canto came 2nd and Brightones took the crown as 1st place champions. Huge congratulations to the participating choirs!
WOODVILLE CONCERT: 19TH JUNE
As tradition, the SIM schools invite one ensemble from another SIM school to perform at their school’s version of a Music Spectacular. This time, Brighton Chamber Orchestra performed in Elder Hall for Woodville High School with 2 pieces: In the Dreams of Zhou, a more classical piece, and a killer arrangement of Waltzing Matilda. They also snuck Blue Rhythmico (a jazzier, energetic piece) in and disguised it as a “warmup” but it was enjoyed nonetheless. Shenanigans ensued backstage, and everyone had fun.
ADVICE COLUMN: SECOND INSTRUMENT SYNDROME
“Second instrument syndrome” refers to the feeling that you can’t possibly ever be good at your second instrument. It occurs because you naturally compare your proficiency to your first instrument, and it can be frustrating when it doesn’t match. But just because you aren’t as good at your second as your first, doesn’t mean that you aren’t good at your second. Often, you learn your first instrument when you’re relatively young, and you might not remember how difficult it was to get to where you are now. So, when you face the same issues learning your second, it might feel like you aren’t progressing as fast as you should be, but that’s not true. Some people come into the music program on one instrument, and leave with a completely different one as their main instrument. It’s a learning process just like everything else, you will improve, and you never know what might happen. Never forget that you can be just as capable of delivering a good performance and offering your skills on your second instrument as you are on your first, even if you don’t think so.