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Currently at: Armadale Senior High School When: Thursday afternoons Times: Lunchtime, then after school till 5pm
Currently at: Lesmurdie Senior High School When: Tuesday mornings Times: 9 - 1pm
Ages: Yrs 8 - 12
SMS 2005 Armadale Snr High School
SMS 2006 Armadale Snr High School
The students receive training and guidance from industry professionals in areas such as:
Kat Taylor - vocal & songwriting Chris Brady - Drums
WAMi Songwriting Worshops Katerine Johns - Vocal training with Roly Skender SMS 2007 Armadale Snr High School Highlights:
In it’s third year, the SMS program had settled into the school community comfortably with full support from Principle Mary Griffiths, music teacher Mignon Van Vreden and the rest of the Arts Department. The beginning of 2007 saw 12 of last year’s participants (including 2 who had completed yr 12 but still come back just for the program) join up again bringing with them 6 new participants with various skills ranging from roadies to singer/songwriters forming a incredibily supportive and respectfull “family”. The students came into the program loaded with riffs, lyrics and song ideas. All that was needed to be done was a matter of arranging their material, putting it into place and fast tracking the program with the hope that the recording of the songs could be done in a professional studio later in the year.
The first performance of the year was a performance at the Arts Concert Night at the end of 2nd term.
Although the concert was mainly dance orientated, three SMS bands were given 15 minutes at the beginning of the concerts to play one song each with changeovers and 3 minutes to pack up so that the dancers could come straight on. With three main rules: never complain, never explain and always be gracious the SMS students took in all in their stride and excelled in all areas of rehearsing, setup, performance and pull down/pack up. Three hours preparation for three minutes of fame!! That’s show business folks. A lesson well learnt and one that will ensure that these young people will have every chance to perform in any situation.
Songwriting and playing skills have become relaxed while still constructive. So much so that sometimes complete songs would we written and performed in just one after school session. Feedback from previous years showed that performing and recording were their most enjoyable aspects of the program. So during third term it was arranged that the pre-production recording of their songs would take place in order for them to record at TAFE’s Music Industry Training Program’s studio in fourth term.
Experience has shown that professional bands like to “road-test” their to-be-recorded songs before actually going into the studio. The SMS bands had a chance to do just that at a combined lunchtime concert at Lesmurdie SHS in late October '07
TAFE Recording Session In early November 2007, four bands consisting of ten SMS participants, were bussed to Finally they were going to have a professionally recorded CD of their own songs.
Certain members of SMS have become ‘all-rounders”, being able to play different instruments for different bands resulting a in a session musician type of role. This skill is highly desirable in the music industry as band members who move around in different circles have more chance of “making it” Two ASHS students were also undertaking TAFE’s VET program in Audio Mixing in the last 6 weeks of last term.
End of year ASHS’ Arts Concert The final Arts Concert held on 16th November gave the SMS crew another chance to get up and perform to their peers and more importantly, to their parents who were naturally proud of them. With a fresh recording and finely honed songs from all the practice, the bands played like seasoned musos and with the help of past SMS student Brett Harris helping out with production sounded great too.
Once again the SMS crew pulled it off with true professionalism, doing what they had to do without ever complaining, while winning fans and impressing others.
The last six months started with a first time offered, SMS program at Music teacher Breen Christie had a large group of rock musicians in need of training and discipline. The program ran for 8 weeks and although rushed, still resulted in: · Formation of three bands · Three lunchtime performances (one with ASHS’ SMS crew) · · Recording of a CD with one original song from each band · SMS program planned for 2008
Performances: Some of the highlights of the 2008 year include:
Photos of all events can be seen at the photo album page
and a place at the heats of the My Big Gig inter-school band comp. More photos at the photo album page
Tank Studio Recording sessions - November 2008
Armadale SHS also enjoyed their recording experience.
With all the hard work done, by the students at least, it was time to party. End of year concerts were held at both schools where certificates, CDs and photos were presented to the students.
With the Christmas break, three of the bands lost vital members as they moved to other schools so the start of 2009 saw some new members recruited to re-form bands to play at the CD launch in April 2009 to coincide with National Youth week. Extensive work was done with the Lesmurdie group as two new bands were formed and with only 6 weeks before the CD Launch, songs had to be composed and ready to perform. The students rose to the challenge graciously.
Arise and Shine CD Launch: This youth event was held in connection with the National Youth Week 2009 and was funded by The, Government of
The historic Roleystone Theatre was packed to the rafters Saturday 27th March 2009 as six SMS bands showcased their songwriting skills at the "Arise and Shine" CD Launch.
Twenty three young musicians from Armadale and With changeovers between bands down to a minute or less the young musicians showed that preparation really pays off.
The back stage crew consisting of new and past participants were used in their best capacity to help the whole show run smoothly. One of the highlights of the night was a candlelit solo sing-along version of the Star light, Star bright nursery rhyme as adapted by Seth Woolley to create awareness of the Earth Hour lights out message held throughout the world that evening.
While this page is being updated - please ckeck out the photo album for more pics. |
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SMS is a youth music program being offered through Armadale Youth Resources to Armadale Senior High School's students from yrs 8 to 12 who might not be participating in mainstream music studies at the school for various reasons which may include irrelevant content, a lack of confidence in themselves as musicians as well as those who want to learn more about the music industry from industry professionals. Students are usually referred through the YEO or music teacher with the aim of specifically targeting students who may be at risk of dropping out of school.
SMS aims to improve self-esteem and confidence as well as listening and social skills through working as a team to create music as a form of self-expression as well as linking Young People to existing networks and facilities in their communities. The program also gives students much needed points to enrol in the industry recognised TAFE Music Skills Course.
Through group activities and discussion, young people are encouraged to explore the relationship between feelings and behaviour. They are taught the stages of change, behaviour management and well being through the skills of song writing and creative expression.
Workshops began in July 2005, initiatively conducted on-campus at the Stairways Cottage with only 6 students. Students were shown how to setup and maintain guitars bought secondhand as well as basic song writing skills. 
In 2006, the program upon request from the school linked into the school’s music classes so that more students could access the content – culminating in the recording and production of a 16 track CD of original songs by the four bands formed during the course.
Working alongside the school’s music department, the program enhances the student’s chances of being active in the tough, sometimes cut-throat music fields of performing, song writing, management and/or production.
Participants are pushed fairly hard to achieve tasks such as setting up the PA and all the band equipment in the short lunchtime break or to compose and perform a song in an hour.
Other opportunities for the SMS students that arose from the course include performances at high profile gigs such as the sold-out Kids Garage Ball, support slots at Skate HQ and stage management / MC work at outdoor events such as the On The Hill ’07 Australia Day Festival at Tumbulgum Farm, Byford.
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