Performing
Arts
Performing Arts is one of the fastest-growing departments at GCC. Our performing arts facilities include our magnificent, brand new, state-of-the-art 600-seat Performance Hall, providing a two-level theatre experience with modern decor and aesthetics that transforms the arts into memorable experiences for both performers and audiences.
Our new performing arts centre also contains dance, drama and music studios and students also have access to our smaller 130-seat theatrette.
Music
Academy
In Primary School, the Dalcroze approach to music education is used. Dalcroze is a method of teaching music through movements. This approach takes practical experience as its starting point, most often beginning with an activity in which students feel the movements of their body while hearing the music.
Primary students learn to play percussion, ukulele, recorders, guitars and much more. Several studies have shown that music education at an early age stimulates the child’s brain in a number of ways, helping to improve verbal skills, communication skills and visual skills.
The following instrumental music programs and co-curricular ensembles are offered:
- Little Voices – Lower Primary Choir
- Music Makers – Year 3 and 4 Choir
- Cool Voices – Year 5 and 6 Choir
- Primary Concert Band – Year 5 and 6 students who learn band instruments
- Primary String Ensemble – Year 4, 5 and 6 students who learn string instruments
Students in Secondary School are exposed to a variety of musical opportunities. Year 7 and 8 students complete one term of music, with Year 7 experiencing keyboard and Year 8 participating in a guitar program. Students from Year 9 have the opportunity to choose to continue with Music as an elective subject where they can explore music on their own chosen instrument.
Throughout Middle and Senior school, students are exposed to many genres and explore many periods of music throughout history. Students are encouraged to enrol in instrumental music lessons with a private tutor, however, it is not compulsory for classroom Music.
More information can be found in our Instrumental Music Program Handbook.
"Music is for everybody, and like many of the other marvels of humanity, needs to be inculcated as early as possible. This is not some kind of ‘high culture’ limited to the privileged, but a treasure chest which can and must be made available and accessible to enrich every life." (Rattle, 1998)
Dance
Academy
Dance is an expressive movement with purpose and form. Through dance, students represent, question and celebrate human experience, using the body as the instrument and movement as the medium for personal, social, emotional, spiritual and physical communication. Like all art forms, dance has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich all students, exciting the imagination and encouraging students to reach their creative and expressive potential.
The GCC Arts Department is pleased to be offering dance technique classes for boys and girls from Prep to Year 12. These extra-curricular Dance classes will be run under the title of GCC Dance Academy. All student abilities are catered for and students will have the opportunity to learn technique in various styles, along with choreography and performance techniques. The classes will be taught by professional Dance teachers, with specialist training in each of the styles they teach.
“A broad education in the arts helps give children a better understanding of their world…We need students who are culturally literate as well as math and science literate.” (Paul Ostergard)
Drama
Academy
Drama is the expression and exploration of personal, cultural and social worlds through role and situation that engages, entertains and challenges. Students create meaning as drama makers, performers and audiences as they enjoy and analyse their own and others’ stories and points of view. Like all art forms, drama has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich all students, excite the imagination and encourage students to reach their creative and expressive potential.
The GCC Arts Department is pleased to be offering Speech and Drama and Performance classes to all students from Prep to Year 12. These extra-curricular Drama classes will be run under the title of the GCC Drama Academy. All student abilities are catered for and students will have the opportunity to sit examinations and perform in front of live audiences. These classes will be taught by professional Drama and Acting teachers.
