By Kerri-Anne Mesner
SUNSHINE North Primary students are learning simple rhythms of Africa on drums with artist-in-residence David Hewitt as part of a pilot program.
Sunshine North Primary School performing arts teacher Emma Kirkcaldy said Mr Hewitt, a professional percussionist and composer, will spend two days a week during the year at the school working with all the students.
Ms Kirkcaldy said Mr Hewitt has started the program working with Grade 5 and 6 students, and hoped these students would become mentors for the younger students when it came time to run the program with them.
She said Mr Hewitt was working towards the students being able to compose their own music and culminate a performance to be showcased at the end of the year.
The project at Sunshine North Primary has been funded by the State Government with Arts Minister Lynne Kosky announcing last week a $50,000 grant to North Sunshine Primary School for a partnership project with Musica Viva.
The Musica Viva and North Sunshine Primary School project is one of four grants totalling $156,000 announced through Arts Victoria’s new Extended School Residencies program.
Ms Kosky said the Extended School Residencies program builds on the success of the Government’s long-running Artists in Schools program.
“This program provides opportunities for more in-depth and long-running collaborations between professional artists and schools,” Ms Kosky said.
