Creative arts is mandatory for students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
In creative arts, students discover a variety of art forms through a study of dance, drama, music and visual arts where they learn to appreciate, compose, listen, make and perform.
Each art form has its own unique knowledge and skills, elements or concepts as well as a capacity to inspire and enrich lives.
Band
The Epping Heights Public School band provides a wonderful opportunity for your child to play an instrument together with other musicians. Learning music is not only enjoyable, but has numerous benefits for children's learning, and this experience is enriched when they play as a team in a band.
The school has three bands, a training band, an intermediate band and a senior concert band, for students to join as they progress.
Instruments in the band program include brass, woodwind, strings, percussion and keyboards. For example, our musicians include those who play flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, euphonium, violins, cellos, double bass, tuba, electric bass and percussion including drums.
The bands are given regular performance opportunities including regular school assemblies, special assemblies including public education day and presentation day, the Anzac Day ceremony, music festival, Kindergarten Open Day, and our special Strictly Live Concert. Our band program is run by a volunteer parent sub-committee which is supported by the school, and employs a professional conductor.
There are so many benefits in being part of a school band, including developing as a musician, learning the delayed reward from persistent practice, being part of a team, benefiting from performance opportunities, building self-esteem and the pleasure of making music with others.
Years 1 and 2 choir
The Years 1 and 2 choir is open to all young students with a love of singing and performance. Children rehearse once a week during lunchtime and love performing at special occasions such as the open day for prospective Kindergarten parents and special assemblies. It is held on Monday lunch time in 2F's classroom.
Many members of this choir go on to the Year 3 to 6 choir and/or the vocal enrichment group.
Year 3 to 6 choir
The Year 3 to 6 choir comprises any student who wishes to be a member. Once a student is admitted to the choir, they must commit to regular attendance at weekly choir rehearsals and partcipation in the music festival which takes place at the Sydney Town Hall each year. This very special concert involves a number of local schools including our neighbours from Beecroft Public School, Epping West Public School, Epping Public School, Epping North Public School, Roselea Public School, West Pennant Hills Public School and Ermington Public School.
The opportunity to perform as part of a massed choir is a special opportunity for our students. Performing at the iconic Town Hall makes performing even more special. The choir is given many other performance opportunities during the year including open days, assemblies and on presentation day.
Vocal enrichment group
The school's vocal enrichment group (VEG), fosters the talent of gifted singers in our school. Generally members of VEG are from Year 5 or 6. However we currently have 2 very young members who have been chosen for their oustanding singing ability. Membership of VEG is via audition and due to the great popularity for membership, competition is quite fierce.
The VEG is led and traught by our very talented music teacher, Mr Jim Phelps who trains the students during lunchtimes once a week. VEG performs at many school occasions and often performs during the year at local shopping centres.
A number of previous VEG members have continued their vocal lessons and develoment after leaving Epping Heights Public School.
Performance dance troupe
There are two performance dance troupes, a junior and a senior comprising talented dancers from Year 3 to 6. Students are nominated for inclusion in the dance troupe and must make a commitment to attend additional early morning lessons and compete in the Northern Sydney Dance Festival held at the Glen Street Theatre each year.
Students also have other opportunities to perform at special events such as Kindergarten Open Day and our Annual Presentation Day.