Music

Music at Holy Spirit School

Music has long been a defining feature of Holy Spirit, playing a significant role in our history and ongoing success.  Our music program fosters creativity, confidence and a strong sense of community among students.

From Pre-Primary to Year 6, over 70% of students are actively involved in learning an instrument – whether it’s piano, guitar, drums, vocals or violin – through high-quality tuition that supports every stage of their musical journey.

Led by our specialist music teacher Mrs Liz Leith, the school choir (Years 3–6) performs regularly at school Masses, takes part in One Big Voice and represents Holy Spirit at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival (CPAF).  In recent years, our students’ talent and dedication have been recognised with first-place awards in both the Primary Solo Instrumental and Band categories at CPAF.

Our Year 6 band, The Electric Spirits, is a much-loved initiative that sees students performing at events throughout Perth, including appearances at CPAF.

It’s a powerful platform for showcasing leadership, teamwork and a love of performance.  At Holy Spirit, music isn’t just an extracurricular—it’s a vibrant and celebrated part of school life.

At Holy Spirit we aim for all students to be engaged in Music.  We believe that there are many benefits to Music Education including:

• The intrinsic enjoyment of participating in music both individually and in the wider community
• Neural development- the unique way that the brain is activated in playing music has proven cognitive outcomes which benefit all subject areas
• Language development- active listening, vocabulary, phonemic awareness, rhyme, rhythms of speech
• Physical development- fine motor and gross motor skills, coordination
• Executive function-including skills such as memory, planning and problem solving
• Social skills- including team work, inclusivity, emotional regulation, better mental health

Music Curriculum

Children at Holy Spirit participate in a weekly 30-minute Music class. Music knowledge and skills ensure that, individually and collaboratively, students:

• develop the confidence to be creative, innovative, thoughtful, skilful and informed musicians
• develop skills and techniques to actively listen, analyse, improvise, compose and perform music
• interpret and apply the elements of music, engaging with a diverse array of musical experiences as performers and audience members
• develop aesthetic appreciation and respect for their own and others’ music practices and traditions across different times, places, cultures and contexts.

Hymn Singing

The whole school come together twice a term to prepare hymns for upcoming masses and liturgies.  These sessions also help build a sense of community within our school.  Students sing at class liturgies, whole school masses and other masses for special events such as St Dominic’s Day, Easter and Graduation.

Holy Spirit Choir (Year 3 to Year 6)

Each year, students in Years 3 to 6 are invited to join the Holy Spirit Choir, that rehearses each Thursday morning before school.  Open to all without the need for auditions, the choir typically includes around 40 enthusiastic members who enjoy singing and performing together.

In previous years, the Holy Spirit Choir have proudly represented the school in the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival (CPAF), where it has earned Certificates of Merit and Honourable Mentions – an outstanding achievement that reflects the dedication and talent of our students.

In addition to CPAF, each year the choir takes part in the inspiring One Big Voice performance, joining approximately 7,000 children from across the state to perform uplifting and positive songs in a truly unforgettable experience.

Instrumental Lessons

We are very fortunate to have skilled and dedicated peripatetic instrumental teachers at our school.  Each week children come out of class for 30 minutes individual lessons on:

• Violin 
• Piano
• Guitar
• Drums
• Voice

Parents pay the instrumental teachers in advance and must give one term’s notice before the child can be withdrawn.

Contact the school office for more information about enrolling your child in Instrumental lessons.