I believe that Mrs Stephens and I were just as excited as the girls on Thursday 1 February as it was the very first session of Year 2 Music and Performing Arts for the Term. 

We knew the girls had a special surprise – being introduced to their String Program teachers and measured up for their very own violins!! 

Some of the Year 2S girls’ comments in conversation this week were: 

Zoe McComas: I am feeling excited. I can practise with my Mum as she has her own violin.  

Manda Milicevic: I am looking forward to holding the violin and playing it.  

Akira Tuot: I am a bit nervous in case I make a mistake. 

Juliette Ji: I am excited to get a violin, but I have never played before.  

Aviana Dallas: They measured us to know what size violin we are going to have.  

Bianca Ferguson: Mine was a ¼ size. They measured my arms. I know all the parts of the violin. My Poppy plays lots of instruments and has taught me the names of the parts. 

Evie Mason: I am excited, I have never ever used any other instrument. 

Chloe Gu: We have to look after the violins. We can’t leave them in the car on hot days and you can’t get them wet. 

Bella Tarrant: Did you know violins can get blisters? They can break if you are not careful. 

Amber Xu: I am looking forward to playing the violin with all my friends. 

What an exciting opportunity. Every Thursday afternoon our Year 2 girls get to rotate through the String and Classroom Music Program. These sessions are staffed by the talented Mrs Lisa Cook, Mr Lyndon Chester and Ms Kristen Dhono Isworo.  

Performances throughout the year include Open classes, Special Visitors’ Day, and the Barbreck Concert. In 2023, watching the Year 2 Strings group perform on stage in November with the Massed String item was a remarkable sight. Staff and parents sat and watched in awe. 

The Barbreck Strings Program was established in 2000. Numerous students have gone on to further their Music studies on the violin, viola, and cello. In our Junior School the girls who continue their studies can choose to join the Petite Strings group in Year 3 to further their performance and group experience skills and as they advance, move on to play with the Barbreck Strings in Years 4 to 6. 

One student who followed through with her tuition was Miss Jariyan Patel. Jariyan is a past student who started her musical journey in Year 2, 2012. Jariyan continued playing the violin throughout her Senior School years and her musical talent resulted in playing with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra and being accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts. 

Jariyan Patel

Jariyan writes: I never imagined where being in the Year 2 Strings Program at St Catherine’s would lead! Not only did our weekly classes introduce me to the enigmatic violin but set me on a path to becoming a string musician, pursuing my studies at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, a Music degree at the University of Melbourne and even teaching violin and viola to my own students!  

This unique program not only inspires in students an interest in music but supports an understanding of music language/theory which flowed over to other instruments I learned, such as piano and drums. Mrs Cook is an inspiring teacher and role model, who has become a mentor, colleague, and friend. I was honoured to return to St Catherine’s on placement last year. A role at St Catherine’s, inspiring young musicians of tomorrow is certainly a goal of mine.    

When you start looking at the benefits of playing the violin, the list is endless. It is worth watching this short YouTube video.

Neuroscientists are excited when they watch the brain’s activity of a musician. They talk about the fireworks in every area of the brain. Playing music is the brain’s equivalent of a full body workout and engaging practically every area of the brain at once.  

Learning the violin cultivates discipline, patience, and focus in children. It hones fine motor skills, fostering physical dexterity. Musical education enhances cognitive abilities, improving memory and mathematical proficiency. Moreover, playing in a group teaches teamwork and collaboration, fostering social skills. Overall, it nurtures a lifelong love for music and learning. 

How lucky are our Barbreck Year 2 girls! We can’t wait to see where this musical journey is going to take them.