The Arts
Whizbang, Ballarat High School’s dynamic 17-piece original big band, featuring a full spectrum of brass, woodwind, rhythm section, and vocalists, has just released their new album. This is available for purchase from the front office. Previous albums can be found here.
Performing Arts
FIND YOUR PLACE IN PERFORMING ARTS
At Ballarat High School, Performing Arts is about more than learning to play an instrument, stepping onto a stage or developing performance skills. It is a place to find your people, express yourself, build confidence and discover something you love.
Our students describe Performing Arts as a community, a place where friendships are formed, individuality is celebrated and students feel supported to be themselves.
Whether through Music, Drama, Instrumental Music, Production, Music Regulation or the many performances and events that bring our community together, there are opportunities for every student to participate, create and belong.
“It’s where you can find your community.”
“Drama gave me a space where I could be myself.”
“I found a different way to express myself through music.”
“Performing Arts and its community has been life changing.”
Music
Music is another opportunity for our students, with band instruments also available for hire. Students wishing to further develop and deepen their skills can join our Instrumental Music program, withdrawing from a timetabled class on a rotational basis once per week, to receive music tuition.
Musical opportunities include:
Visual arts
Our Sedgwick Centre is a creative Arts and Technology hub which provides contemporary learning spaces for many students, including those drawn to visual arts. This space enables our budding artists to hone their skills in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, media and more.
Drama
Drama is a practical and collaborative subject that gives students opportunities to develop confidence, creativity, communication, empathy and critical thinking skills.
All students experience Drama in Years 7 and 8, exploring improvisation, drama games, performance and storytelling. Students learn to work collaboratively, support their peers and step outside their comfort zones.
From Year 9, Drama becomes an elective, allowing students to pursue their interest in performance and develop their skills in greater depth.
VCE Drama
VCE Drama provides students with the opportunity to develop advanced performance and theatrical skills.
Students explore character, storytelling, performance and theatrical conventions through practical and creative work. The work produced is self-devised, empowering students and guiding them through the process of becoming content creators and collaborators.
The course provides a pathway for students who wish to continue their Drama studies into senior years and develop their skills as performers and theatre-makers.
School Production
Each year, Ballarat High School presents a major School Production, alternating between a musical and a play.
The production is open to students from Years 7–12, and every student who wants to be involved has the opportunity to participate.
Students can contribute as performers and through the many creative and technical roles required to bring a major production to the stage.
The production brings students from across the school together to create, rehearse and perform a major theatrical work for the school and wider community.
Drama Club
Drama club is a weekly meeting of students from all year levels who participate in improvisation activities/games that change from week to week. Typically run on Friday lunchtimes, there is no long term commitment required but rather it is an opportunity for students to further their engagement in performing arts in a low stakes environment.
Classroom Music
Music is a highly practical subject at Ballarat High School, with students learning to play, create and perform music together.
In Years 7 and 8, students develop their musical skills through band-based learning. They learn contemporary songs as a band, working towards opportunities to perform for their peers. Alongside practical music-making, students explore the elements of music and develop an understanding of how music is created.
Making music with others is central to the experience, helping students develop confidence, collaboration and musicianship through regular practical activities and performance.
In Years 9 and 10, students can pursue music through a range of electives, including Music Performance, Music Practice and Music Technology, allowing them to explore their musical interests in greater depth.
Classroom Music
Music is a highly practical subject at Ballarat High School, with students learning to play, create and perform music together.
In Years 7 and 8, students develop their musical skills through band-based learning. They learn contemporary songs as a band, working towards opportunities to perform for their peers. Alongside practical music-making, students explore the elements of music and develop an understanding of how music is created.
Making music with others is central to the experience, helping students develop confidence, collaboration and musicianship through regular practical activities and performance.
In Years 9 and 10, students can pursue music through a range of electives, including Music Performance, Music Practice and Music Technology, allowing them to explore their musical interests in greater depth.
VET Music
Ballarat High School offers a comprehensive VET Music pathway, providing students with practical experience and an understanding of the contemporary music industry.
Students can begin with Certificate II in Music in Year 9, progressing to Certificate III in Music across Years 10 and 11. Students who successfully complete their Certificate III then have the opportunity to undertake Certificate IV in Music in Year 12.
VET Music explores a broad range of industry skills, including:
- Rehearsing music as a band
- Live performance
- Stagecraft and equipment set up
- Sound engineering and recording
- Music technology
- Copyright and industry practices
- Composition and lyric writing
- Improvisation
- Music analysis
The program combines practical music-making with the skills and knowledge required to work confidently within the music industry.
VCE Music
VCE Music provides students with the opportunity to develop their performance, musicianship and understanding of music at a senior level.
Students undertake more specialised musical study while continuing to develop their practical skills through performance and creative work.
VCE Music provides a pathway for students who wish to pursue music beyond school, while also supporting students who simply want to continue developing their skills and passion for music throughout their senior years.
Instrumental Music and Ensembles
Instrumental Music gives students the opportunity to discover an instrument of their choice, develop their skills through specialist tuition and experience the enjoyment of making music with others.
Students can learn a range of instruments from Years 7–12, including:
Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium and French Horn
Woodwind: Flute, Clarinet, Oboe and Saxophone
Contemporary: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano/Keyboard and Voice
Students receive regular specialist tuition and can progress from introductory learning through to advanced study. Alongside their lessons, students have opportunities to participate in our ensemble program, where they can develop their musicianship, build confidence and connect with other students through a shared love of music.
Our ensembles include Year 7 Band, Year 8 Band, Choir, Whizbang, Stage Band and Concert Band, providing opportunities for students at different stages of their musical development.
Performance is an important part of the program, with students regularly sharing their music at concerts, assemblies, commemorative services, community events and major school events throughout the year.
Whizbang is one of the school’s long-standing contemporary ensembles, bringing together brass, woodwind, rhythm section and vocalists. With a strong history of recording and live performance, Whizbang gives students the opportunity to perform original repertoire both within the school and across the wider Ballarat community.
Music Regulation
Music Regulation is a specialised part of Ballarat High School’s inclusive approach to Music.
Students have diverse learning, sensory and engagement needs, and Music Regulation provides a flexible way for students within the Inclusion Program to access and engage with music. For some students, this provides an alternative to the larger practical music classroom, while for others it offers an additional opportunity to explore music as an area of interest, enjoyment or strength.
Students participate in small groups and work with the Music Regulation teacher to identify their musical interests. Learning is then tailored to support each student’s individual needs, interests and goals.
Music Regulation forms part of the school’s broader Inclusion Program, ensuring students can access meaningful musical experiences in a supportive environment that enables them to engage, develop skills and thrive.
