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About Danielle Danielle Arcaro is director of music at Christ Church Grammar School. She began playing violin at the age of seven – the start of a lifelong passion and talent for music that has led her to perform with orchestras around the world. Danielle has taught music since 1987 and joined the school in 2015.
A lady came to my primary school offering violin lessons. She was a violinist from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra who had a tree change and bought a dairy farm in Gippsland, where I grew up. She supplemented her income by giving private lessons and that’s how I began playing violin. Soon after, I heard the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and I knew I wanted to play music.
Who was your inspiration at school? I went to Darnum Primary School and the violin teacher, Lillian Hawkey, was a kind and supportive person. I liked being pushed and she encouraged me until I got it right.
how did you pursue a career in music? My parents took me to concerts and I attended music camps. When I got to high school, I came to Melbourne every Saturday to play in the Melbourne Youth Orchestras. I went to the Victorian College of the Arts at Melbourne University and specialised in violin and then went to Europe for my postgraduate studies. I performed violin and viola in Germany and Austria for four years.
what are some of your most interesting musical moments? In Germany and Austria, I worked with a chamber orchestra. I played with some very good musicians. I played for the King of Thailand’s 50th anniversary of his ascension and for the Prince of Nepal in Kathmandu, where there were elephants at the palace.
What encouraged you to teach music? I’ve taught for 30 years in schools and with Melbourne Youth Music and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra programs. About nine years ago I was asked to start an El Sistema-inspired program at a school in Broadmeadows. El Sistema is a social justice program started in Venezuela that uses music to support children and to help them find positive pathways. The program I began in Broadmeadows is still going.
could you Tell us about the music program at Christ Church Grammar School? Every child has a weekly music class, and as we are a choral school there is a lot
ABOUT CHRIST CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL: ● A leading inner-city independent
co-educational primary school for children from kindergarten to year 6.
● Established in 1898, CCGS is Victoria’s
only independent Anglican parish primary school.
● The school aims to contribute
towards the intellectual, physical, social, aesthetic, moral and spiritual development of every child. There is a strong emphasis on developing literacy and numeracy skills.
● Christ Church Grammar School
677 Punt Road, South Yarra 9866 3540
● ccgs.vic.edu.au
of choral singing. Grades two-four also have an instrumental program and many children also have private instrumental lessons. We have all the major instruments – keyboards, percussion, brass, guitar, woodwind and strings. I try to have something for all children, from the big bucket-band drumming for the energetic children to the gentler recorder consorts. I’ve started a musical craft club, too, and we’re painting cellos.
How can music help children? Research tells us that music helps improve student learning and I think it gives children a sense of teamwork, a sense of belonging, cohesion, direction and self-discipline. They set a goal and it can be a tough road but they learn that practising helps, and that’s an important life skill. I see their confidence grow as they realise they can do something and we find ways of celebrating their achievements – they play for me or for their peers at assembly. It’s lovely to see them perform.
When you’re not at school, what will we find you doing? I live close to the beach and love spending time there. I have three children who are very involved in music so I drive them around. I love playing music and still try to play with the MSO during school holidays. ● SARAH MARINOS editorial@theweeklyreview.com.au
(MICHAEL RAYNER)
How did you discover your love of music?
My Philosophy: Give everything you try in life 100 per cent and don’t waste a moment. MARCH 29, 2017 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 21