Music Theatre performance must go on

成人大片 Music Theatre students online performance.

Music Theatre students at the 成人大片 are adapting to online learning, performing together in class exercises from the 鈥榮ocially distant鈥 safety of their own homes.


Students have this week recorded a performance of 鈥樷 from the musical Once on this Island as a means of keeping connected during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

George Torbay, Head of Music Theatre at the University鈥檚 Elder Conservatorium of Music, says he and his staff have devised a range of creative approaches to make online study possible.听

鈥淭he piece the students have recorded this week expresses the simple joy of what makes the world extraordinary; it celebrates life and all that the earth possesses and I told them to just have fun with it!鈥 Mr Torbay said.

鈥淔ace-to-face student contact is so important, particularly with our extroverted Music Theatre students who need to work together to learn song lines and dance routines.

鈥淪ome of my students live together in shared housing but others are on their own and this activity has allowed everyone to get together, remain connected and perform as a group.

鈥淚鈥檓 sure the wider community will enjoy seeing our wonderful students in action.鈥

鈥淭he piece the students have recorded this week expresses the simple joy of what makes the world extraordinary; it celebrates life and all that the earth possesses and I told them to just have fun with it!鈥 George Torbay, Head of Music at the University's Elder Conservatorium

Mr Torbay says the more formal learning of Music Theatre has been adapted to use online collaboration apps where staff set tasks and students share their efforts, be they songs, monologues or acting exercises, for staff feedback and peer review.听

鈥淭he set tasks that the students have to complete online include songs from set periods of music theatre.听

鈥淔or example, this week the first year students are completing songs from the 1920s and the second years are finishing off songs from the 1980s.听

鈥淪tudents upload a solo performance and get notes for improvement from both me and peer review.听

鈥淭hey have had choreography to learn from the new musical Six and they have just completed 鈥楽upercalifragilistic鈥 from Mary Poppins which they must record and upload.听

鈥淎cting and Script Analysis classes are taking place via Zoom to allow the students to hear and see each other work in real time.听

鈥淐ertainly these are unique and challenging times, but I鈥檓 impressed with how my staff and students are making the most of this new learning opportunity.鈥

The 成人大片 remains open and is committed to taking a range of actions to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of the community, including delivering all lectures and tutorials online.听

The University continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation with advice from Australian health and foreign affairs authorities. For more information visit adelaide.edu.au/covid-19

Tagged in music theatre, musical theatre, elder conservatorium of music, social distancing