Music at Chrysalis
Chrysalis is fortunate to have an extensive music program. As you walk through the beautiful grounds of Chrysalis school you can hear the sound of music most afternoons. It might be the sounds of singing voices permeating through the trees, the earthy vibrations of beating drums, the entwining melodies of the violin ensemble or the jazzy improvisations of the instrumental ensemble. 
The music program at Chrysalis flows right through the curriculum, beginning from Kindy with rhythm and singing completely integrated into the lessons. When they graduate up the hill into Class 1 they get a beautifully handmade wooden pentatonic recorder. In Class 3 and 4 every student learns the violin and most of these students go on to join the violin ensemble once they have mastered the basics.
Rudolf Steiner indicated the violin for class three and four because of the way that the violin is held and played. The bowing movement across the chest as the child plays this most emotive of instruments helps stimulate and open the heart forces. This is important because the 9 and 10 year old child is in the middle of a period of education that is centred on developing their ‘feeling’ life. In Class 5 they have the choice of continuing with either violin or cello and becoming a member of the Chrysalis String Ensemble. In the Middle School (Class 6-8) , all of this music comes to fruition as the children participate in a number of ensembles, such as Percussion, Guitar, Instrumental and String.
Further to this , the children have the opportunity to listen to performers from a range of cultures and musical genres as a part of our visiting performers program within the school.
The Music Faculty.
At Chrysalis we are very lucky to have the support of seven different professional musicians and teachers to teach our students
Kym Pitman - Head of the Chrysalis music faculty. Singer/songwriter guitarist and fiddle player performing frequently at Australian music festivals. Visual art, drama and music teacher. Director of Bellingen Wilderness Youth Theatre. Recently completed her PhD in wilderness and arts education.
Louise Gore - Instrumental Ensemble: Jazz pianist and composer, piano and bass guitar teacher. Musical director of ‘Akabella’, Bellingen’s community choir. Composer of music for documentaries on ABC and SBS.
Luke Rhodes - Percussion and Guitar musician, composer percussionist with boom. He has worked as a music teacher in the North Coast area for many years and has been a mentor to many young musicians that have gone on to form bands such as ‘Phantasmagoria’ and the ‘Prismatics.’
Fiona Mackenzie - Choir leader, singer, arranger. Founder of Bellingen’s ‘Akabella’ and ‘The spangled Drongo’s’
Liz Scott - Violinist and accomplished strings teacher. Conductor and leader of the Chrysalis Strings Ensemble.
Jane Farrah - Cellist, music and art teacher.
Susan MacGowan - Violin Teacher, Teacher of music at Coffs Harbour Senior College. Musician and composer playing Flute, viola and keyboards at many Australian Folk festivals.
