Physie favourites - melodies for beginning instrumentalists

If you or your child are lucky enough to have an instrument over the holidays, here's some sheet music for four of the melodies featured in this year's junior syllabus.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Band instruments:
Flute, Oboe
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet
Alto Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Horn in F
Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon 
Tuba 
Glockenspiel/Mallets 

String instruments:
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

Piano 

Recorder 

Audio:
Audio: band (wind, brass, mallets) 
Audio: strings
Audio: recorder
Audio: piano

Each of the 4 instrument families are only compatible with other instruments in their family i.e. all band instruments play the same sounding notes. However, a band instrument will play different notes to a string instrument.

Season's greetings

125 leotards form the quasquicentennial physie tree

BjP 125

It only happens once every 25 years !!! Congratulations to all the performers, zone leaders, volunteers, families, supporters, archivists and event staff. Even though I didn't go to the show, the photos of the event looked marvellous. My personal favourite was the lighting display during the finale when the characters "BJP 125" were made by the arrangement of torch lights. What a beautiful example of how each person's contribution is integral in making something amazing and worthwhile.


Here are some links to media coverage focusing on BjP's rich history and the event:

Physie marks 125 years | photos (Newcastle Herald)

Wow, some of these photographs are truly a blast from the past! 

Combined celebration for physie at 125 (Tenterfield Star)


Weekend Breakfast ABC News 24

Not long to go!

Only 1 more day until the whole cast rehearsal and 2 more days until the Spectacular! How exciting is that?

The BjP teddy bear has been named 'Tassie' after Tasmania where physie all started. Also suggested by a few people was the name Quasquicentennial, meaning the 125th anniversary, what an impressive word.

Registrations for performers opened last September and huge surge of eager dancers trying to get onto the site caused a bit of a delay. Yes, this event is as big and important as the Aussie '16 census. Fast forward 6 months and most zones had begun their rehearsals (late March - early April). Now it's June and 2000 physie girls and ladies are ready to portray the story of physie history to thousands of audience members.

This is what I've gathered from overhearing conversations during our drink breaks:

• Transitions roughly every 50 seconds and due to this performers can be running around to get to their next formation. 
• 50 cm box of personal space.
• Each zone (or combined zone) represents a decade in history, not just for physie but they have music, props and costumes pertaining to their relevant era.
• The finale of the show will be all performers doing the current BjPop dance.
• If in doubt just do the arms.

1 month to go. Physie birthday celebrations!

The countdown clock has finally ticked down the last month before the BjP 125 Year Spectacular!

The Spectacular is a mass display telling the story of the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture's rich and evolving history. It can be likened to the Sydney 2000 Olympics display but this time instead of 800 performers there's 2000! Over 30 choreographers, and an army of behind-the-scenes helpers have created a 2 hour show capturing the talent and strength of physie performers. 

Girls and ladies from 16 zones across Australia are taking part in this great event (not to mention the families and supporters). They've dedicated their weekends to practices, learning new moves on top of their regular syllabus. Most zones have scheduled five compulsory rehearsals in the lead up to this event and the final dress rehearsal is the day before the performance.

However, getting 2000 girls from across Australia to Sydney for the Spectacular comes at a cost. To the teachers, parents and supporters who are volunteering their time and all the clubs helping to fund-raise to get their girls to Sydney, your efforts are truly appreciated. Thank you for giving the physie community a once-in-a-lifetime experience. While I am not participating, I have heard wonderful stories from my physie classmates and their daughters who are performing in this grand event. 

Catch all the action on Saturday June 24, 7:30pm at the Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney SuperDome). With a seating capacity of over 18000, it's not too late to get your tickets. Also, BjP (partnered with Cooper Teamwear) has a line of limited edition active-wear and merchandise for its 125th year birthday celebrations.