The instrumental music program provides tuition to
students in the form of weekly lessons. Programs are offered in strings, brass,
woodwind and percussion. Lessons are provided by instrumental music teachers
who work across several schools, primary and high schools, in the Townsville
district.
The strings program is available for students in years
3 to 6. The brass, woodwind and percussion programs are available for
students in years 4 to 6. Students are able to loan their instrument through
the school. Some students will be encouraged to buy their own instrument after
several years in the program.
Instrumental Program Recruitment
Recruitment
for the strings program occurs towards the end of year 2 for year 3, and for
other instruments in year 4 or year 5.
Students are assessed according to:
- A standard
musicality test
- General
class attitude and performance
- Music
class achievement
We are able to loan instruments for 2 years. The
larger expensive instruments (French horn, trombone, saxophone and Cello) are
on loan for the duration of the student’s learning. In all other cases children
are expected to purchase or hire their own instrument after two years. Students are invited to participate in the school
concert bands, string orchestras and instrumental ensembles once they have
reached an appropriate level of competence. Our ensembles perform at the local
eisteddfod each year, and are given the opportunity to perform regularly at
school assemblies and concerts. All instrumental music students are encouraged
to participate in various instrumental music workshops offered throughout the
year.
Instrumental
Lessons
Students attend one lesson per week. These lessons are
organised on a rotational basis to assist the children in not missing out on
the same class lessons each week. Rehearsals and Band Practice are compulsory
for those in the program.
Practice
Students in this program
are expected to practice 4 X 20 minutes every week. This is vital to a
successful experience in learning a given instrument. Practice is monitored by teachers with a
practice sheet which we ask parents to monitor and sign. As students are taught
in a group of approximately 5 it is important that they work together as a team
and are up-to-date with the practice set by the teacher.
Attendance
It is compulsory for
each student to attend timetabled lessons, instrumental group rehearsals and
all performances. Students
who are absent must present a note from their parents as soon as possible after
that time. If a student continues to be absent without explanation, parents
will be contacted and that student may be withdrawn from the program.
Information
evening
During fourth term all music staff invite
parents of children who are entering our program to an information evening. At
this evening we outline the expectations, the running of the program and the
costs of the program.