About the program
The purpose of this handbook is to provide a guide for parents and students to instrumental music and drama at MSJ. Performing Arts at MSJ is increasingly large and exciting and it is hoped this guide will help you derive the full benefit from being involved.
Why Learn an Instrument?
Research has shown that playing a musical instrument has wide-ranging cognitive and life-enhancing benefits. Some of which include an increased aesthetic and cultural appreciation, experiencing the social benefits of making music with others, the self-discipline required to practice and an appreciation of music at a far greater level than just passive listening. Playing a musical instrument can be a lifelong source of enjoyment and it's no secret amongst music teachers that students who learn music throughout secondary education are frequently those that excel academically as well.
This short video highlights some of the intellectual benefits of learning a musical instrument.
Why learn at school?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with not learning at school but learning at school does come with some additional benefits which come from learning within the system of MSJ.
These include:
- An appropriately qualified teacher - all members of the Performing Arts staff at MSJ are professional musicians or artists
- Ensemble participation at an appropriate level for the student (an essential component of a good musical education)
- Performance opportunities
- Facilities for inexpensively hiring many instruments
- Facilities for use for students to practice/rehearse at school
When is the right time to start learning?
The short answer - now.
Students entering the College at Year 7 may start learning any instrument immediately (subject to tutor availability). This decision would ideally be made after students have had the opportunity to hear the instruments at close proximity and to consider possibilities that may have been new to them until recently. Applications to learn a musical instrument or join a small group drama class can occur at any time during the year.
Which should my daughter learn?
Lessons are offered in the following:
- Guitar: Acoustic, Bass, Classical and Electric
- Voice: Classical, Pop, Jazz, Rock
- Woodwind: Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone
- Brass: Trumpet and Trombone
- Percussion: Drums/Drum kit
- Piano/Keyboard: Classical and Popular
- Strings: Violin, Viola and Cello
- Drama and Communication skills
The choice of instrument needs careful consideration. Probably the best guide is the sound of the instrument which the student likes the most. They will, after all, spend many years listening to the sound of that instrument. It is also really important to consider the popularity of an instrument.
This is an especially good time to be learning orchestral instruments at MSJ with the recent arrival of MSJ's first ever orchestra which began rehearsal in Term 1, 2022.
Procedure for Learning an Instrument
Enrolment for Instrumental Lessons
To commence music lessons you can fill out an application online.
Once you've read through this Handbook you can apply HERE or through the Instrumental Lessons section on the MSJ Website under Beyond the Classroom.
A student can commence lesson at any time during the School year. However there is a waiting list for some instruments as the demand for lessons exceeds our available teacher's time.
Hire of Instruments
Many instruments can be hired through the Performing Arts Department.
The purpose of hiring is to allow parents and students the time to evaluate where or not the student wishes to continue playing the instrument, thus avoiding the expense of buying an instrument outright.
Timetabling of Instrumental Lessons
After an application has been received, teacher availability is confirmed and fees are processed. Once this is done are instrumental teachers timetable a students lesson. They then inform the students either in person or via email and lessons begin.
Instrumental Lessons
- Students receive one lesson per week in their individual or group lesson.
- Sixteen lessons are provided each semester to students on a fee-paying basis
- Each lesson is for 30 minutes or 45 minutes as arranged
- Lessons are held during class time and are run on a rotating weekly timetable. Exceptions are sometimes made for senior students who might wish to have lessons during regular spare periods or at times in consultation with their instrumental teachers.
- All students taking music lessons are required to be in Ensemble (at no extra cost) as a compulsory part of their musical education.
Ensemble at MSJ
We are committed to creating an excellent musical education at MSJ. Each student learning in the instrumental program can participate in 1 hour of ensemble and a half hour (at least) of lesson time each week. Ensemble is therefore two thirds of the musical education and is provided without charge.
Ensembles are vital because they develop skills such as:
- Basic Sight-reading (including beat, rhythm and music notation)
- Good Aural (ear) skills
- Basic Ensemble Awareness
Taking ensemble out of a musical education is akin to removing algebra from maths - it's an essential part of learning the subject fully. The work one during ensemble sessions is also an enormous support to a student's private lessons. This allows our instrumental teachers to focus more on instrumental technique because other key areas of musical development are being learnt and supported in the ensemble program.
Ensemble in 2024
Our well-established ensembles will continue to operate in 2024, including orchestra, MSJ Voices, Tub Thumpers, Jazz Cats, Madrigalz and Guitar ensemble. Students are encouraged to be part of these ensembles when they have developed the appropriate skill level.
A number of these ensembles operate before school from 7:30am - 8:30am.
Music Scholarship
A small number of Music Scholarships are available to students from Year 8 – 12.
Teachers will nominate students for these scholarship during Term 4 and students will then be interviewed.
A Music Scholarship enables a student to receive a semester of their instrumental music tuition free.