Music Matters

• Year 7 Recruitment
• Rehearsals
• New Instrumental Music Lesson Times

Year 7 Recruitment

Congratulations to all the  students who have chosen to learn an instrument at school this year. We’ve not only taken on a large number of year 7s, but also lots of new students in other year levels. These students are either new to the school or have realised that they are missing out on a great opportunity to learn an instrument at a greatly reduced price and be part of an exciting Music program surrounded by their friends.

Year 7s, thank you for your patience with our recruitment process. Those who came to the open afternoon last year and tried the instruments, were able to submit their preferences early and have already started lessons. All other year 7s have had the opportunity to try the instruments over the last few weeks and all offers were sent out this week. Due to a large interest in strings and limited positions available, some students have been given second or third preferences. If you’re really not happy with your instrument offer, please contact me as soon as possible so we can talk through the options.

We do have places still available for trumpet, trombone, French Horn and Euphonium. If you would like to try these instruments, please come to the Music Centre on a Tuesday and ask for Basil who will be very happy to assist you. We also have these brass instruments available for hire which makes it a cheaper option than some other instruments.

PURCHASING INSTRUMENTS

We do have limited numbers of instruments for hire, however, most woodwind instruments are all hired out now so it will be necessary for many students to buy their own. It is essential that you consult your instrumental teacher for recommended brands and models of instruments to buy. Please do not buy an ALDI instrument as it might be cheap but will cause great frustration and won’t be able to be repaired when things go wrong. Instruments hold their value very well and can be sold again at a later date for not much less than you paid for it.

Ensemble Rehearsal times in 2024

All students learning an instrument at the school, as part of the Education Department conditions for the subsidised lessons, must participate in one of the school Music Ensembles. Year 7 Concert Band is called Soundworks and includes flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, Euphoniums, bass guitars and percussion. If you have just started one of these instruments, you need to attend Soundworks rehearsals every Monday after school. Our first Soundworks rehearsal will be on Monday 18th March from 3:30 until 4:30pm.

If you play a string instrument such as Violin, Viola, Cello or Double Bass, you are required to be a part of Stringworks. These rehearsals will begin in second term at lunchtime on Wednesdays.

Here are all the rehearsal times for our Ensembles this year:

• Monday Lunch 1:25 – 2:15pm Senior Percussion Ensemble
• Monday 3:30 – 4:30pm Soundworks
• Tuesday 7:30 – 8:45am Concert Band
• Tuesday Lunch 1:25 – 2:15pm Guitar Ensemble
• Tuesday 3:30 – 4:30pm Junior Jazz
• Wednesday 7:30 – 8:45am String Orchestra
• Wednesday Lunch 1:25 – 2:15pm Stringworks
• Thursday 7:30 – 8:45am Wind Symphony
• Thursday Lunch 1:25 – 2:15 Junior Percussion Ensemble
• Thursday 3:30 – 4:30pm Senior Jazz
• Friday 7:30 – 8:45am Senior Strings

All rehearsals are in the Music Centre.

New Instrumental Lesson times

With the new five period day, our instrumental lesson times are as follows:

9:00am IM1

9:40am IM2

10:20am IM3

11:00am Recess

11:25am IM4

12:05pm IM5

12:45pm IM6

1:25pm Lunch

2:15pm IM7

As you can see there are now 7 Instrumental Music time slots called IM 1-7. All lessons will rotate through these times so that students don’t miss the same subjects more than a few times a term. It is the responsibility of the student to catch up on the work missed in the timetables class they miss part of.

Thank you for your support of Music in 2024.

Upcoming dates for Term 1 & Term 2

Term 1

Wednesday 20th March – DSC Open Night – Senior Strings and Senior Jazz

Term 2

Tuesday 23rd April – Rotary Schools ANZAC Ceremony at Templestowe Park – Wind Symphony

Thursday 25th April – ANZAC Day – Dawn service at Doncaster RSL – Wind Symphony

Monday 13th May – DSC Athletics Day Rock Bands performing

Wednesday 15th May Senior Ensemble Workshop to prepare Symphony Orchestra piece

Monday 20th- Wednesday 22nd May – Music Camp

Wednesday 29th May NEVR Concert – selected Music students

Tuesday 4th June Winter Concert – all ensembles

Nick Dean

Instrumental Music Coordinator