Band

Term 1, Week 10

A word from the BPS Band Co-ordinator - Ken MacDonald

Welcome to 2025 - the year of the BPS Band Program!

There are 118 Grades 3-6 students in the Band program this year, making it the biggest BPS Band program ever! With over 50 new students starting this year, this also makes this our biggest intake. Our program is the envy of many Primary and Secondary schools Victoria wide. Our Instrumental teaching staff would be worthy of teaching in the finest schools anywhere in Australia. We are so lucky to have such a skilled and experienced team. The support from our Principal team and admin staff is second to none. The confidence and support from the school community is the heart and soul of the success of the program. The music students at BPS are some of the most capable and advanced Primary School music students anywhere in Australia. Thank you to all of you for contributing to Victoria’s best Primary School Band Program!

Let the 2025 musical journey begin……..

Commencement of Instrumental Lessons

Music lessons are well underway for 2025. We have seven instrumental teachers delivering lessons over the week. There are dozens of excited new music students that have started what I hope will be a lifelong love of music. Our continuing music students are looking to take their playing to new heights. Our musical teaching spaces have never seen so much activity. What a beautiful, vibrant creative space!

Music lessons are held in the instrumental teaching rooms on the Whitehorse Roadside of the old schoolhouse or in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). Everything has started well, and students have now found their feet with lessons and Band rehearsals.

Please make sure your child always checks their timetable and attends with their instrument (sticks for Percussionists), method books and ensemble music.

Percussion students do not need to bring their percussion kits (Stick bag and method book only) and Bass Guitar students do not need to bring their amplifiers (but please bring your lead and method book). Students can store their instruments in the old schoolhouse instrumental storage area at the beginning of the day and collect them immediately after the final bell.

It's important that students get into the habit of reading their timetables and attending their lessons a few minutes earlier than their scheduled time. Much time can be lost collecting students from class and the school yard.

Band and Guitar Ensemble Rehearsals

All Band and Guitar rehearsals have now started, and all indications are that all ensembles are making excellent progress. Everyone is enjoying their musical ensemble experience.

TRAINING BAND – Wednesdays (Gym) with Adrienne Garneau
GUITAR ENSEMBLE – Wednesdays (Music Classroom) with Alwaynne Strentz
SYMPHONIC BAND – Thursdays (Gym) with Ken MacDonald
CONCERT BAND – Fridays (Gym) with Ken MacDonald
NOVICE GUITAR ENSEMBLE - Fridays (Music Classroom) with Jake Underwood

Please note that all Band and Ensemble rehearsals begin at 7.50am.

Instrumental Vacancies

For anyone who would still like to participate in our Band Program, we have a few available vacancies. If your child is interested in learning any instrument, please contact me for more information at kenneth.macdonald@education.vic.gov.au

Upcoming Events / Assemblies / Performances for TERM 2

Assemblies - dates to be confirmed

Symphonic Band
Concert Band
Training Band
Guitar Ensemble
Novice Guitar Ensemble
Mid-Year Soiree
Open Rehearsal Week

BPS Instrumental Music Staff 2025

Ken MacDonald - Band Co-ordinator, Trumpet and Trombone teacher, Concert Band and Symphonic Band Director
Adrienne Garneau – Clarinet and Saxophone teacher, Training Band Director
Alwaynne Strentz - Acoustic & Bass Guitar teacher, Guitar Ensemble Director
Jake Underwood - Acoustic Guitar teacher, Novice Guitar Ensemble Director
Jirene Beh - Flute teacher
Flora Carbo - Clarinet and Saxophone teacher
Justin Zheng - Percussion teacher

Yours musically,

Ken Mac (Wed, Thurs, Fri)

Lisa Shacklock - Band Liaison(Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri)