Music News

On behalf of all instrumental music staff, it’s great to see our young musicians back at school. Lessons are well and truly up and running. Our new students who have enrolled in the program are settling in. Attendance has been excellent. The instrumental program is expanding. We currently have just over 85 students. This number will grow as quite a few year 7 students are currently trialling instruments. Early signs are telling me it’s going to be a great year.

Timetables/Lessons

A reminder to all students to check their lesson time on Compass. As there are at times events that occur during the week such as assemblies and other excursions, students could have a lesson scheduled on another day that week. Music staff will notify their teachers to assist them in reading their lesson time on Compass. Students will need to make their way over to the music studio’s which are located in the Art Building. Students can enter via the A1 entry. Instruments can be dropped off in the morning before session one outside studio 2 which is at the end of the hallway. Students can collect their instrument at the end of the day. Don’t forget to practice before your next lesson.

Rehearsals

I have decided to combine last year’s juniors with the inters for the first few weeks of term. We have had a few rehearsals with this new combined group. It was great to see all students back playing together. This combined group will rehearse during school time and lunchtime in alternating weeks. As we settle into the term, we will look at returning to after school rehearsals on a Tuesday afternoon from 3.30-4.30pm. Rock band will continue every Tuesday lunchtime and Harmonix will continue every Wednesday lunchtime in A1.

New Temporary Rehearsal Room

Many thanks to all students and staff who helped clean A7 to set up a new rehearsal space for our concert and rock bands. The kids did a great job setting up the equipment. We have already had a few rehearsals in our new room. It’s great to have a rehearsal space ready where the kids can just walk in and play. A special mention to our maintenance staff Graeme and Tony who helped move furniture and prepare the room for our musicians. (see photo)

Classroom Music

Room A1 where classroom music sessions take place now has a full keyboard lab with 25 new keyboards. Our students are very lucky. (see photo) These keyboards are used as part of our curriculum. Students have been memorising notes on the keyboard, playing simple melodies and learning chords. We look forward to having lots of fun on our new equipment.

Leadership Assembly

Congratulations to all students in the combined concert band who performed at the College’s Leadership assembly. Our musicians did a great job providing entertainment while students entered the Gymnasium. We look forward to their next performance.

Music Information Booklet/Agreement of Participation Form

All students will have received an information booklet and agreement of participation form. Please read the booklet carefully and please return the agreement of participation form to the front office as soon as possible. The booklet contains lots of information about the program covering topics such as lessons, fees, ensembles, rehearsals, timetable, staff and other important details. Please note there has been a change to music fees/levy and instrument hire. This is all explained in the booklet. If you have any questions please call me on 0409 142 240.

Instrument vacancies

It isn’t too late to sign up and learn a musical instrument. We have vacancies for the following instruments: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and violin. Students have an opportunity to have a few lessons to trial an instrument. Come over and see me in the Art Building so we can arrange a lesson time.

On behalf of all instrumental music staff Donna Stemberger and Robyn Keane, have a great term.

Gerry Ciavarella

Instrumental Music Coordinator