Director of Music

Time time to recharge 

As we reach the end of term, I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break and takes the opportunity to rest, recharge and spend time with family and friends. A holiday provides the perfect balance between celebrating all that has been achieved and returning refreshed and ready for the exciting opportunities ahead. 

Next term promises to be a busy and rewarding one, with students continuing their regular practice using our new iPad app, participating in the Combined Bands Workshop with St Mary's College, performing at School Assemblies and the Choomalaka Festival, welcoming the formation of a new Concert Band at the Senior School, and preparing entries for the Tasmanian Rock Challenge. 

I look forward to seeing our students embrace these challenges with enthusiasm, commitment and a love of making music together.

iPad Practice App

Students in the Grade 5 and Grade 6 Bands will have the opportunity to record their practice at home on the Andante Music Practice App. This app should be ready to download onto iPads now. If students can have this app downloaded before the start of Term 3 that would be great. In this app, students can write the amount of time that you practice. Students will have the opportunity to build a practice streak and the best part about the app is that paper practice sheets no longer need to be filled in. 

When Term 3 starts, the bands will be working towards the Combined Bands Workshop Day with St Mary’s College on 31 August. We have already started to rehearse the music for this day. The details of the concert will be distributed next term.

Year 10 Work Experience Students: Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Two Year 10 students completed their Work Experience placement with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra this week. Isaac Carrol and Alex Hanstein worked alongside former St Virgil’s College Director of Music, Mr Jack Machin, and gained experience in doing quick stage settings and pack-down for the Festival of Voices. 

Isaac and Alex were also part of music programming for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s 2027 Education Concert Series. They got to choose music for the Orchestra to perform and learned how professional organisations prepare for their concerts. 

New Concert Band at Senior Campus

Can you play a musical instrument? Has it been a little while since you played? Do you need to borrow an instrument to practice with? 

A new Concert Band will be forming at the Senior School in Term 3. You are welcome to come along if you can already play a concert band instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, electric bass, drums and percussion). Keep your eyes on the Daily Notices and Facebook page for information about rehearsal times for this group and how to borrow an instrument to practice with.

Bandsman of the Week

Students who are named as Bandsman of the Week demonstrate exemplary behaviour during rehearsals and tutorials, bring all of the necessary equipment on Mondays (instrument, Music folder, and practice sheet), and have demonstrated a dedicated home practice schedule. 

Congratulations to Jett Cox and Jack Taylor in Grade 5 and Ben Hourareau and Ethan Washington in Grade 6 for being recognised as Bandsman of the Week.

Changes to Billing for Private Instrument Lessons

Please note that from Term 3, there will be a change to the way instrumental lesson payments are managed at St Virgil’s College. Lesson fees will no longer be processed through the school and will instead be paid to your student’s tutor. This means that you will receive an invoice directly from your student’s tutor for lesson fees.

The following terms and conditions will apply to private lessons from Term 3:

• Instrumental lessons are an arrangement between the tutor and the student’s family with regard to billing and timetabling.

   

• Tuition fees are $42 per half hour (30 minutes) lesson.

   

• Music tuition fees will be invoiced directly by the tutor for the forthcoming term. Any adjustments (e.g. extra lessons or credits) will be made on the following term’s invoice. Payment should be made directly to the tutor.

   

• Accounts are due to be paid within 14 days from the date of invoice. Failure to pay the account in a timely manner will result in suspension or cancellation of lessons.

   

• 24 hours’ notice is required of a student’s non-attendance for any reason (including school events/activities), otherwise the regular lesson fee will be charged. Exceptions can be made in extenuating circumstances (sudden onset of illness, emergencies, etc.). Please notify your student’s Music tutor directly, or email Ms Ball (gball@stvirgils.tas.edu.au) or Mr Pregnell (jpregnell@stivirgils.tas.edu.au) if your student will be unable to attend a Music lesson.