MUSIC

Junior School Music

Welcome to the Junior School Music Program. We are so excited to launch this multi-faceted, high quality music education program for our Junior School students. Our program provides so many opportunities for your child to benefit from the power of music education. 

Music and Language

Syntax processing in language and music has been shown to rely on overlapping neural mechanisms and develop earlier and more strongly in children with music training.

Jentshke, S. &Koelsch, S. (2009)

Neuroscientists and academics are continuing to discover more and more links between high-quality music education and brain development. Learning an instrument while reading notation engages and develops the language processing part of the brain, enhancing differentiation of prosody, symbol to sound pathways, brain recording, and retrieval. In learning an instrument, children develop the ability to see a symbol, hear the representation of that symbol in their head, talk to their body, make the sound, check the sound, amend or reinforce the sound, and then move on to the next note on the page! Sound familiar? This is how we learn to read. The pathways which enable language are stimulated through learning an instrument. For life!

How your child can learn an instrument: Your Junior School child can learn an instrument in the College Music Academy. Our Music Academy staff provide high-quality tuition in a wide range of instruments. Here are some recommendations for appropriate instruments matched to age.

Kinder to Year 2: Piano, violin, cello

Year 3 - 4: As above plus viola, double bass

Year 4 - 6: As above plus flute, clarinet

Year 5 - 6: As above plus trumpet, trombone, Euphonium, French Horn, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Voice, Guitar, Bass, Percussion

Lessons are available for individuals weekly or fortnightly or in small groups weekly. Instruments are available for hire. Use this link for fees, conditions and enrolment procedures: https://bit.ly/MusicAcademyEnrolments

Ensembles for Junior School

Year 4 Beginner String Program: Instrument demonstrations and call for enrolments

We are calling for enrolments for our Year 4 Beginner String Program. Year 4 students will have the opportunity to see string instruments played by our expert staff in coming weeks. Students who then choose to enrol in our Beginner String Program will have a wonderful opportunity to learn a string instrument in a group environment, tutored by specialists and led by experts. Students will love learning songs, scale patterns, rhythms and bowing techniques on their choice of violin, viola, cello or double bass. The program will run during school hours as an opt-in classroom music elective for Year 4. The program attracts a tuition fee of $180 per term. Students can hire a suitably sized instrument from the Music Academy for $55 per term, or provide their own. Students who enrol in the program will be fitted for the appropriate sized mini string instrument towards the end of Term 1.

Students are required to make a commitment for Terms 2, 3 and 4.

Eligible students: Year 4

Enrolment: https://bit.ly/Year4StringProgram

Pictured above - Sana Malika and Zoe Muller both started violin in primary school - Year 1 and Year 3 respectively. They are now both thriving in our Year 7 Encore Gifted and Talented Program.

Year 6 Beginner Band Program

Year 6 students will experience the sounds and science of wind and brass instruments in coming weeks, as our expert staff, Tim Chandler and Jackie Willcockson demonstrate the feature instrument of the concert band. Year 6 students will then have the opportunity to opt in to our Year 6 Beginnner Band Program. Students who choose to enrol in our Beginner Band Program will have a wonderful opportunity to learn a concert band instrument form the wind, brass or percussion families in a group class with our expert staff. The program will run during school hours as an opt-in classroom music elective for Year 6. The program attracts a tuition fee of $180 per term. Students can hire a suitably sized instrument from the Music Academy for $55 per term, or provide their own. 

Students are required to make a commitment for Terms 2, 3 and 4.

Eligible students: Year 6

Enrolment: https://bit.ly/Year6BeginnerBandProgram

Senior School Music

College Band - new rehearsal time

College Band is back, bigger and better than ever, in our new rehearsal time of 3.30pm - 5.00pm.

In our first rehearsal we distributed all of the music for the rest of Term 1 and Term 2. For the rest of the semester, we will work through our very fun and enriching new program. We warmly welcome our new Year 7 members, our new year 8 members, and are excited to seeon welcome new members from Years 4, 5 and 6. There will be no rehearsal in week 6 due to the College Swimming Carnival. We will meet again in Week 7. 

A very special vote of thanks must go to the families of our Band members for adjusting to our rehearsal time, and being available to collect Band members from rehearsal. Your effort and commitment is most truly appreciated. Thankyou!

Fun music fact: Did you know that when you read music in an ensemble, your brain is working twice as hard as when you read a book? No wonder it feels hard to keep up in an ensemble sometimes! The brain is having quite a workout!

Clare Brassil | Director of Music Performance