Music Matters
Ready for a Big 2020 in Music!
Welcome back to a new year of exciting music at Doncaster Secondary College. 2020 has begun with a bang with over a third of the new Year 7 students choosing to learn an instrument in our instrumental program. This is the highest participation percentage we have ever had at Doncaster so we are very excited in the Music Department at the moment. Students are learning flute, oboe, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba, violin, viola, cello, guitar and percussion. We also have a great interest in the Rock Program which had auditions on Friday, 7 February.
Instrumental Lessons
By now most instrumental students have been contacted by their teachers, and their lessons will be appearing on Compass this week. They are a half-period duration and rotate so that the same class is not missed each week, so there is very little disruption to their academic studies. If you haven’t heard from your instrumental teacher yet or are confused about what to do please email Mr Dean at Dean.Nicholas.J@edumail.vic.gov.au or see him in the Music office Monday to Friday.
The new no phones policy at school means that students cannot use their phones to check timetables or remind themselves of a lesson half-way through classes. Please make sure your child has checked Compass for their lesson times the night before. If their lesson is half-way through a period, they should inform their teacher at the beginning of the class and keep an eye on the time so that they can leave a few minutes before their lesson is scheduled. Instrumental teachers cannot chase students who miss lessons. It is the responsibility of the students to remember their lesson times.
Music Levies are now payable
Music levies can now be paid on Compass and instrument hire fees will appear as your teacher arranges them.
Rehearsals begin this week
Rehearsals for most ensembles will begin in week 3 with Soundworks (our Year 7 Concert Band with wind and percussion instruments) beginning in week 5.
Rehearsal times have changed a little from last year and will be as follows:
Monday: 3:30pm – 4:30pm (4:10pm for first term beginning week 5) – Soundworks
Tuesday: 7:45am – 8:55am – Junior Jazz
Tuesday lunchtime: – Guitar Ensemble
Tuesday: 3:30pm – 4:30pm – Concert Band and Senior Jazz
Wednesday: 7:30am – 8:55am – Wind Symphony
Thursday: 7:45am – 8:50am - Stringworks
Friday: 7:45am – 8:50am – String Orchestra
These rehearsals will appear on Compass and attendance is compulsory. Rolls are marked on Compass as with any timetabled lesson and absences must be explained with an email to the ensemble teacher. As part of the requirements of the Department of Education, all instrumental students learning from a Department teacher at school must participate in an ensemble.
Students are always welcome to begin learning an instrument
If you are still interested in learning an instrument at Doncaster please see Mr Dean in the Music office, Monday to Friday and he will arrange for you to meet with our very experienced team of instrumental music teachers to have a trial on the instruments we offer. We are always keen for more trumpets, French horns, trombones and tubas so keep them in mind if you’d like to try no matter what year level you are in. Music trains the brain in more ways than any other single activity can, so do your child a favour and encourage them to give music a try.
Important Dates
February: Music lessons and Ensemble rehearsals begin
May 1-3: Mt Gambier Generations In Jazz
May 25-27: Music Camp
June 2: Winter Concert
August dates TBC: Victorian Schools Music Festival
August 28: String Soiree
September 3: Rock Program Showcase
October 20: Spring Concert
November: 2021 Ensemble Auditions