Instrument Journey

The instruments included are: Violin, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Saxophone and P-bone (Plastic Trombone) representing the major orchestral families of Strings, Woodwind and Brass.

Students will experience a semester (Year 4 & 5) or 13 weeks (Year 6) on each instrument over the 3 year period.

• In Year 4 they will learn the Flute and Violin

• In Year 5 they will learn the Clarinet and Trumpet

• In Year 6 the Saxophone and Trombone

Half of the allocated time for Music/Performing Arts each week will be allocated to learning an instrument e.g. approx 45 minutes per week.

A specialist instrumental tutor, together with the regular class music teacher, will teach students how to play their instrument for 45 minutes each week.

The remainder of lesson time will be spent learning other aspects of music/music theory or Performing Arts (R-5).

It is expected students will practice for 10 minutes 3-4 times per week. Parents are encouraged to remind their child to play their instruments regularly, otherwise learning an instrument appears much harder than it really is.

(short regular sessions will see better results than 1 large sessions each week).

The College provides the instruments at no cost, except for consumable items. Students are provided with all initial items such as a reed, cork grease, rosin or valve oil. You will only need to purchase further items if they break, run out or become lost. All items are readily available from the Music office.

Please note that any instrument requiring repairs or replacement due to accident or neglect, will be done so at the parent's expense.

This can be very costly so students are constantly reminded to take great care.

We are happy to discuss options with families when this occurs. Usually students will participate as peer tutors and be given the opportunity to develop leadership skills by assisting teachers. They may also be given harder ensemble parts to play and are encouraged to extend their own music skills by participating in our extra-curricular bands and ensembles.

An instrumental agreement form must be returned to the College prior to students taking their instrument home. Instruments are barcoded just like a library book and will be brought home once instrument care and set-up have been taught in lessons, during the first couple of weeks.

This is a college-funded program that follows directly on from the whole class experience. Students who demonstrate a keen interest in their instrument, will move into a further semester of small group lessons with a specialist tutor.