Day to day running of the program

Time and Location

Lessons take place in our Music Studios. Lessons can happen before school, during school and after school. Parents can indicate their preference and students will be notified by the tutor at the beginning of the year regarding the time and location of their lesson.

For lessons outside of school hours (8am to 3.30pm), parents are responsible for the supervision of their children while waiting for their music lesson and when the lesson is finished.

Communication

Our tutors opperate as on-site contractors for our school community.  Parents are asked to complete a detailed form as part of the Enrolment into the Music Tuition Program. The information in this form will be provided to the tutors. By completing this form and once lessons have commenced you give permission for the school to release to the tutor the contact details, learning & medical needs for your child. 

New enrolments will receive a short tutor profile to help them get to know their assigned tutor. They will also receive contact information for the tutor. Tutors will communicate directly with parents regarding students lesson times, updates on how they are going in lessons, as well as all invoicing & receiving of payments.

If you have any questions or if anything isn't clear, parents can email music@shirechristian.nsw.edu.au and your query will be directed to the best person to answer you.

Cancellation or Rescheduling of Lessons

• If your child will miss a scheduled lesson, you must notify the tutor at least 24 hours in advance. This includes excursions, camps, and other appointments that may affect your child's lesson time. The lesson may be made up at a mutually convenient time and recorded in the tutor’s attendance roll. 

• If the tutor is not notified at least 24 hours before the activity, the lesson will be forfeited and must be paid for.

• In the case of illness, the teacher must be notified of the absence by 7.30am on the day of the lesson. The lesson may be made up at a mutually convenient time and recorded in the tutor’s attendance roll.

• If the lesson is cancelled by the tutor, the lesson will be rescheduled at a later time.

• Tutors will attempt to schedule up to 2 catch up lessons per term for any missed lessons where the tutor was absent or 24 hours notice was provided. If these lessons are unable to be scheduled, these lessons will be credited to the next term's invoice. If there are more than 2 of these types of absences in a term, then the lesson will be forfeited and must be paid for.

Students are to:

• Know their lesson time and location for each week and to arrive 5 minutes before the lesson. If students are late to their lesson, it is likely that the lesson time will not be able to be caught up.

• 'Sign in' before the lesson and 'sign out' after the lesson. Students do this by using the iPad in the Music Studio. New students to the program will be shown how to do this in their first lesson.

• Bring their instrument and sheet music to school each week for their lesson. There is dedicated 'daily storage' space for instruments in the storeroom of Music Room 1 if needed.

• Consistently practice throughout the week. This should form part of their homework timetable. Beginners should commence with 15+ minutes of practice, 5 days a week, with the amount of practice time increasing as ability increases and membership in higher level ensembles is attained. Practice should include: warming up, scales, other technical work, studies and pieces as set by the teacher, and ensemble music.

Ensemble Participation

• Students receiving tuition on an instrument are strongly encouraged to be involved in an ensemble. We find that this significantly heightens students enjoyment, gives them meaningful things to work towards on their instrument with their tutor, and helps them make like-minded friends as they regularly rehearse and perform together. For more information about our extensive range of Ensembles, please click here.

Performance Opportunities (including the Recital Evening Series)

Throughout the year, short recital evenings are held for students to enjoy a performance opportunity in a relaxed and friendly setting. These evenings are usually held in the TLC (Tiered Learning Centre) or in the Hall. They often run from 5:00pm and finish within the hour. 

Students are also encouraged to audition for our music showcase evenings: PIPE (Primary & Infants Performance Evening) or FONO (For One Night Only).

Equipment and Resources

It is the responsibility of the parent/student to buy or obtain the equipment and resources recommended by the Instrumental Tutor.  The tutor will be able to give advice on where these resources and equipment should be obtained.

Withdrawing from the program

Parents are to provide two weeks notice of their child withdrawing from the Music Tuition Program, or being reassigned to a different tutor. The best time for this to happen is at the end of term (with the holidays counting as the two weeks notice). Parents wishing to do so are to email music@shirechristian.nsw.edu.au as well as the instrumental tutor.

If two weeks notice for withdrawing from the program is not given, two weeks of lesson fees will be charged to the parent.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to be in touch by emailing music@shirechristian.nsw.edu.au.

Enrol in the Music Tuition Program

To enrol in the program, please click here.