LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT AT KINGWOOD COLLEGE
Kingswood College is proud to offer a broad and rich Instrumental Music program, offering students the opportunity to receive personalised instrumental tuition. This tuition is intended to complement the education which is provided in the classroom music program and in the College ensemble program. The Instrumental Music Tuition Policy contains all details regarding the provision of instrumental tuition at Kingswood College.
Kingswood College offers tuition in a wide range of instruments through the Instrumental Tuition Program. Students of any age are invited to apply for instrumental tuition. Individual advice of instrument selection can be provided by any of our experienced Music teachers, should parents wish. Kingswood College is very pleased to be able to offer students and parents a team of Melbourne’s most talented music educators, who will provide expert guidance to their students throughout their time at the College. Music lessons customarily occur
during class time, and timetables are coordinated by individual Music teachers. Unless otherwise agreed, students will be placed on a rotating timetable, which ensures that they can receive instrumental tuition whilst also not regularly missing the same subject. Students who are enrolled in VCE studies, or who learn multiple instruments, will be given priority for lesson times which fall outside of regular class times (e.g. lunch times, before or after school hours).
Junior School students are collected by the teacher and taken to their lesson. Students who are in Years 7 to 12 are expected to attend private music lessons independently and to be punctual in arriving at their lessons. Instrumental tuition timetables are published on Compass, and are updated regularly. Students can also check their timetables via the touchscreen, located in the foyer of the Music department.
In order to apply for enrolment in the Instrumental Tuition Program, parents should complete the online
application form, which can be found by clicking the below link:
Complispace - Instrumental Music Tuition
If parents require assistance in completing the enrolment form, they are encouraged to contact the Music Administrator: music@ kingswoodcollege.vic.edu.au.
The following instrumental tuition and ensembles are available to students at Kingswood College:
PRIVATE INSTRUMENTAL TUITION
Keyboard:
• Piano
Stringed:
• ‘Cello
• Double Bass
• Electric Bass
• Guitar (Acoustic and/or Electric)
• Ukulele
• Viola
• Violin
Brass:
• Baritone Horn
• Euphonium
• French Horn
• Trombone
• Trumpet
• Tuba Woodwind:
• Bassoon
• Clarinet
• Flute
• Oboe
• Saxophone
Drum Kit/Orchestral
Percussion:
• Percussion
Singing:
• Voice
ENSEMBLES
Junior School:
• Junior School Choir
• Junior School Chamber Choir
• Junior School Rock Band
• Junior School String Ensemble
• Tiny Trebles
Middle & Senior School:
• Cantabile
• College Choir
• College Rock Band
• College String Ensemble
• Flute Ensemble
• Jazz Combo
• Tomfoolery
• Year 7 Band
• Year 7 String Ensemble
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
GROUP INSTRUMENTAL TUITION
Occasionally, instrumental tuition for beginner students can be offered in group settings (2 or 3 students learning together). Group tuition is currently possible for students learning the following instruments:
• Violin
• Viola
• ‘Cello
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Baritone Horn
• French Horn
• Flute
• Clarinet
• Saxophone
• Oboe
• Bassoon
In order for group tuition to be offered, there must be a minimum of two students wishing to participate, who are assessed by the instrumental teacher as being appropriate to form a group, based on prior learning, the students’ compatible learning styles and the students’ ability to work constructively together in the group setting. All group lessons are 30 minutes in duration.
Parents should note that, to enrol in group tuition, all students involved in the group must commit to lessons until the conclusion of the current College year, i.e. discontinuation is only possible at the conclusion of the College year. In order to ensure that group lessons can be offered for the duration of the year to all students who have enrolled, families will be invoiced for a full year of lessons in their Term 1 music fees. Where a student chooses to discontinue midyear, no reimbursement will be offered.
Parents or students who are interested in group tuition should consult the Music Department in the first instance, to establish whether it will be possible to form a group.
INSTRUMENTAL TUITION TERMS
Parents should expect to receive an invoice in advance of each term, and lessons are administered as per the policy detailed below:
• Where a student misses a lesson, and provides at least 24 hours’ notice, that lesson will be made-up by the instrumental teacher. Notice must be sent directly to both the instrumental teacher and the Music Administrator, via email.
• Where a student misses a lesson, but fails to provide adequate notice, the lesson will not be made-up and parents will be charged for the lesson. If two successive lessons are missed without notification, parents will be advised.
• Where a student misses a lesson due to a College activity (excursion, incursion, camp, etc.) that lesson will be made-up.
• Where a student misses a lesson due to teacher absence, that lesson will be made-up.
• Parents are charged for 8 lessons per term, in recognition of the fact that excursions, incursions and camps will disrupt lessons, from time to time, throughout the year. This means that each student should receive 32 lessons across the course of the year and, if these lessons are not received, a credit will be applied to the students’ fees account at the commencement of the next College year.
• Should students wish to receive more than 32 lessons in one year, their parents will be asked for confirmation in writing that they are happy to receive and pay for the additional lessons. These lessons will be charged on a pro-rata basis, according to the fee schedule.
LESSON FEES
Students can choose to enrol in either 30, 45 or 60 minute lessons each week. If parents are unsure of the optimal lesson duration for their child, they are encouraged to discuss this with the Head of Music. Lesson fees in 2025 are as follows:
Showcase concert. These performances are one of the most valuable aspects of being enrolled in the College’s Instrumental Tuition Program, as they offer students the opportunity to showcase their learning in both ensemble and solo contexts.
parents with queries regarding their child’s practice, should this be requested.
INSTRUMENT HIRE
Students are invited to hire instruments from Kingswood College, where these instruments are available. Please note that pianos, guitars and drum kits are not available for hire. Instrumental hire is charged at a rate of $105.00 per term. Care and maintenance of the instrument, during the hire period, is exclusively the responsibility of the student’s parents.
The instrument must be maintained in an equivalent condition to that in which it was provided. Parents should note that the College cannot offer to insure hired instruments and, as such, if parents wish to secure insurance for these instruments, it Is their own responsibility.
CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES
Students who are enrolled in instrumental music tuition are strongly encouraged to participate in Kingswood College music performances as published in the College Calendar and as they arise through the course of the year. These events range from Junior School Soirées to the College’s annual
PRACTICE
Students are expected to practise on a regular basis. This practice must be regular and consistent, and wherever possible should be undertaken on a daily basis. Parental support is essential to ensuring that students maintain an effective practice schedule, and we hope that parents will be actively involved in their child’s learning. Teachers will also be contactable via email to assist
If an instrument is lost or stolen, the Head of Music will advise parents of the replacement cost, and this will be applied to the students’ fees in the following term. Similarly, where an instrument requires repair (beyond reasonably expected wear and tear) the College will arrange this with its preferred supplier, and repair costs will be applied to the students’ fees in the following term.
All hire-instruments must be returned to the Music Department by the first week of December, to be checked and repaired, if needed, for the following year.
After twelve months of hiring, students who wish to continue tuition are encouraged to purchase
SHEET MUSIC, BOOKS, LEARNING RESOURCES AND INSTRUMENTAL ACCESSORIES
Students will be required to purchase tutor books, other sheet music and accessories as directed by their teacher. The use of photocopies without ownership of originals is a breach of copyright laws. Sheet music and books may be purchased by parents from retail music shops, and Instrumental Teachers will assist parents with this.
AUSTRALIAN MUSIC EXAMINATIONS BOARD (AMEB) EXAMS
The examination board used by the school is the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB). Students are encouraged to do AMEB exams; however, they are not compulsory. This is an externally set examination and not part of the
College curriculum. For a student to sit an AMEB exam there should be clear agreement between the parent, the teacher and the student.
ACCOMPANISTS
Should a student be required to perform with an accompanist, the College Accompanist will be the first option taken. Where the College Accompanist is unavailable, other professional pianists on staff at the College will be asked to assist. In the event that no staff members are available, the Head of Music can offer assistance in acquiring the services of a number of reputable musicians. In this instance, accompanist fees are to be negotiated with the accompanist and not the College.
Where a member of the instrumental staff at Kingswood College provides accompaniment to a student, parents will be notified of additional charges and these will be applied to the student’s fees account.
DISCONTINUATION OF LESSONS
In the event that an enrolled student chooses to discontinue private instrumental lessons at Kingswood College, parents are required to give eight school-weeks’ notice, in writing, to the Music Administrator. Upon
giving notice of discontinuation, parents may choose whether they wish to receive these eight lessons, or forfeit the cost of these lessons. In practice, this typically means that parents give the College one term’s notice of discontinuation. Discontinuation of group tuition is not possible during the year. Students commit for a full calendar year (32 lessons) and, in the event that they choose to discontinue, no reimbursement of fees paid will be offered.
ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Fees for instrumental lessons are paid one term in advance and lessons can only commence oncethe relevant fees have been paid. The fees are invoiced by the College.
2. Students will be automatically re-enrolled each term/year. If you do not wish to re-enrol, you must notify the Music Administrator, observing the notice period detailed above.
3. The provision of tuition is subject to satisfactory progress, regular practice and attendance.
4. Refunds will not be given for lessons or instrument hire when there is a change of mind.
5. Replacement reeds and strings on woodwind and stringed instruments are to be purchased by the parents as and when required. If these can be supplied by the teacher in lessons, these items will be provided at retail cost to parents, and this charge applied to the student’s fees account.
6. Unless otherwise agreed, Year 12 students who enrol in Term 3 and 4 tuition, will have eight lessons for the semester. This is due to preparation time required for
examinations towards the end of the year. These eight lessons will be charged prior to the commencement of Term 3.
7. Tuition will commence only after an application for enrolment has been received and approved. Prior to the commencement of lessons, students will be notified of lesson times and books/ materials to be purchased, where required.
8. Kingswood College will accommodate requests for specific tutors where possible. However, parents should understand that due to administrative and timetable restrictions, we cannot always guarantee that the requested tutor will be available.
9. Kingswood College reserves the right to accept or reject the application from any student seeking enrolment in the instrumental program.