MUSIC LESSONS ST AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE CAIRNS
Music can change the world. Ludwig van Beethoven
WELCOME CHERIE SPANNENBURG HEAD OF MUSIC
Research has shown the immense value of music education. It improves working memory, phonemic awareness and development of complex spatial skills. Music education also improves impulse control, auditory processing (which assists reading and comprehension skills), as well as protecting our brains from ageing. With this myriad of benefits, why wouldn’t you learn an instrument? St Augustine’s music program is integral to the College’s cultural life, offering diverse musical opportunities for students in Years 7 to 12. Over 90 years, the program has led boys’ music education in Far North Queensland, encompassing performances, tours, musicals and festivals. Our co-curricular program involves more than 100 boys from all year levels and comprises two areas: ensembles and instrumental tuition. It is an inclusive program and all students are encouraged to be involved. Selected students in this program provide music for Masses and liturgies through orchestra or choir. Saints is proud of its culture of sacred music and provides regular performance opportunities for students. The co-curricular program runs in conjunction with an extensive and nationally recognised curricular music program, also involving many students from all year levels. Groups in the College have worked with national and international artists: James Morrison, Busby Marou, Katie Noonan and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to name a few. Past students have also been nominated for multiple Queensland Music and Aria awards. Many Old Boys perform, tour, record and compose professionally, both nationally and internationally. Their budding musical careers were nurtured at Saints, and we aim to do the same for today’s students. 1
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INTRODUCTION Music is an integral aspect of the curricular, co-curricular, liturgical and cultural life of Catholic schools. At St Augustine’s College, music is taught in classes from Years 7 to 12, complemented by a vibrant instrumental and ensemble program. Students in classes enjoy listening, composing, performing and developing their skills through the study of a wide range of repertoire. The instrumental program offers tuition in stringed instruments, woodwind, brass, percussion, piano, voice, guitar and bass. Students attend weekly lessons, either individually or in a small group. All music students are strongly encouraged to sing in the College choir. Instrumentalists are expected to join the ensemble program, participating in tours, competitions, concerts and camps where appropriate. The ensembles provide experiences for students at every level of musicality and skill.
AIMS ࣥ To provide opportunities for students to continue musical involvement from primary to secondary school in Cairns. ࣥ To enhance links and the sense of association between the central Catholic secondary colleges of Cairns and their traditional feeder schools. ࣥ To expand opportunities in the performing arts within Cairns’ Catholic schools. ࣥ To provide the best quality music education program for all Saints students. 3
LESSONS ࣥ Students enrol in the program at the beginning of every year by using the inserted enrolment form in this booklet. ࣥ A weekly lesson is scheduled during the school day. ࣥ Lessons are rotated so that students don’t miss the same subject every week. ࣥ Lessons are individual or in a small group. ࣥ Lessons are 30 minutes.
INSTRUMENTAL TUITION Saints encourages all new and continuing students to participate in co-curricular music, which aims to involve them in our musical culture and develop skills transferable to all aspects of life. Every student has the opportunity to learn an instrument, with tuition provided by a number of instrumental staff and specialist tutors. While catering for advanced musicians, the College also offers students the chance to commence tuition at any time. Students further develop their musical skills by playing in one or more of the College’s ensembles.
STRINGS The College string tutor teaches violin, viola, cello and double bass. Students are offered experience in a variety of genres, through individual or group tuition as well as ensembles. Our guitar tutors teach acoustic, electric and bass guitar, working on a variety of genres and with students of all levels. 4
WOODWIND The College’s Woodwind Department offers flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, alto, tenor and baritone sax lessons. Many of these students play in the College’s Wind Ensembles and Big Band. Our wind tutors offer small group and individual lessons.
BRASS The brass instrument section forms a large part of our Wind Ensembles and Big Band. Brass tuition at Saints includes trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium/baritone and tuba. Our brass tutor offers small group and individual lessons.
PERCUSSION Saints offers a diverse percussion program which incorporates tuned and untuned percussion as well as drum kit. This sets up students with a range of skills, which can be applied to all areas of music, including our ensembles.
PIANO Piano tuition is available to students at all levels, incorporating a range of genres and styles. Lessons are offered individually. All piano students are encouraged to join our ensembles on mallet percussion to enhance their musicianship and performance skills.
VOICE Group and individual vocal lessons are available to all students incorporating a variety of genres. 5
PARENTS AND CARERS RESPONSIBILITIES ࣥ To encourage and support your children in their music. ࣥ To ensure they regularly practise. ࣥ To ensure your children are punctual for rehearsals, playouts, etc. ࣥ To pay for lessons on time. ࣥ To email the Music Department or music teacher in advance if your children will be absent so that accounts can be adjusted.
STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES ࣥ A weekly lesson is scheduled during the school day. ࣥ They are rotated so that students don’t miss the same subject every week. ࣥ Lessons are individual or in a small group. ࣥ They are 30 minutes. ࣥ Timetables are sent electronically to parents and students.
ACCOUNTS ࣥ Students enrol for a year. ࣥ Fees are charged by the term, in some cases in advance. ࣥ Lesson charges are outlined in the enrolment form. ࣥ Private teachers invoice parents directly. ࣥ Every attempt is made to adjust charges on the next term’s account for lessons owed or credited for notified absences. 6
Charges will apply for lessons that are missed without advance notice.
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM ࣥ Students are expected to enrol for the year, but may withdraw at the end of a term only. ࣥ Three weeks’ notice to withdraw from lessons must be given in writing before the end of the term. ࣥ Lessons are charged by the term - usually in advance (eight lessons per term).
INSTRUMENTS TAUGHT* WOODWIND
BRASS
STRINGS
Flute Clarinet Oboe Alto sax Tenor sax Baritone sax
Trumpet Trombone Tuba Baritone horn French horn
Violin Viola Double bass Guitar Electric bass
PERCUSSION Piano Drum kit
VOICE
* Subject to availability of teachers.
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REPORTING ࣥ Good communication is valued in the Saints music program. ࣥ Semester reports are prepared by each music teacher to keep parents informed about their children’s progress. ࣥ Parents are invited to contact staff or music teachers with any concerns.
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES
ࣥ There is no charge to participate in bands, ensembles and choir.
ࣥ Those taking lessons at the College are expected to participate in an ensemble where possible. ࣥ The bands, ensembles and choirs perform regularly in the local community and your support may be needed by being part of the audience. Saints offers an ensemble-based program, providing opportunities for students to be involved in a wide variety of choral and instrumental groups. Seven ensembles operate within the program each week and cater for a range of students at a variety of ability levels. The choral and instrumental ensemble program is available to all. Students are expected to participate in one or more of the core ensembles to be eligible to participate in our extension ensembles. Our programs work closely with St Monica’s College and share many combined ensembles.
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Melody is the essence of music
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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251 Draper Street, Cairns, QLD 4870 Phone: 07 4052 9111 www.sac.qld.edu.au CRICO Provider Code; 00509D