Music Tuition HANDBOOK
1
CONTENTS Welcome
Page 1
Materials and Resources
Page 6
Private Lessons
Page 2
Progress & Graded Exams
Page 7
Communication
Page 3
Terminating Lessons
Page 7
Attendance & Absence Procedures
Page 4
Ensembles
Page 8
Reducing Student Absence
Page 5
Music Events & Performances
Page 9
Levy
Page 5
WELCOME Dear Parents, Guardians and Students This booklet has been prepared to assist parents, guardians and students with the procedures surrounding instrumental/vocal lessons at Seton Catholic College. It is our hope that learning Music at Seton Catholic College will prove to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Thank you for being part of the Seton Music Community. If you have any queries regarding the Music Program, please do not hesitate to contact myself or Melissa Lanza (Music Administration Officer) on the details below. Kind regards,
Mrs Emily Dakin Director of Music Telephone: 9331 9629 Email: Emily.Dakin@cewa.edu.au
Mrs Melissa Lanza Music Administration Officer Telephone: 9314 8303 Email: Melissa.Lanza@cewa.edu.au Working hours: 9.30am-2.30pm
1
PRIVATE LESSONS Lessons are one-to-one and last for 30 minutes. Students in Years 7-10 will receive a total of 32 lessons, delivered over the course of the year. How this quota is met is at the discretion of the teacher, but this usually results in weekly lessons. Students in Year 11 will receive 28 lessons and Year 12s will receive 26 as they finish the school year much earlier. Lessons will commence in the second week of Term 1 and continue until the end of Week 7 in Term 4, or until the quota is fulfilled. On a rare occasion a tutor may not achieve the lesson quota. If this eventuates, corrective arrangements will occur towards the end of Term 4. These will be conveyed to parents via email and include a refund of fees. Since the school subject timetable is constant, music lesson times are rotating for each student all term. This protects students from missing the same subjects repeatedly. Students are expected to make sure that they catch up on any work missed and check SEQTA/contact their teacher to see if homework was issued. We use an auto-assign function in the SEQTA suite which is designed to rotate student lessons. Occasionally there may be a glitch and the student’s lesson may stay at the same time for a few weeks. We ask that students message Mrs Lanza if this occurs. Students should not miss the same subject lesson each week. For new music students, lesson times are emailed to parents during the second week of Term 1 and are also added to the students’ SEQTA timetable. These will be visible to students over the course of the first week as they are added. There will be a Music Tuition induction meeting during PCG time for all music students. We will communicate the time and place to them. At this meeting students will learn about upcoming events and ensembles, new tutors and the semester ahead. New students will learn about excusing themselves from classes, the timetable, where lessons take place, where to leave their instrument (if applicable), what to bring etc. Occasionally it may be necessary to reschedule a lesson. This will be communicated via Direct Messages in SEQTA to students – All music students should check their Direct Messages every morning during PCG. Lesson swaps can only be requested before 12pm the day before the scheduled lesson. No lesson changes can be done the night before the scheduled lesson or on the day of the lesson. Please address lesson requests to Mrs Lanza.
2
COMMUNICATION All parent correspondence should in the first instance be directed to the Director of Music, Mrs Emily Dakin. Please call 9331 9629 or email Emily.Dakin@cewa.edu.au If contact is specific to an instrument or tutor, emails will be forwarded to the relevant music tutor. Students should contact Mrs Dakin via Direct Message. All lesson changes/ensemble info is communicated to students via Direct Message, so it is important that students check their Direct Messages at least every morning during PCG.
3
ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE PROCEEDURES Attendance to lessons is essential if students are to reach their full potential. Peripatetic music tutors keep a record of student attendance and quotas. Absences are followed up weekly and parents are informed if their child misses a lesson via SEQTA. A sign is placed on the room the music tutor is teaching in each day. If the sign is up, this means the tutor is at school. If the tutor is not present in the room at that very time, students are asked to wait just outside the room. Students should not return to class if the tutor does not arrive. They should walk around to the music office to advise Mrs Dakin and Mrs Lanza. SICK DAYS If a student is sick and unable to attend their music tuition lesson on the day, no refund or makeup lesson(s) will be issued. PLANNED ABSENCES – ASSESSMENTS, EXCURSIONS, APPOINTMENTS If a student cannot attend their music tuition lesson due to an assessment, excursion, or appointment, they must contact the Mrs Lanza (Music Admin) via Direct Message on SEQTA by 12pm the previous day, including by Friday 12pm if there is a planned absence on Monday. No lesson changes will occur over the weekend. A makeup lesson/swap will then be issued. This is the minimum time requested as this ensures that arrangements can be made for a swap and all parties are informed of the changes well ahead of time. COLLEGE CALENDARED EVENTS In the event of a College calendared event (e.g. Swimming Carnival/Athletics Carnival/Seton Day), Peripatetic Music Tutors may be able to re-arrange their teaching to another day during that week. If it is not possible to reschedule the lessons that week, the lesson will be made up by the tutor before the end of the school year to ensure their quota is fulfilled. Again, all changes are communicated to students via Direct Message on SEQTA. If a music lesson time occurs during an assembly or mass, students are still expected to attend their music lesson. They have the option to sit at the back of the Gym or at the end of their row and exit discreetly. If the student is at school, a makeup lesson will not be given for students who do not attend during these events. HOLIDAYS DURING TERM TIME If a student is on holiday during term time, no refund or makeup lesson(s) will be issued for music tuition. PERIPATETIC MUSIC TUTOR ABSENCE If a tutor is absent, a Direct Message will be sent to students to let them know and a sign will be placed on the tutorial door to advise students. These lessons will be made up by the tutor before the end of the year to ensure that the quota is fulfilled.
4
REDUCING STUDENT ABSENCE A watch with an alarm or setting a reminder on a laptop can assist students who have difficulty remembering to leave class for their music lesson. All subject teachers understand that students who attend music lessons will excuse themselves from their classes from time to time. As a courtesy, it is advisable that students let their subject teachers know at the beginning of the year that they are enrolled in the Music Program. During the first couple of weeks of Term 1 our tutors will endeavour to locate new students should they forget to attend their lesson. After this time, it is the student’s responsibility to remember their lesson and attend punctually. They will not be collected.
MISSED/FORGOTTEN LESSONS If a student forgets to attend a lesson, no makeup lesson will be granted. As a courtesy, parents will receive a message on SEQTA to advise that their child missed their lesson.
LEVY The Music Tuition Levy covers all the student’s books, sheet music, examination fees and accompaniment fees/extra rehearsals that they require as part of their tuition. This levy is included in your school fees account along with the fee for tuition and means that parents will receive no further fees/invoices from the Music Department throughout the year.
5
MATERIALS & RESOURCES INSTRUMENT HIRE In all cases students should have use of a practise instrument. This includes piano students who should have a keyboard or piano at home to practise on, preferably with 88 fully weighted keys. A drums student should have a drum kit (acoustic or electric) at home. The Music Department has several woodwind and brass instruments for hire, and if required this will be organised at the students’ first lesson. The cost of instrument hire is $200 this year. The hire cost will be added to your school fees account. More information can be obtained from the Music Administration Officer by email on Melissa.Lanza@cewa.edu.au or by calling 9314 8303. We strongly encourage parents/students to purchase their own instrument after the first year. If you are purchasing your own instrument and need some advice, please contact Mrs Emily Dakin or the student's music tutor.
RESOURCES Students should bring their instrument (where applicable) together with their music diary, any books/sheet music as well as their laptop/tablet to their lessons.
6
All students will be provided with a music diary at their first lesson. This should be used weekly to record details of practice homework and indicate the amount of practice they have completed. All music books/sheet music will be ordered through the school and passed onto students during their lessons as it is included in their levy. This means parents do not need to purchase these books themselves.
PROGRESS & GRADED EXAMINATIONS Students are encouraged to progress
of Music (ABRSM). Progress will be
through the relevant graded
monitored with students encouraged
qualifications for their instrument /voice.
to make progress of a grade a year minimum.
Grades give students something to aim for. They also help to develop resilience,
Parents will be informed via email and
commitment, improve their skills and
permission will be sought when their
ensure thorough progress.
child is ready to sit an examination before we submit their entry.
Students gain qualifications and in upper school these can be credited to
Regular practice outside of lesson times
their WACE certificate through the
is vital if students are to reach their full
Endorsed Programmes.
potential and achieve progress. The recommended amount of practice is 30
Grades start at Preliminary grade,
minutes a day for most students. For
followed by Grade 1, 2, 3 and so on, up
students working on higher
to Grade 8. Students will not necessarily
grades/preparing performances we
take every grade, this is at the discretion
recommend 45-60 minutes a day.
of the tutor. Graded examinations incur no cost to Peripatetic staff will select the best
parents. This is covered in a levy fee
syllabus and examination board for
which forms part of the music tuition
students according to their
fee.
instrument/voice and interests. REPORTS Exams are usually conducted through
Reports are completed at the end of
the Australian Music Examination Board,
each semester on SEQTA. The report
(AMEB) or through the Associated Board
involves an assessment of technique,
for the Royal Schools
reading ability and performance.
TERMINATING LESSONS Students enrol for a full year of lessons, forming the basis for employing and compensating peripatetic staff. Early termination requires covering the entire year's cost, with only extenuating exceptions considered through a meeting with the Director of Music.
7
ENSEMBLES Ensembles are provided as a
Students might not join their desired
complimentary service to Seton Catholic
ensemble when they first begin lessons
College students and are considered a
as they need time to develop enough
great privilege.
skills and confidence, particularly if they are a beginner. In this instance their
The following ensembles will be offered in
tutor will recommend them for
2024:
Ensembles when they are ready. - Rock Band 1
However, the College Choir is open to all
- College Choir
students and is strongly encouraged for
- Rock Band 2
students to develop their aural skills and
- Percussion Ensemble
musicianship.
- College Concert Band - Rock Band 3
Please bear in mind the following:
- Rhythm Ensemble - Classical Guitar Ensemble
1. General groups take precedence
- Musical Theatre Choir
over “special” smaller ensembles. This is for reasons of Community
The rehearsal schedule will be made
and ensemble and department
available in the College newsletter and on
strength.
the Notices for students by Week 3. All ensembles are up and running by Week 4
2. “Reading” ensembles take
of Term 1.
precedence over “non-reading ensembles”. This is for reasons of
The Rock Bands are auditioned ensembles
good musical education. The Flute
and are open to any music student.
Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Concert
Auditions will take place in week 2. Audition
Band and Choir are all reading
times and details are in the daily notices on
ensembles.
SEQTA. If students would like to audition, they are asked to sign up on the sheet(s) on the Music room door (SP22) and Band Practice Room. As such, all students undertaking individual music lessons are highly encouraged, as part of their role with in the Seton Music Community and under the discretion of the Director of Music, to be involved with at least one ensemble.
8
MUSIC EVENTS & PERFORMANCES 2024 There are several events and performances that occur throughout the year at Seton. A list of proposed dates for 1st semester performances will be emailed to parents in the first few weeks of Term 1. Updates will occur as details become available and parents will receive information about upcoming events in advance via email and SMS. Ensemble and performance opportunities are offered by the Music Department to enhance and develop the skills and talents of our students. We ask that parents support students in their commitment to their lessons, ensembles, and rehearsals throughout the entire year, even if student enthusiasm may be waning at times. It is important for students to understand that commitment is an on-going process and success comes with hard work, repetition, and passion. At Seton we encourage students to strive for excellence to attain a life-long enjoyment of Music through the skills that they develop in the Music Program at Seton. We hope that your son/daughter enjoys their music this year and look forward to seeing you at their performances.
9
every interaction matters