2024 Instrumental Music Programme

St Michael's College – a Catholic school in the Lasallian tradition

STUDENT/PARENT GUIDELINES

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAMME

2024

Mission & Vision

St Michael’s College is a Catholic school in the Lasallian tradition which is committed to the human and Christian education of the young, especially the poor*, through Community, Challenge, Choice.

Community

We are an inclusive and respectful community where each individual is known, valued and cared for, enabling them to feel confident to explore their curiosities, flourish and fully realise their potential.

Challenge

Individual growth is achieved through engagement, opportunity and recognition, underpinned by a positive learning culture that is authentic, challenging and supportive.

Choice

Through a quality Lasallian education, inspired by the Gospel and a concern for social justice, students are empowered to better choose who they become as people, learners and leaders in the world.

* The Lasallian school calls its members to an awareness of the poor and victims of injustice, and respond to their needs through programs of community service, advocacy and justice education.

Music Faculty

Teacher/STaff Position

Mr James Musci Leader of Learning Music Instrumental Music Coordinator Music Technology

Mr Tim Donovan Music Director - Co-curricular

Mr Peter Clark Music Teacher (specialising in Music Technology)

Mrs Sonia Vial Music Administration Officer

Mr Daniel Anderson Co-curricular Music Assistant

Mr James Musci

Mrs Sonia Vial

Mr Tim Donovan

Mr Daniel Anderson

Mr Peter Clark

Instruments Offered and Music Teachers

Instrument Teacher

Bass Guitar/Double Bass

Clarinet/Saxophone

Drums

Flute

French Horn

Guitar

Piano

Trombone

Trumpet

Violin

Cello

Vocal

Julian Pischler

Peter Raidel

Giacomo Guttilla

Andreanna Massacci

Joel Regan

Betula Labradorite

Nicole Durdin

Raphael Azariah

Phil Barbuto

Lucas Sly

Jacek Waskowski

Daniel Anderson

Pamela Buccini

Eva Guttilla

Charlie Thomas

Harrison Smith

Nikki von Bertouch

Ben Signorelli

Marcus Barricelli

Rachel Coppen

Grace Mensforth

Instrumental Music Programme Programme

The St Michael’s College Instrumental Music Programme is comprised of three important areas:

• Classroom Music (Practical and Music Technology) from Year 7 through to Year 12

• Instrumental Music lessons, on all instruments for all students regardless of whether or not they do classroom music

• Co-curricular Bands / Ensembles / Vocal Groups

The Instrumental Music Programme is an extremely important feature of the overall Music Programme, and it has indeed been a catalyst in helping to develop the musical skills of students at St Michael’s College.

Music Lessons

Instrumental Music lessons are given at St Michael’s College by a staff of qualified, experienced music teachers.

The Instrumental Programme provides opportunities for our students to learn the musical instrument of their choice. Our aim is to help students gain maximum enjoyment from the instrument, whilst also gaining the necessary skills to pursue learning the instrument/voice into the senior years of schooling and beyond.

Occasionally, issues can arise regarding instrumental lessons. This document outlines the terms and conditions relating to the Instrumental Music Programme at St Michael’s College.

If parents/caregivers and/or students have any questions regarding these conditions, please contact the Music Office on 8356 5966 or via email department.music@smc.sa.edu.au

Lessons, Timetabling and Rooms

Instrumental/voice lessons take place once a week during school hours and are half an hour in duration. These lessons occur every half hour of the school day.

Timetabling is primarily completed by the Instrumental Music Teachers in consultation with the Music Department Administration Officer. Therefore, having direct contact with teachers regarding lesson times and changes is essential. The teachers contact numbers can be obtained from them directly or via the Music Office.

All Instrumental Music Teachers are asked to ensure instrumental lessons are on a rotating timetable to avoid students missing the same subject lesson every week. It is the student’s responsibility to find out in advance or after their instrumental lesson, what work they have missed from their regular classes, and catch that work up accordingly. Lesson times are available during recess and lunch to avoid the missing of lessons, but these places are limited and must be negotiated directly with the Instrumental Music Teacher.

Students are responsible for checking lesson times on their SEQTA Timetable and must notify their Instrumental Music Teacher ahead of their lesson day if they are not able to attend the scheduled lesson.

Note: When checking lesson times students must first refresh the SEQTA screen to ensure they are viewing the most up to date changes. Please see any of the Music Staff if you are unsure about lesson days and times. Lessons are held in Instrumental Music Practice Rooms located within the Music Centre.

Shared Instrumental Music Lessons

Shared instrumental music lessons are available as an option for interested students in Year 7. This initiative serves as a way for students to be introduced to the Instrumental Music Programme at SMC but operates with the objective that as students develop and grow in confidence, that they transition to ‘one on one’ music lessons down the track.

The cost of shared lessons for 2024 will be $20 per student per half hour shared tuition.

Sharing lessons has several advantages for students and parents in that it reduces the cost per half hour lesson and lowers the apprehension some students may have committing to weekly lessons.

Logistically the costing of shared lessons can be problematic when one student misses a lesson as this will affect the teacher’s income and make a catch up lesson very difficult to reschedule. To support the reduced student costs, the following general guidelines exist:

• There will be no catch-up lessons;

• No refunds for missed lessons;

• When one student is absent from the lesson, it is up to the discretion of the teacher to either hold a 15 minute lesson for the student attending or offer the full 30 minute lesson.

Shared instrumental music lessons apply to the following instruments:

• Trumpet

• Trombone

• Guitar

• Flute

• Saxophone

• Clarinet

• Bass Guitar/ Double Bass

• Vocal

If you are considering or have discussed with a teacher the possibility of shared lessons, please indicate this on the sign up form in the “Specific Details” section. Any further questions regarding shared instrumental lesson can be directed to Mr James Musci via email at james.musci@smc.sa.edu.au

Music Reports

Instrumental music reports are written at the end of each Semester (Term 2 and Term 4) by the Instrumental Music Teacher. Reports are uploaded to SEQTA Engage – Instrumental Music tab by the College at the end of each Semester, a notification from the college will be sent alerting families when reports have been uploaded and ready to view. For any student who withdraws from music lessons mid semester, no report will be issued. In this circumstance feedback can be obtained directly from the Instrumental Music Teacher.

Year to Year Instrumental Lesson Commitment

It is an expectation that all students learning a musical instrument will continue taking lessons into the following year. No new documentation is required. A copy of this booklet is available to view on the SEQTA Music Portal, guidelines are subject to change from time to time without notification.

Any parents/caregivers/students wishing to cancel lessons from year to year must notify the Music Department via email either at the end of the current year or prior to the new year beginning: department.music@smc.sa.edu.au

This is a very important process and one that alleviates much confusion at the beginning of a new year.

Instrument Hire and Storage Tuition Fees/Payment of Tuition Accounts

Instrument Hire (St Michael’s College / DB Music Solutions)

St Michael’s College can organise the hire of instruments for any students wishing to do so. The cost of these instruments will be payable through our Finance Department prior to the delivery and pick up of the instruments by families. Instruments are supplied by our provider, dB Music Solutions.

When signing up for lessons, simply complete the ‘Instrumental Music Sign-up Form’ available on the SEQTA Secondary Music Portal.

Within this document there is a link provided to complete sign up, you must select ‘Confirm’ if hire of instrument is required, this will get the process underway. The Music Department will then send through an email containing a Hire Agreement Form and Link detailing information and costs to complete the hire arrangement.

Important: When withdrawing your child/ children from Instrumental Music Lessons, and a hire agreement has been signed, it is critical you email the Music Department of their withdrawal and ensure the instrument hired is returned to the music office on the last lesson day, to prevent additional fees being paid. Email: department.music@smc.sa.edu.au

Storage of Instruments at School

If any student wishes to store their instrument at school on the day of their lesson, they are able to sign-out a key for a Music Locker. That key is their responsibility for the day until it is returned to the Music Office via the key shoot after school. In the event of a lost key, students/parents may be requested to pay for a replacement key and padlock.

Lesson rates are set by St Michael’s College Music Department. Cost for lessons for 2024 will be $36.00 per individual half hour lesson.

Parents will receive an invoice from the Instrumental Music Teacher during each term and it is expected that this bill is to be paid within 14 days of receiving the invoice. Payments should be made directly to the Instrumental Music Teacher and not St Michael’s College.

Please note that these fees are one of the teacher’s main sources of income and it is for these reasons that we ask for prompt payment each term. Any questions about accounts are to be addressed to the Instrumental Music Teacher concerned. Parents are encouraged to stay in contact with the Instrumental Music Teacher in particular, to monitor their son/daughter’s progress.

Absence

Student Absence

If a student misses a lesson for any reason without any prior consent or arrangements being made then the lesson is forfeited and must be paid for.

This includes lessons missed due to:

• Excursions, Compulsory College Events, Examinations and Tests

• Illness

• Forgetfulness

Advance warning of student absence is required at least 2 to 3 days before the scheduled lesson day. It is the students/ parents/caregivers responsibility to discuss this with the Instrumental Music Teacher concerned. Most importantly we encourage students to be organised in advance and communicate with their Instrumental Music Teacher ahead of time.

In situations where this advance notice is not possible (eg illness), a text message before 8.00am directly to the Instrumental Music Teacher’s mobile phone on the morning of the lesson is expected. A make-up lesson is then negotiated so the student does not miss lessons and so the teacher is sufficiently reimbursed for their time.

Important note: Phone messages or emails to the school’s Absentee Line/Front Office and/or Music Administration Office may not get to the instrumental teacher in time; therefore, parents/ caregivers must advise of student absence from instrumental lessons by texting the instrumental teacher directly to avoid forfeited lesson cost.

Instrumental Music teachers should have passed on their contact details prior to the commencement of lessons. Teachers contact details can be found on the Music Department’s Notice board located in the Instrumental Music Corridor.

Instrumental Music Teacher Absence

If the Instrumental Music Teacher is absent for a lesson or lessons, the Instrumental Music Teacher will notify parents/caregivers/ students directly and contact the College’s Music Department. If time permits the Music Office will also notify students by email.

If it is an absence that is known in advance, the Instrumental Music Teacher will notify the parent/caregiver/student, and lessons will be made up at a later stage in the term.

In the event of an extended Instrumental Music Teacher absence the Music Department will endeavour to find a replacement teacher to cover the extended period of leave.

Withdrawal from Lessons

Lessons are run on a term basis. Once a student has started learning an instrument, the College Policy is that that the term must be completed.

If a student wishes to cease learning the instrument, this can only be done after the following process has been followed:

Notify the Instrumental Music Coordinator James Musci or the Music Department. Email: james.musci@smc.sa.edu.au department.music@smc.sa.edu.au

Notify the Instrumental Music Teacher before the end of the current term.

Contact will be made from the Instrumental Music Coordinator to parents/caregivers to discuss student’s withdrawal options if necessary.

Note: Any withdrawal of a student from instrumental lessons must be done prior to the new term commencing.

Please note: Even if parents still decide to withdraw their son/daughter mid-term, Instrumental Music Teachers are still entitled to the agreed upon term fee.

Cutting off this revenue stream is unfair on the teachers as they have reserved a term position for the student and already factored in this money to their daily living expenses. In most cases it is preferable for students to complete the term and then withdraw prior to the commencement of the next school term.

Important: When withdrawing your child/children from Instrumental Music lessons, and if their instrument has been hired through St Michael’s College it is critical you email the Music Department of their withdrawal and ensure the instrument hired is returned to the music office on the last lesson day, to prevent additional hire being paid.

Email: department.music@smc.sa.edu.au

Co-curricular Bands/Ensembles

The College has an extensive Co-curricular Band Programme (refer to list below). Rehearsals are run out of hours, usually before or after school or during lunch times, once a week for each ensemble. There is no cost for rehearsals and most performances are subsidised by the College. Students who learn an instrument are encouraged to become involved in at least one co-curricular ensemble.

If your child is interested in joining any of the ensembles they can register their interest at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/pyer5ZQmJM

Please contact Mr Tim Donovan – Director of Music to find out how to get involved or if you have any questions. Email: tim.donovan@smc.sa.edu.au

2024 Co-curricular Music Ensembles

Questions and Contact Details

If you have any questions about the Instrumental Music Guidelines or any other issues relating to the Instrumental Music Programme, please do not hesitate to contact the Music Office on 8356 5966 or at the following emails:

James Musci – Leader of Learning Music james.musci@smc.sa.edu.au

Sonia Vial – Music Administration Officer department.music@smc.sa.edu.au

If you have any questions regarding Ensembles, Choirs, Music Events please do not hesitate to contact via email:

Tim Donovan – Director of Music tim.donovan@smc.sa.edu.au

Daniel Anderson – Co-curricular Music Assistant daniel.anderson@smc.sa.edu.au