Instrumental Music Brochure
Author: Kathie

8. Assessment
The assessment of individual students is tied to a level of mastery of specific objectives, both technical and musical. Reports are issued once a Semester.
9. Recruitment Meeting
After the process of selecting students, an occasion is arranged to meet with the parents of the selected students to share the school policy on instrumental music. In order for a student to be included in the program, parents/caregivers are required to attend this meeting of arrange an alternative meeting. Loan agreements and enrolment forms are completed following this meeting.
10. Student Commitment
What are the commitments of students if they join the program? Every student must agree to:
• Attend all lessons, ensemble rehearsals and performances
on time
• Become a member of the school band/s or orchestra/s
• Practice regularly—10 minutes a day is recommended as minimum for a beginner student. This will increase in time as more skills are learnt.
• Take part in all concerts and camps
• Bring required equipment to lessons and rehearsals
• Care for and maintain instrument
• Assist with packing up and setting up of ensemble equipment
• Commit to the program (including lessons and rehearsals)
for the duration of each school year with a view to long
term commitment to the program.
11. Interviews
Interviews are held at least once yearly. There may be occasions to have these at more frequent times which will be arranged through the school music co-ordinator. Parents are required to attend all interviews, or be available for a phone interview at a convenient time with the instructor and/or the principal.

12. Parent/Caregiver Obligations
• Provide your child with a suitable instrument
• Show an interest in the music study of your child
• Help your child to find a quiet place for him/her to practice without interruption
• Encourage your child to practice regularly and to persevere
• Help maintain and check a practice record
• Provide a safe place to keep the instrument
• Maintain instrument in good repair and purchase
consumables such as reeds, strings, oil, books etc.
• Encourage your child to be on time for lessons and rehearsals
• Encourage your child to play for others whenever possible
Transport children to performances and competitions

Instrumental
Music
Program

Information For Parents

Instrumental Music Polcy

1. Purpose
The aims of the instrumental music program are:
* To provide the opportunity for musical development of students through instrumental instruction on a group basis.
* To provide ensemble experience for those students so that they may develop ensemble performance skills as an integral part of their music education. This experience will be provided through the formation of concert bands or small ensembles.
* To complement the school classroom and choral music programs
2. Broad Guidelines
A. Instrumentation
Tution is provided in the following instruments:
Woodwinds: flute, clarinet, saxophone
Brass: trumpet, mellophone, trombone, euphonium
Percussion: tuned (eg: xylophone) &
Untuned (eg: drums) instruments
B. Student Instruction
Selection of Students
The Instrumental Music Coordinator, together with the visiting instrumental music teachers, school music teacher, with advice from classroom teachers, shall select and recommend suitable students for inclusion in the instrumental music program. The placement of students in the program rests with final approval from the principal. For the program to be a success and for the students to gain fulfilment and personal development, the following are to be kept in mind:
• Selecting the right student for the instrument
• Selecting the right instrument for the student
• Continuity of instruction
• Balance of instrumentation within program
Factors considered when selecting pupils are:
• Student’s keenness to learn
• Student’s likely commitment to daily practice, consistent attendance at rehearsals, concerts and lessons
• Musical aptitude of student (determined though testing)
• Student’s ability to work effectively in a group
• Student’s likely commitment to long term involvement

• Physical characteristics likely to affect choice of instrument
• Parental support for the student’s musical study
• Recommendations from classroom teachers
• Ability to cope with the extra work of learning an instrument
and ability to catch up on class work
C. Commencement of tuition
Entry points to the program are:
Year 3 Woodwind, Brass and Percussion
D. Initial Enrolment
Initial enrolment in the program is for a minimum period of one year. Continuing enrolment is arranged each November/December. We encourage students to stay in the program until the end of primary school and continue the same process in secondary school.
E. Tuition
As per Education Queensland’s Instrumental Music Policy, all tuition is given in groups according to instruments and abilities of students. Lessons are for a minimum of 30 minutes per week. Groups are to be no fewer than three students and no more than ten students, averaging 4—6. Lessons are free, however there are some costs involved, which are outlined below. (See sections 3, 4, 7 &10).
F. Ensembles
As per Education Queensland’s Instrumental Music Policy, when students have reached a sufficient standard, they are required to join the school Concert Band/s. Students not willing to join an ensemble are not eligible for inclusion in the instrumental music program.
G. Lesson Times
Lessons are held during school hours. Rehearsals for ensembles and bands are scheduled outside class time. Details are circulated when they are available.
H. Termination of Tuition
When signs appear that a student is not suited to an instrument or is not maintaining progress with the rest of the group, the instrumental music teacher will inform the music coordinator. Parents/caregivers will be contacted at this point. Should a student fail to maintain progress or attendance at lessons, then termination of tuition for that student should be recommended to the principal, who has the final decision.
Parents are also encouraged to discuss concerns as they arise with the instrumental teachers or music coordinator. Parents wishing to withdraw their child from the program may only do so in writing and are encouraged to meet with the principal, coordinator and instrumental teacher to discuss the decision.

3. Camps/Music Days
Instrumental Music Camps/Days are organised to provide musically enriching experiences for students.
Currently the following residential camps are offered:
• Mackay and District Cluster Advanced Music Camp, for selected students in year seven. This is usually held in April / May.
There are minimal costs involved in these camps to cover expenses for visiting tutors, conductors, music and other items.
4. Instrumental Music Contribution
There is a yearly contribution fee of $100.00 for each students in the Instrumental Music Program to cover expenses such as purchasing and repairing instruments, buying sheet music, resources and equipment. This levy is discounted to $50.00 for students who own their own instrument.. The levy must be paid before students can participate in the program.
5. Instrument Loans
Bucasia State School owns a limited number of instruments. These are available to students entering the Instrumental Music Program. Loans are generally made for a period of one year. After the one year loan has lapsed, the expectation will be that a private instrument will be purchased. More expensive instruments, such as bass clarinet, euphonium, french horn and Tuba’s may have a loan extension approved by the principal to ensure a valued service is ongoing. Students borrowing a school instrument are required to complete an Instrument Loan Agreement Form, which is to be signed by a parent/caregiver.
6. Repairs to Instruments
If for any reason an instrument needs repair, it must be immediately returned, either to the coordinator of the music program or the instrumental music teacher. School instruments will be issued in a good state of repair, and it is expected that students will maintain and return the instruments in a similar condition.
Parents/caregivers will be expected to cover costs of repairs in the case of an instrument not being cared for in the correct way.
7. Consumable Items
Consumable items such as tutor books, reeds, valve oil and cork grease, etc. need to be provided by students. Parents/ caregivers will be given a list of the required items when joining the program. These items will need to be purchased from a specialised music store and are not available through the school.
A special Homework Diary has been designed to ensure communication between the student, teacher and parent/caregiver and this is available from the office.