In 2018, the Ormiston College Music Department will continue to provide the opportunity for all Year 5 students to participate in the exciting Year 5 Beginner Band Program. This program offers students the chance to learn the Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn or Percussion for 12 months. This special elective program gives the opportunity for keen young musicians to make progress surrounded by like-minded peers under the expert tutelage of instrumental specialists.
The Year 5 Beginner Band Program in 2018 will be introducing a new “all-in” performance based learning mode. All elective students will attend a 60-minute session each week where the entire band comes together under the guidance of four specialist tutors to not only learn the fundamentals of their instrument, but to experience the fun of music making within a full band context from day one. The music department has worked hard together with academic co-ordinators to select a time where the program can run without interruption to core learning. Sessions will be delivered on Thursday mornings in the Lingo Lin Theatre from 8:30 am – 9:30 am.
The cost of the Year 5 Beginner Band Program is an all-inclusive cost of $440 for the year ($110 per term charged to your fee statement). Included in this cost is: specialist tuition with the embedded ensemble experience for a total of 1 hour per week, hire of quality instruments with maintenance, unique tuition books, backing tracks for home practice, home play diary and consumables (reeds, oils, mallets, neck straps etc.). Considering the annual cost of providing this level of music tuition privately (approximately $1300), this program represents excellent value for money.
The testing process for the Beginner Band Program looks at -
• physical suitability
• consideration of a balanced year 5 band
• student preference
After placement offers are made this year, students who elect to participate in the program are expected to make a 12-month commitment. After this, students will be offered the opportunity to continue lessons on their particular instrument and transition into the regular Vocal and Instrumental Tuition Program from the beginning of 2018.
