music-years-3-6-parent-handbook-2017

ABN 83 000 532 696

Music Instrumental Program Years 3 – 6

Queenwood’s music philosophy is to encourage active participants rather than passive listeners. The choral, instrumental and classroom programs provide performance opportunities for every student.

All girls in Years 3-6 play a string orchestra or band instrument in the fully differentiated Instrumental Music Program. Every student is placed in a class or ensemble with students of equal playing and music reading ability. Small group lessons and ensemble rehearsals are scheduled once a week and each girl attends one of these sessions. Students who are progressing well can be accelerated into one of the more advanced classes or ensembles.

We aim to provide opportunities for all students and to give them as broad a range of musical experiences as possible.

ABN 83 000 532 696

WHAT IS EXPECTED? The music staff are committed to making your daughter’s instrumental lessons interesting and enjoyable. It is essential for girls to realise that learning an instrument, like all new skills, takes commitment and practice.

It is suggested that each girl endeavours to play her instrument for ten minutes, five times a week. This will ensure good progress.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Encourage and enthuse.   

Praise all reasonable efforts.

Assist your daughter, especially in the beginning, to set up a regular playing/practice routine.

Once she is playing little pieces, organise a small informal performance where she can show you her latest achievements.

Please don’t

* isolate her while she practises * complain about the “noise”

WHAT INSTRUMENT IS BEST FOR MY DAUGHTER? A short answer is “the one that appeals to her”.

Most children have a strong preference. When students are attracted to a specific instrument, they are more likely to spend time playing it (practising) and therefore make good progress.

Consideration should be given to your daughter’s physique; size, strength, mouth shape. There are some restrictions on the instruments offered to the different students. Some brass and woodwind tuition cannot commence until the student is physically big enough to hold and blow the instrument. The music staff are happy to give you advice.

By the end of Year 2, the girls will have seen, listened to and handled the instruments being offered. This is so that they can make an informed choice about the one that best appeals to them.

Final allocation of instruments will be made giving consideration to the students’ preferences, the advice of the specialist music staff on the girls’ ability to play the instrument and the number of instruments available. If a girl owns her own instrument, she will be guaranteed a place in that instrumental group.

ABN 83 000 532 696

The following comments about each instrument might be of assistance.

Violin Violins are made in a range of sizes so there is never any trouble finding one that is the right size for each stage of development. The violin is the principal orchestral instrument and has a wealth of beautiful music written for it. Dominant left handedness or right handedness is not a problem as both hands are fully occupied. A violinist needs good aural skills to accurately pitch the notes she plays. A violinist can join an orchestra, string ensemble or play solo.

Viola All the remarks made about the violin apply to the viola. The slightly deeper and more mellow tone of the viola is attractive to some girls. It also has the advantage of being an instrument that is not so common, and therefore its players are always in demand.

Cello The cello is a little larger than the violin and viola and much deeper in sound. It is still able to be carried by a nine year old as it also has a range of sizes to suit all ages. The cello has a very comfortable seated playing position and a beautiful mellow tone. A cellist can join an orchestra, string ensemble or play solo.

Double Bass Many students are attracted to the deep sound of the bass which is often a good complimentary instrument to the guitar. The instruments used by our girls are mini basses and fit in the back seat of a car. Students who choose this instrument are given a school bass to keep at home and use the basses at school for their lessons and ensemble rehearsals. This eliminates to need for the instruments to be regularly transported. Bass players can play in orchestras, bands, jazz groups, rock groups – the possibilities are endless. Bass students are in high demand because they play in so many different ensembles at school.

Flute This instrument is compact, easily carried and comparatively inexpensive. A reasonable arm length is required to play the flute although there are bent head joint flutes for smaller students. There is no reed on the flute to produce a sound so the shape of the lips is very important. Very dominant left-handers often find the instrument difficult because it is held to the right side of the body. Flute playing uses all eight fingers and the left thumb. Girls with any difficulty controlling and coordinating the fingers will find the flute quite challenging. A flautist can join a concert band, orchestra or small ensemble.

Clarinet The clarinet is held in front of the body, making it easy to see what your hands are doing and making it a comfortable instrument to play. It is compact, easy to carry and comparatively inexpensive. Most children find it easy to produce a sound on the clarinet; however the pads of the fingers need to be broad enough to cover the open-hole keys.

The clarinet is a good introduction to the saxophone, bass clarinet, oboe and bassoon. A clarinettist can join a concert band, orchestra, jazz group, small ensemble or play solo.

ABN 83 000 532 696

Saxophone Two types of saxophone are represented in the Junior School band – alto and tenor. They are played exactly the same way but students must be physically big enough to hold, stretch and blow the tenor. All girls in Junior School use a body harness to support the saxophone so the weight of the instrument is supported by the upper torso, not the back of the neck. Children with a good sense of rhythm get a great deal of fun from the saxophone.

It is an important solo instrument and its forte is as a jazz, big band and concert band instrument.

Trumpet The trumpet is a robust instrument and, as long as the valves are oiled regularly, needs very little care. A small compact case makes carrying this instrument easy and it is reasonably inexpensive. As the trumpet only has three valves, precise co-ordination of all fingers is not needed but a reasonable sense of pitch is required. The trumpet is also a good introduction to the horn, tuba and euphonium and to a lesser extent, the trombone. A trumpet is an extremely versatile instrument included in concert bands, brass bands, orchestras, stage bands, jazz groups, brass ensembles and it can also play solo.

French Horn Many students are attracted to the mellow tone of the French horn and its unique shape.

Like the trumpet, the instrument uses valves to change pitch although most horns use a lever-operated rotary system rather than a piston type. These valves are operated by the left hand so the instrument is a good choice for dominant left handed students. The French horn is not as common as the trumpet and trombone and therefore its players are always in demand. It is included in concert bands, orchestras, small ensembles and can also be played solo.

Trombone The trombone is different to all other brass instruments because of its slide and it is the only instrument that the fingers are not used for fine motor skills. Students require a reasonable sense of pitch to play the trombone. It is one of the most versatile instruments included in orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands and as a solo instrument.

Euphonium This instrument is sometimes known as the baby tuba. It has a deep sound similar to trombone but its tone is more mellow which is attractive to some students. Like the trumpet, it only has three valves so precise co-ordination of all fingers is not needed but a reasonable sense of pitch is required. The euphonium performs in concert bands, orchestras and is also a good introduction to tuba and trombone.

ABN 83 000 532 696

WHAT HAPPENS FROM YEAR 3?

The majority of students will have taken up their instrument for the first time in Year 3 and it is anticipated that they complete the first level of beginner classes in this year.

In Year 4, these students will move up to a Level 2 class and will join together on occasions to play some ensemble pieces.

Students who are working more quickly than the rest of their class can be accelerated once the teacher believes that they have reached the ability of the next group or band.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY DAUGHTER IS ALREADY LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT? It is strongly recommended that she continues with her private lessons. Advanced players will be accelerated to the appropriate class or ensemble.

WHAT WILL IT COST ME? First year of instrumental tuition: Instrument and lessons are provided by the School.

Each instrument has certain requirements and these, along with your daughter’s music tutor book, can be purchased from the Uniform Shop and selected music stores.

After the first year: Tuition is provided by the school but there will be a hire fee if a school instrument is used.

Consider the purchase of your daughter’s own instrument. Hiring an instrument for Years 4, 5 and 6 could be comparable in price and your daughter will be encouraged by the purchase of her own instrument.

PRIVATE LESSONS Any student who would like to take private lessons is strongly encouraged to do so.

Obviously progress in group lessons is much slower than in private lessons and individual problems can be more easily catered for in private lessons.