Another Exciting Year of Music!

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Welcome to another school year! Our department has hit the ground running with the Year 3 String Programme and the Year 6 Band Immersion Programme commencing in Week 2.

We have had some very excited students take up new instruments, and I thank all the families in advance for your patience as your child develops their music skills and literacy throughout the year. Please encourage their regular practice, as it is essential to their progress.

If you have nominated your child to take part in an ensemble, or to participate in private instrumental lessons with one of our dedicated tutors, please read the following information so that our programmes run smoothly and your child makes the most of their lessons.

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Enrolment in Private Music Lessons

The recommended year level for students to begin instrumental lessons is Year 2. An online instrumental nomination form must be filled out prior to your child being allocated an Instrumental Tutor. The form can be found by clicking here.

Commitment
Music skills take time and dedication to develop. It is recommended that students commit to lessons for the whole year. Instrumental Tutors provide a programme of eight private lessons per term for students who wish to learn a musical instrument.

All lessons are half an hour in duration. Lessons take place during school hours and parents enter into a direct agreement with the pertinent Instrumental Tutor. Small group lessons are offered at the individual tutor’s discretion, according to age and ability. There will be a maximum of 32 lessons over the school year.

Cost
Individual lessons are $30 per half hour, and paired lessons are $16 per half hour. Lesson fees will be added to your College account at the start of each semester.

Cessation of Lessons
Students wishing to cease lessons must inform their Instrumental Tutor and Music Coordinator in writing before the current term ends.

Communication
It is expected that students check their lesson times in advance and attend promptly for every timetabled lesson. If a student does not attend their lesson and does not inform the Tutor of their absence in advance, they will forfeit that lesson and the fee associated.

Tutors will make every effort to arrange make-up lessons where advance notice is given, however, no guarantees can be made for alternative arrangements due to the variety of commitments undertaken by individual Instrumental Tutors.

Please communicate directly with the respective Instrumental Tutor or Ensemble Director. If there are any issues with contacting the appropriate professional, please communicate with me, the Coordinator of Music and Performance R-12, in a respectful and courteous manner and I will do my best to attend to your enquiry as swiftly and thoroughly as possible. However, be mindful that I am also a full-time class teacher and, likewise, have responsibilities outside of the Music Department that may result in minor delays on occasion.

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Equipment

It is the student’s responsibility to attend their lessons with all the necessary equipment: instrument, practice diary, instrument resource book (recommended by tutor), student planner, display folder, and water bottle (optional).

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Ensembles

Most ensembles have commenced in Week 2 and 3. Students are encouraged to further their musical development by joining an ensemble. A list of our ensembles can be found here.

Also, the schedule for ensemble rehearsals in Term 1 can be found here.

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Instrument Hire

The College will not be facilitating the hire of instruments other than for the Year 3 Strings and Year 6 Band Immersion Programmes. Students are required to procure an instrument either through hire or purchase.

Mercedes College has a long-standing relationship with DB Music Solutions. If you would like to hire an instrument through them, please read the information on the hire form, which can be found here.

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Instrumental Staff

We have a diverse and talented group of Instrumental Tutors and Music Staff across the College. Within each issue of the Mercy Vine, in the Music News section, we will feature some of our Tutors so that you may learn more about them. This week we are featuring Levi Kalmar and Emma Woolcock.

Meet Levi Kalmar!

1. Your favourite book (the one you are currently reading):  Harry Potter series but my favourite in the series is the Prisoner of Azkaban
2. A favourite movie:  Pan, with Robin Williams – a severely underrated feel good movie
3. Favourite outdoor activity/ies):  It’s so cliché but walking along the beach is the best
4. A TV show you never miss:  I’m always changing TV shows, but Simpsons is my go to series when I don’t know what to watch. But only the earlier seasons!
5. What pets do you have:  My husband and I have two cats, a big black and white tomcat, and a gorgeous grey and white female cat, and yes, she knows she’s gorgeous
6. What made you want to become a teacher? I think I always knew I was going to be a teacher, it just depended what I was going to teach. Music became my forte.

Meet Emma Woolcock!

1. List of Hobbies - photography, writing music, cooking
2. A favourite movie - Julie and Julia
3. What pets do you have - I have two ferrets called Gertie and Otto.
4. Favourite thing to do at the weekend - play at the playground with my son, Max.
5. What made you want to become a teacher - I wanted to pass my love of music and violin to others, and bring out people's own special talents!

We look forward to a vibrant year of music and events. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email, or my ESO, if you have any further inquiries.

Sincerely
Jennifer Trijo
Coordinator of Music and Performance R-12