Instrumental & Co - St Aloysius

Instrumental & Co-Curricular Music Programme
Music Staff
Lindy Montgomery
Head of Music (Academic)
Timothy Chung
Head of Music (Performance)
Gerard Scelzi
Junior School Music Co-ordinator
James Pensini
Head of Brass, Woodwind and Percussion
Virginia Blunt
Director of Strings
Michael Bell
College Accompanist
Peta Sawtell
Sia Mastro
Jeremy Curtin
Christopher Oxley
Eleanor Koh – Music Administrator
Email: eleanor.koh@staloysius.nsw.edu.au
Phone: 9936 5680
Visiting Instrumental Staff
Brass
James Pensini
Robert Sidaway
Julia Zeltzer
Piano
Strings
Michael Bell
Erina Booker
John Harkins
Lee Cheong
David Grisdale
Virginia Blunt
Oliver Miller
Georgina Price
Paul Laszlo
Julie Anderson
Musicianship/Theory
Voice
Woodwind
Koen van Stade
Kaine Hayward
Ruth De Rosa
Jeremy Siow
Ian Sykes
Duncan Taylor
Rie Tamaru
Evan Powis
Long Nguyen
Hanae McLean
Long Nguyen
Guitar
Joe Travers
Graeme Clark
Glen Farina
Nick Meredith
Organ
Peter Kneeshaw
Percussion
Andrew Dickeson
Stefano Caroleo
Tim Firth
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Co-Curricular Music at St Aloysius'
College
Music performance forms a very special part
of the St Aloysius' College community.
Performance and instrumental music attracts
the largest number of students in the College
Co-curricular programme. St Aloysius' College
students are offered a range of learning
experiences in music performance from
individual tuition and classroom music to
massed choirs and orchestras in liturgies,
international performance tours, major
concerts in Sydney's premiere performance
spaces and the biennial staging of full-scale
musical productions. As a Co-curricular
activity, students are expected to commit to
their selected ensemble, just as for any team
activity. Written reports are prepared at the
end of each semester on each student in
Junior School ensembles and on students
undertaking private instrumental tuition at the
College. Most rehearsals take place before
school, some lunch times and Tuesday
afternoon, which is the dedicated music
afternoon at the College.
The String Programme
The music performance experience at the
College begins in Years 3 and 4 with every
student participating in the string tuition
programme. Each student in these years is
assessed for instrumental suitability and
issued with a (half or quarter sized) violin,
viola, cello or double bass. There are no extra
charges made by the College for this tuition.
In Year 5, students are further tested and
encouraged to either continue with their string
instrument or to pursue studies in another
instrument.
Extensive opportunities to play in orchestras
extend from the Junior School up to the
Symphony Orchestra in the Senior School.
Please note it is not necessary to complete an
application form for students entering the
Years 3 and 4 String Programme.
The Choral Programme
Singing plays a fundamental role within the
music programme. The Choral Programme
extends from Years 3 to 12 with choirs ranging
in size from smaller auditioned groups, to the
larger massed choral ensembles. Every class
from Years 3 to 8 is also provided with
opportunities to sing as part of the classroom
curriculum.
Private singing lessons are available to
students from any year level. Students who
demonstrate proficient singing ability are
encouraged to participate in the Junior School
Choir, Zipoli Choir (auditioned) and Senior
School College Choir.
The Brass, Woodwind & Percussion
Programme
A comprehensive Brass, Woodwind &
Percussion Programme operates at the College.
Special focus is given to students in Year 5 who
are provided with instrument hire and small
group instrumental lessons on Brass,
Woodwind or Percussion instruments free of
charge for a specified time. Students who are
learning a wind or brass instrument are
expected to perform in one of the College
Concert Bands, which are structured to cater to
the various levels of performance experience,
progress and expertise.
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is the premier
wind and brass ensemble in the Senior School
and membership is by audition. Percussion
students have the opportunity to audition for
the Concert Bands, Symphony Orchestra and
Contemporary ensembles programme.
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Joining a Performance Ensemble
As a College Co-curricular activity,
membership of all ensembles is open to all
students who demonstrate sufficient technical
proficiency on their instrument relative to the
level of the ensemble. Students who learn
instruments outside the College programme
or who are new to the College are welcome to
apply for an audition. Students can apply for
an audition at any time and will be assessed
by the relevant Head of the Instrumental
Programme. In order to extend and develop
skills taught in lessons, instrumental and
vocal students who learn at the College are
expected to take part in the Ensemble
Programme.
The Contemporary Music Programme
Jazz and Rock in their various forms are two
areas, which together with Percussion Studies
comprise this vibrant and growing area.
Specialist visiting staff work with students in
these areas.
Music Composition
Specialist lessons in music composition are
offered to students in Elective and Senior
Music classes. Further information is available
from the Head of Music (Academic).
The College Ensembles
Junior School
• Zipoli Choir - auditioned
• Junior School Choir
• Junior School String Orchestra
• JS String Chamber Ensemble
• Year 4.1 and 4.2 Orchestra (continuing)
• Year 3.1 and 3.2 Orchestra (beginners)
• Junior School Concert Band I
• Junior School Concert Band II
• Junior School Rock band
• Junior School Guitar Ensemble
• Junior Jazz Combo
• Flute Choir
Senior School
• College Choir
• Symphony Orchestra
• Symphonic Wind Ensemble — advance
• Concert Band — intermediate
The above groups are the Core Ensembles
of the College. Membership of the smaller
Extension Ensembles listed below, are also
by audition and you must first be a member
of the related Core Ensemble to join these
groups.
Chamber Choir
Senior String Quartet
Stage Band
Saxophone Quartet
Flute Ensemble
French Horn Ensemble
Other small auditioned groups:
Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, Acoustic
Guitar Ensemble, SAC Jazz Band, Rock
Ensemble.
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The Co-Curricular Performance Programme
demands the same discipline from the
students as for any other team activity, with
regular independent practice and attendance
at all rehearsals being a fundamental
requirement. This requires hard work and
dedication. The students’ experiences of
music camps, concerts, international tours,
performing arts competitions and grand
liturgies make the effort of early morning
starts more than worthwhile.
• Negotiations between teachers and parents
regarding lessons extending beyond the
fifteen-week semester are to be made
independently. School studios are available
in school term only. Fees for any extra
lessons will also be billed at the end of each
term.
• Parents are required to give four weeks'
notice in writing if planning on terminating
lessons.
• Missed lessons will only be refunded if they
conflict with official school events, provided
that notice is given to the teacher twentyfour
hours in advance.
• Each student is expected to study his
instrument for a minimum of one semester
i.e. two terms.
• Students who learn an instrument or voice
from the College are expected to become
members of a College Ensemble Programme
i.e. Orchestra, Concert Band, Choir.
• Students who reach an appropriate level will
be expected to participate in AMEB or Trinity
College London practical exams.
Private Instrumental Tuition Lessons
If you would like to broaden your son's
musical education, simply register your
interest by completing an Instrumental Tuition
form and returning it to the Music Office or
contact Mrs E Koh on 9936 5680 for further
enquiries.
Individual Lessons
• The teaching year is divided into four terms,
i.e. two semesters.
• Each student will be expected to attend 15
weekly lessons per semester.
• The usual duration of all lessons is 30
minutes (longer lessons by arrangement)
• Lessons are usually on a class-rotational
basis.
Lesson Timetables
• Upon receipt of the application for
instrumental tuition, visiting instrumental
teachers will contact each student to
establish a mutually convenient lesson time.
• A copy of a master timetable will be located
outside the music room in the Junior School
and in the Music Studios located on the 5th
floor in the Senior School.
• It is each student's responsibility to check
the timetable at the beginning of each term
to confirm lesson times.
• Teachers record the next lesson time in the
Instrumental Lesson Record Book (supplied
at commencement of lessons). Parents are
encouraged to review this book each week to
monitor their son's progress.
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Tuition Fees
• It is expected that a minimum of 15 lessons
of 30 minutes' duration will be offered each
semester.
• Accounts are organised by the College
Business Office (and not by the Music
Department).
• Lessons will be invoiced at the end of each
school term.
• Tuition fees are currently set at the rate of
$38 per half hour lesson.
• An additional yearly $10 charge is made for
a Music Tuition Diary, or any subsequent
replacement.
• Tuition fees are reviewed annually.
NB These tuition fees (and instrumental hire
fees) do NOT apply to the Year 3 and Year 4
String Programme or the Year 5 Brass,
Woodwind and Percussion and Percussion
Programme
Instrument Hire/Purchase
The hiring of an instrument, especially in the
early stages, is a means of avoiding the initial
outlay of an often considerable sum on an
instrument. It is a policy of the St Aloysius'
College Music Department to provide
opportunities for as many students as
possible to participate in the College's vast
instrumental tuition programme. To this end,
the Department maintains a limited supply of
instruments for hire (excluding guitars and
percussion equipment). These instruments are
available for hire for a short time by beginning
students only.
Parents are encouraged to investigate various
commercial hire/purchase schemes, which are
available at a number of reputable music
shops.
College hire instruments will be available for a
limited time only and must, in most cases, be
returned to the college after one year's use.
• College instruments are hired at the rate of
$120.00 per semester.
• The school will cover the cost of general
wear and tear and maintenance, etc. Any
major repairs or loss of the instrument will
be the responsibility of the family hiring the
instrument.
• It is the responsibility of the hirer to insure
all instruments. Information regarding
instrumental insurance options is available
from the Music Office.
• Any instrument ‘lost at school' remains the
responsibility of the family hiring the
instrument.
Music Lockers
A number of locker spaces for instruments are
available at no cost by registering with Mrs
E Koh at the Music Office. It should be noted
that no responsibility is accepted for any
instruments stored at the College.
Ultimately it is desirable for each student to
have his own instrument. Personal ownership
of the instrument encourages students to be
more disciplined and dedicated in their
approach to lessons and regular practice.
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