Scotch College

Music

Staff

Ms Jenni Allen
Ms Julia Piggin

Program

MUSIC

Music at Scotch College Junior School offers an exciting and diverse curriculum.
In order to make the most informed decisions for your child’s music education, it is important to have an understanding of the overall program from Prep-Year Six and beyond.
 
For further details of the overall program please contact Ms Jenni Allen, Head of Junior School Music, ph. 9810 4223 or email jenni.allen@scotch.vic.edu.au.

Classroom Music Program
 
Each class has three thirty-five minute lessons per six-day cycle. The classroom program is inspired by the Kodály philosophy and is a sequential, child-centred music literacy program. The singing-based course concentrates on the development of creative, melodic, rhythmic, harmonic, listening, literacy and performance skills.  An emphasis is placed on the introduction of signs, names and symbols to provide students with music notation skills. Rhythmic time names, solfa and hand signs are used to help students express what they are hearing, reading and writing. More information about the Kodály approach to music education can be found at http://www.kodaly.org.au.

Instrumental Program
 
The instrumental program is extensive and conducted by a team of excellent staff in the stunning James Forbes Academy.
Prep and Year 1 students may choose to learn pianoforte, violin or ‘cello.  Scotch College has an especially strong Suzuki Program at this level.  All Prep and Year 1 students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to and from music lessons for safety and educational reasons.
 
At Year 2, all boys not currently learning a string instrument participate in three introductory lessons either on ‘cello or violin.  Boys may also choose to begin lessons on the flute or clarinet and from Year 3, students may also choose to learn the guitar and the trumpet. With Woodwind and Brass instruments in the early years, factors such as the child’s physical development and ability to hold the instruments are important.  Years 3 and 4 String students have their own String Orchestra that operates in second and third terms.
 
At the beginning of Year 4, students are exposed to demonstrations of all the instruments available in the Music School. This is a good year to begin a Woodwind or Brass instrument or ‘cello, double bass or Percussion. At the end of Year 4, any students not learning an instrument participate in a hands-on program in all instrument families.
 
At Years 5 and 6, students learning Woodwind, Brass, String or Percussion instruments have two lessons in an instrumental ensemble and one classroom music lesson.  Non-instrumentalists or boys who learn guitar or pianoforte only still have three normal classroom music lessons.
 
Many boys in Years 5 and 6 will be able to participate in Concert Band or String Orchestra.
 
Please note that there are often waiting lists for more popular instruments. Each instrument family has a Head of Department who can answer instrument-specific queries.
 
To enrol in an instrument, please fill in a music tuition form available from the James Forbes Academy or Junior School Office. Students may begin lessons at any time of the school year.

Choirs
All boys are involved in year level choirs for special occasions and receive appropriate choral training during their designated music classes and occasional additional rehearsals during school time.
The Junior School Choir is drawn from students at Years 5 and 6 levels whilst members of the Training Choir from Years 3 and 4 boys.  Each group comprises approximately sixty students. These groups rehearse during school time and have many commitments out of school hours. The selection criteria for the Choirs are good vocal tone, a strong sense of pitch and a disciplined, enthusiastic and committed attitude.
 
Overview
The Junior School has a policy that all students, whether they are instrumentalists or not, are involved in active and regular music making throughout the year.  All boys are encouraged to sing in assemblies and chapel services at a high standard. From Year 3 upwards, all boys participate in year level concerts. There are regular opportunities for solo instrumental performances in recitals and assemblies.  Students and parents are informed of events through notices, the school diary, intranet and the newsletter.  The main goals of the program are for students to develop sound musical skills and through their engagement in music, develop a life-long appreciation.


 Music
      




Special Events:

Junior School Musical Highlights 2009

14 May — Years 3-6 Pianoforte, Vocal and Guitar Recitals

28 May — Years 3-6 Woodwind and Percussion Recitals

26 May – Prep-Year 2 Recital (Not Strings)

2 June – Yrs 3-6 Woodwind and Brass Recitals

3 June – Yrs 3-6 Percussion Recital

4 June – Yrs P-2 String Recital; Yrs 3-6 String Recital

11 June — Year 3 Concert

18 June — Winter Concert

5 Aug – Yrs ¾ String Orchestra to Trinity Grammar

13 August— Choral Concert

18 August – Bands’ Concert

20 August – Strings’ Concert

8 September – Year 4 Concert

12-16 October – Music Tour to Auckland

27 October — Years 3-6 Pianoforte, Vocal and Guitar Recital

5-7 November — Yrs 5-6 String Orchestra Camp

6 November – Cadet Tattoo

10 November — P-2 String Recital; Years 3-6 String Recital

11 November – 3-6 Woodwind and Brass Recital

19 November — Junior School Concert

24 November — Prep-Year 2 Recitals (Not strings)

1 December — Christmas Concert

Please confirm all dates, times and venues with notices and school diary


 


 

Junior School

Year Levels

Subject Areas

Pastoral Care

ScotchNET

  • Senior School
  • Tel: 03 9810 4321
  • Fax: 03 9810 4333
  • Abs: 03 9810 4488
  • Junior School
  • Tel: 03 9810 4236
  • Fax: 03 9810 4391
  • Admissions
  • Tel: 03 9810 4203
  • ScotchNET support
  • Tel: 03 9810 4411
  • Mon-Fri: 8am/5pm
  • email:techsupport

Scotch College: ABN 86 852 826 445 ACN 005 650 395 CRICOS 00624A (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students)