The Knox SchoolCO-EDUCATIONAL | ELC TO VCE

Music at The Knox School2019

Classroom Music Overview

Music at The Knox School gives students of all ages and abilities a wonderful opportunity to learn, perform and love music.

Learning a musical instrument helps young people improve their long term memory; playing an instrument is a rich and complex experience because it is integrating information from senses such as vision, hearing, and touch, along with fine motor skills. This can result in long-lasting changes in the brain.

The other reason to learn an instrument is to give students an understanding about unquantifiable parts of the world around them that influence how they experience emotions. Music does not offer instant gratification and we cherish it because of this. Students who are successful in music have played their instrument at home consistently for years. These same students tend to be successful in other subjects and beyond school because they have learned to persevere with a long-term goal that didn’t come instantly.

Their musical journey begins early with weekly music lessons in Prep and Year 1. At this point, they first discover the fundamentals of music in melody and rhythm through singing, and movement in a Kodaly based curriculum.

In Year 2 and 3 all students have the incredible experience of learning a string instrument in small group lessons as part of their classroom music program. Over the two years, students gain a wonderful understanding of how to play their instrument every day and gain an understanding of the language of music, music performance and collaborating with other musicians in ensemble playing.

In Year 4 the students can consolidate their string playing as well as their note reading, rhythmic understanding and are introduced to basic chord structures and progressions through learning and performing on the Ukulele.

Year 5, 6 and 7 students take part in the string extension program, or they can learn a new brass or woodwind instrument in the BASE (Band and String Extension) Program as part of their curriculum. All students are loaned an instrument to take home and are asked to play for very short periods of time, every day. They receive tuition in their instrument from our specialist instrumental staff and are invited to join one of our many amazing ensembles when they reach the appropriate level of proficiency.

Students also receive academic music classes where they learn musical theory and the practical application of that theory and how it applies to their instrument.

In Year 7, students have the incredible experience of continuing with an instrument they already learn, or start learning a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument for the first time.

After completing the Band and String Extension Program, students are encouraged to take the opportunity of having private music lessons with one of our instrument specific teachers. We are very proud of our rich assortment of music ensembles and take every opportunity to develop the performance skills of each child as a soloist and as a member of an ensemble.

Music is an elective subject in Years 8 and 9. Students work at their own level and bring to class music that they are learning to perform. They study the various theoretical and analytical skills required to Analyse è Perform è Record è Review their work.

Year 9 sees the students take their skills to another level by learning how to Program è Compose è Record è Review their work.

In Years 10 to 12, students focus on VCE music in its various forms. Students completing VCE Music are given one 60 minute lesson per week on their main instrument. Students can elect a music subject a year above their normal studies (e.g. a Year 10 student can do Year 11 Units 1 and 2 Music).

The subjects offered are:

• Year 10 Music• Units 1 and 2 Music Performance• Units 3 and 4 Music Performance Solo or Group• Unit 3 and 4 Music Investigation.

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Music Pathways

Classroom Music

String Program (violin or cello)

Music Consolidation and String Extension

BASE Program (Band and String Extension)Classroom Music

Elective Music

Analyse è Perform è Record è Review

Year 10 Classroom Music

Units 3 & 4 Music Performance (solo or group)

Units 3 & 4 Music Performance (solo or group)

Units 1 & 2 Music Performance

Units 1 & 2 Music Performance

Units 3 & 4 Music Investigation

Prep & Year 1

Years 2-3

Year 4

Years 5-7

Years 8-9

Years 10-12

or

and or

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Music Enrichment

Instrumental Lessons

Individual lessons provide the optimal situation for students studying a musical instrument. Students may progress at their own pace, with lessons tailored to each student’s ability. Each lesson is given by an experienced teacher who is a highly skilled musician on their chosen instrument. Eight 35 minute lessons are given per term. As students become more confident in their playing ability, they have the opportunity to move to 65 minute lessons. All instrumental students perform as part of the recital program and can also perform at assemblies when invited to do so. One-to-one tuition is offered on the following instruments:

� Flute � Clarinet � Oboe

� Bassoon � Saxophone � Trumpet

� French Horn � Trombone � Euphonium

� Tuba � Percussion (including drum kit) � Violin

� Viola � Cello � Double Bass

� Piano � Guitar � Bass Guitar

� Voice

Music Theory

Small groups of students improving their theoretical knowledge of music.

Solo Performance Opportunities� Instrumental Recitals � Assemblies � VCE Exams

� AMEB Music Exams � Competitions � School & Community Functions

Ensembles

Entry into all ensembles except choir is based on instrument proficiency instead of age. Students in the BASE program participate in class ensembles.

� Senior Concert Band � TKS Big Band � Senior Choir (Years 7-12)

� Chamber Strings � Senior Guitar � Classical Guitar

� Senior Rock Band � Intermediate Concert Band � Falcon Strings

� Intermediate Guitar � Murana Voices (Years 3-6) � Junior Guitar

� Percussion Ensemble � Piccolo Voices � Stage Band

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Ensembles

The myriad of music ensembles, concerts, and events on offer to all Knox School students allows them to experience amazing opportunities both within the classroom and co-curricular programs alike.

Through the Year 2 and 3 String Program and the Year 5, 6 and 7 Band and String Extension Program, all students have the amazing opportunity to learn an instrument and play in ensembles as part of their classroom music curriculum.

Students of all year levels have the opportunity to learn an instrument as part of the School instrumental lesson program. These instruments include; Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion (including drum kit), Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Voice and Speech & Drama. All instrumental students perform as part of the recital program and can also perform at assemblies when invited to do so. All instrumental students join an ensemble when they reach an appropriate level.

The Knox School offers a diverse ensemble program for students of all ages and instruments.

The Band program includes the Senior Concert Band and Intermediate Concert Band and for those

interested in Jazz we also have the TKS Big Band and the Stage Band.

Many small ensembles are also formed from these larger bands such as the Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and numerous Guitar Ensembles. The Woodwind, Brass and Percussion students from the above ensembles join with the Chamber Strings to form the Chamber Orchestra. Falcon Strings is a wonderful ensemble for those intermediate string players to gain some confidence while learning the finer points of ensemble playing.

The wonderful choral program at The Knox School begins with the Murana Voices for those students in Years 3-6, they then join the Senior Choir in Year 7.

All ensembles offer wonderful performance opportunities for the students involved, from representing the School at community events and services through to travelling interstate and overseas for competitions and public performances alike.

For Further information please contact:

Ms Julia Stoppa Director of Music & Performing Arts

P: 03 8805 3825 E: julia.stoppa@knox.vic.edu.au

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Ensembles TimetableEnsembles 2019

MO

ND

AY

THU

RSD

AY

FRID

AY

TUES

DAY

WED

NES

DAY

LUNCHTIME AFTER SCHOOL

Falcon Strings Mr Di Florio

MR2 12.40 to 1.40pm

Senior ChoirMs Swan

AUD 12.40 to 1.40pm

Junior Guitar EnsembleMr Hall

MR5 12.40 to 1.20pm

Piccolo VoicesMs Trewartha

MR2 12.40 to 1.20pm

Percussion EnsembleMr Marcus

MR4 12.40 to 1.20pm

Junior Rock BandMr Hall

MR5 12.40 to 1.20pm

Murana VoicesMs Swan

MR2 8.00am to 8.40am (arrive 7.50am)

Chamber StringsMr Di Florio

MR1 3.40 to 5.00pmStage Band Mr Marcus

AUD 3.40 to 5.00pm

Snr Guitar EnsembleMr Hall

MR5 3.40 to 5.00pm

Junior BandMs Stoppa

AUD 3.00 to 4.00pm

Senior Rock BandMr Hall

MR5 3.00 to 4.30pm

Intermediate Concert Band Mr Carr

MR6 3.00 to 4.15pm

Intermediate StringsMr Di Florio

PR7 3.00 to 4.30pm

Senior Concert BandMs Stoppa

MR6 3.40 to 5.30pm

Intermediate Guitar EnsembleMr Hall

MR5 3.40 to 5.00pm

Big BandMr Farrands

AUD 3.40 to 5.30pm

Intermediate Rock BandMr Schmidli

MR5 3.40 to 5.00pm

Last updated: 27/06/2019

Music at The Knox School | 7

The Knox SchoolCO-EDUCATIONAL | ELC TO VCE

The Knox School220 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South 3152

Ph 8805 3800 www.knox.vic.edu.au