As a gazetted ‘Music Program of Excellence’, the
Birkdale Music Performance Centre offers a high profile music program with a
wide variety of Choral and Instrumental Ensembles for students to participate
in. Students are selected based on their musicality and sometimes by an
audition process, as number limits apply to some groups. Involvement in eisteddfods, school and district
competitions and other events is encouraged. Many of the groups wear a smart
looking uniform when representing the school. Costs are involved in some
ensembles. Some groups are non- competitive and are for enjoyment only.
Currently within the Music Program, students are
able to participate in a variety of ensembles including:
Choral
Ensembles:
·
Bumblebees
Choir (Prep and Year 1)
·
Junior
Choir (Year 2 – Year 4)
·
Senior
Choir (Year 5 – Year 6)
·
Performance
Group (Year 3 – Year 6)
String
Ensembles:
·
Junior
Strings (Year 3)
·
Intermediate
Strings (Year 4 - 5)
·
Senior
Strings (Year 5 – 6)
Instrumental
Ensembles:
·
Junior
Band (Year 4)
·
Senior
Band (Year 5 – 6)
·
‘INFINITY’
Rock Band (Top 7 students)
After
school with Private tutors:
·
Guitar
(Year 3 – 6)
·
Ukulele
(Year 1 onwards – Preps considered on individual talents)
Continuing in 2016:
Choral Development Program
The
Choral Development Program (CDP) will incorporate students from Years 4 – 6.
The program has been specifically created to expand Birkdale’s choral
repertoire to more diverse and complex works. The focus will be on developing
techniques in breathing, tone, pitch, diction and harmony. Students will be
invited into the program based on a selection criteria, which identifies
students’ suitability. Contracts will be signed by students and parents
indicating their commitment for the year. The program will run weekly. Year 4
participants will rehearse for 45 minutes. Year 5 – 6 participants will
rehearse for an hour and three quarters.
Super Singers
This
ensemble will be open to any interested students, from Prep – Year 6, with a
love of singing, who would like to be a part of a singing ensemble which is not
competitive, but for enjoyment only. The ensemble will suit students wishing to
improve their vocal skills and repertoire will include current, popular songs.
Chorolography skills (singing with actions) will also be developed. Rehearsals
will be held weekly in a morning tea in the Music Room commencing in Term 2.
DESCRIPTION OF CHORAL
ENSEMBLES
BUMBLEBEES CHOIR
This is a choir which is made up of 35 talented
girls and boys from Prep and Year One. They have been identified through Music
lessons and a small, fun audition. They rehearse once a week in the music room
at lunch time, and learn correct singing technique, a variety of fun songs and
some groovy moves. They have the opportunity to perform at a number of events
throughout the year, including school assemblies and school functions. As a
costume they wear the school uniform with black shoes and a special Bumblebee
hat which is issued at each performance. Fees apply.
JUNIOR
CHOIR
This choir consists of 60 students selected from
Year 2 – Year 4. They rehearse once a week before school in the Music Room.
They work on developing correct singing technique and sing a wide variety of
choral repertoire. They begin learning about simple harmony and basic 2 part singing.
They participate in school events and Eisteddfods which occur throughout the
year. Fees apply.
SENIOR
CHOIR
The Senior Choir is a dedicated group of selected
students from Year 5 – 6. They rehearse once a week during school time. At this
senior level, the choir is able to work on more complex repertoire including
songs in unison, 2 part and 3 part harmony. This requires students to have a
good ear for music and a good sense of pitch and timing. Students are also
offered opportunities for solo parts throughout the year. They participate in
school events and Eisteddfods which occur throughout the year. Fees apply.
PERFORMANCE
GROUP
The Performance Group gives students
who love to sing and perform an extra
opportunity to be involved in choral work. Students from the Junior Choir and
Senior Choir who demonstrate the ability to sing well, perform with expression,
move rhythmically, and show commitment to the Music Program, are selected to
join the Performance Group (Year 3 – 6).
The main aim of the group is to provide entertainment of a high standard
and have a lot of fun while they’re doing it! The repertoire is a mixture of
current pop songs to older classics. Opportunities for solos are given
throughout the year. As it is a very popular group, number limits apply.
Rehearsals are held once a week before school in the Music Room. Fees apply.
MUSIC
PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE - CHORAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CDP)
Students in Year 4 – 6, who are accepted into the
Junior and Senior Choir, are also offered a unique opportunity to participate
in the Choral Development Program (CDP), as part of Birkdale’s Music Program of
Excellence. The program has been specifically created to put extra time into
developing Birkdale students’ voices, which in turn will enable Birkdale’s
choral repertoire to include more diverse and complex works.
Developing the singing voice is a key focus of the
CDP. Singing is a skill that requires highly developed muscle reflexes. Singing
does not require much muscle strength but it does require a high degree of
muscle coordination. Individuals can develop their voices further through the
careful and systematic practice of both songs and vocal exercises. The group
will work on developing techniques in breathing, tone, pitch, diction and
harmony.
Students will be invited into the program based on
a selection criteria. The program will run weekly through a lunch hour and into
the afternoon session. NO fees apply.
INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM…
STRINGS PROGRAM:
Birkdale
State School students may join our Strings program
as early as Year 3. At the end of the year, all current Year 2
students complete a simple musical ability test. As teachers, we realise that not all students
will show their true musical potential through a written test. Therefore, to gain an overall perspective on
your child’s abilities, the child’s classroom teacher is also consulted. The
Strings teacher will audition students who have indicated a desire to be a part
of the strings program. Students are notified of their success in gaining a
position via letter. If spots are available after the Year 3 beginners have
been selected, they will be offered to older students. Each year students
indicate if they are continuing in the program or not.
BRASS / WOODWIND /
PERCUSSION:
Students
at Birkdale
State School may join the band program in Years 4,
5 or 6. At the end of the year, the
current Year 3 students complete a musical ability test. On receipt of an ‘Expression of Interest’ form
from your child, the band teacher will carry out a simple practical test with
interested students to determine if the desired instrument is suitable (e.g:
size etc). If it isn’t, an alternate
instrument is suggested. Students are notified of their success in gaining a
position via letter. If spots are available after the Year 4 beginners have
been selected, they will be offered to older students. Each year students
indicate if they are continuing in the program or not.
LESSONS:
All
instrumental students will come out of their normal classroom to have one ½ hour lesson with their instrumental
teacher per week. During this time,
students progress through a book and learn songs for performances. Your child will develop many wonderful techniques
required for successful playing and performing.
What a fantastic opportunity!
TIMETABLES:
Students
will have a ROTATING TIMETABLE. This
method of timetabling has been put to the test in previous years and proven to
be very popular with students, parents and classroom teachers. The rotating
timetable means that your child will have his/her instrumental lesson at a different time each week. Therefore students will not be missing out on
the same classroom timeslot every week. It is imperative that students keep
this timetable in an easily accessible spot so that it can be checked
regularly. Classroom teachers will also have a copy of the timetable on display
in rooms. Students should arrive at their lesson promptly at the correct time.
It is the students’ responsibility to catch up any classwork missed due to the
instrumental lesson.
SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS:
Preference
for hiring school instruments is given to beginner students: Year 3 students (Strings) and Year 4 students
(Brass/Woodwind/Percussion). Once these instruments have been allocated, if
there are any school instruments remaining, other students may receive one to
hire. Otherwise, continuing students are expected to purchase their own, or
arrange hire through an outside vendor.
INFINITY ROCK BAND
Birkdale
is fortunate enough to have its very own ROCK BAND. After auditions, the top
seven or eight instrumental and choral students are selected from the school to
participate in this extra group. They rehearse once a week and perform rock
classics to today’s pop hits. They are always a massive hit for audiences at
Birkdale and out in the community.
Guitar and Ukulele
Lessons
are held after school, in the Music room, with outside providers. Small groups
of beginners learn the basics of their instruments and work towards
performances in, and outside, school.
COSTS:
Choral Ensembles and Instrumental Music are
expensive school activities that require co-funding (Parents /School) to ensure
the Program continues to run and improve.
If
your child HIRES a school instrument
there is a HIRING FEE to be
paid. The hiring fee covers the cost of instrument repairs and servicing at the
end of the year. (There is no hiring fee
if your child uses his/her own instrument).
Please note, if your child decides within one month of tuition that
he/she doesn’t wish to continue with instrumental lessons, the Hiring Fee will
be refunded in full – (subject to the condition of the instrument).
|
HIRING FEES
|
|
String and Band
Instruments
|
$80.00
|
|
Percussion
(Students
will take turns through the year to borrow the Glockenspiel)
|
$40.00
|
GENERAL LEVY
The
General Levy applies to ALL instrumental, string and choir students. It is one
payment for the year. This covers the cost of general resources used for each
group. This payment must be completed by
the end of Term 1.
|
Band
Resource (Jnr & Snr)
|
$35.00
|
|
String
Ensemble Resource:
Junior
Strings
Intermediate
Strings
Senior
Strings
|
$35.00
|
|
Bumblebees
Choir
|
$10.00
|
|
Junior
Choir
|
$10.00
|
|
Senior
Choir
|
$15.00
|
|
Performance
Group
|
$15.00
|
|
Ukulele
& Guitar
|
Paid
to the provider: $11/half hour
|
Please note: there are no fees to participate in the Super
Singers or Choral Development Program
UNIFORMS
Most
ensembles have their own, smart uniforms which are worn for performances.
Adjudicators often comment on the professional look of our groups. While the
Junior ensembles incorporate the school uniform, the Senior groups will wear
long black pants, shirts and a coloured vest or tie and cummerbund. The
uniforms for each group are handed out after payment has been received for the
General Levy in Term 1. Some parts of the uniform are provided by the
school, other parts are to be provided by the parent. Further information
about uniforms is sent home at the time of issue.
PERFORMANCES AND
COMMITMENTS
Throughout
the school year there will be a number of events at which different music
groups will be asked to perform. Some of the usual events are:
School Assemblies
Special School Events, Ceremonies and
Awards
Competitions (FANFARE) and Eisteddfods
(Term 2)
Redlands Ukulele Festival (Term 2)
ESPRESSIVO (Term 3)
Redlands Eisteddfod (Term 3)
Instrumental SHOWCASE (Term 3)
REDFEST (Term 3)
Night of Music (Term 4)
Music: Count Us In (Term 4)
Birkdale State School Centenary
Celebration (Nov 27, Term 4)
Birkdale Community Christmas Carols (Term
4)
All
students within the program are expected to attend each event so that the group
sound is not compromised. Parents and students are responsible for ensuring
students have the correct equipment and uniform.
Parent
Helpers
Each
year there are several fundraising events which the music students are involved
in. Parent support and assistance in the lead up to these events is essential.
If you are able to help out in some way, keep an eye out for Music Parent
meetings. They are usually held on a Monday after assembly, or after school,
and only as necessary. Previous parent assistance has been outstanding!
Classroom
Music
Music is terrific fun at Birkdale with all classes
receiving weekly lessons as follows:
Prep: half hour/week
Yr 1 – 3: 1 hour/week
Yr 4 – 6: half hour/week
The focus of these lessons is to instil a love of
music in children. They will enjoy developing skills and increasing their music
knowledge through singing, dancing and instrument playing. They will be given
multiple opportunities to engage with live musicians through incursions and
excursions throughout the year.