Music

Santa Maria College has a well-established and sophisticated music faculty. The school has a number of musical bands and choirs established which include the symphonic band, big band and concert band. The school also has a jazz choir, concert choir and Year 7 choir.

Instrumental Music Program

A note from the Principal...

It is my hope that music plays an important role in the life of all students at Santa Maria College. Music provides a unique learning experience. Students are stimulated emotionally, challenged intellectually and creatively, given valuable experiences in presentation skills and involved in a variety of social activities that greatly enhance their sense of self worth and life at school and beyond.
‘Music is scientific, mathematical, a foreign language, history, physical education, and most of all it is art.’ (1)
Music is the complete education package. It is also a source of life long pleasure and fun.

Kathleen Heagney

(1) Doug Goodkin, 2002.Sound ideas, USA, Warner Bros Publications.

Lessons and Fees

Santa Maria College offers lessons in the following formats:

Group Lesson — 30 minutes $530
Individual Lesson — 30 minutes $880
Individual Lesson — 45 minutes $1,320

Group Lessons are held in groups of 2-3 students and are available for girls in their first two years of tuition.

Payment of these fees is arranged by the accounts department and will be added to your school account.

Ensemble fees are not charged to students who are receiving lessons at the school.

Please note: Students receive 32 lessons in a year and are committed for the minimum period of a year.

Concerts and Competitions

Santa Maria College offers many performance opportunities: evening soirees, lunchtime concerts, performances in assemblies and other special school occasions, the VCE Concert, Staff / Student Concert and the Annual Music Concert.

In addition to this students are involved in performance in the wider community: the Melbourne Schools Band Festival, ANCA Choral Festival, local school fetes and interstate tours. Annual competitions, such as the House Performing Arts Festival, encourage a wide range of students to perform.

Ensembles

Band Program
The main focus of the instrumental program is the Band Program, which consists of three Concert Bands and a Stage Band.

It is a requirement of the program that all students learning a band instrument be involved in one of these groups. The combination of a lesson and rehearsal per week is an important component of the program enabling students to progress more quickly on their chosen instrument.

The Stage Band is a specialist group of performers who are invited to join this ensemble from the membership of the Concert Bands.

Students not learning an instrument at school may also participate in a band.

Choral Program

Santa Maria College also has a strong Choral tradition. The present program consists of a Concert Choir, the Aude Ensemble and a Gospel group. All students learning voice are encouraged to participate in one of these choirs.

The Concert Choir is the largest vocal group consisting of students from Years 7—12.

The Aude Ensemble is a specialist group of performers who are invited to join this ensemble from the membership of the Concert Choir.

* The Gospel Choir is a group of 20 voices. Auditions for this group are held in Term 1.

Other Ensembles

A String ensemble was formed in 2003 and rehearses weekly. Small ensembles, such as duets and trios, are created for special occasions. Many students choose to form groups with their friends for performances.

Performance Uniform

Students involved in the performance ensembles are required to have a Performance Uniform. This uniform is based around the winter skirt and school blazer. All additional items of the uniform must be purchased from the Uniform Shop. Please note that there are some second hand items available for purchase.

The uniforms for the various groups are as follows:
Junior/Concert/Symphonic Band: Skirt/trousers, shirt, vest, blue tie.
Stage Band:
Skirt/trousers, shirt, gold tie
Concert/Aude/Gospel Choir:
Skirt, shirt, blue tie.

Please see the enrolment form for prices

Instruments

Santa Maria provides tuition on the following instruments:

Most students in the program own their own instrument, however, the school has purchased some of the larger instruments and these are available for hire, for a charge of $150 per year.

The original hire of a school instrument must be arranged directly with the music department, because it is reliant on the availability of instruments for hire.

Hire arrangements are also available through many music retail stores. For more information please contact the Music Department.

Music Program Enrolment Form