This program commences in Year 7 and continues through Year 12. It is divided into 2 separate courses:
- Years 7 to 10
- ATAR Courses in Years 11 and 12
The Specialist Classroom Music Program is for all instrumental and vocal students.
- Year 7 - 1 classroom lessons per week
- Year 8 - 2 two classroom lessons per week
- Years 9 to 12 - 4 classroom lessons per week
All Year 8, 9 and 10 instrumental and vocal students are required to select Specialist Classroom Music as an elective. This is a compulsory requirement by Department of Education for the completion of music courses.
Performance Course
Year 9 and 10 students can select a Performance Course in addition to the Specialist Music Course. Students can also participate in the Performance Course without enrolling in Specialist Music.
All Instrumental and Vocal students from Years 7 to 12 must also be in at least one ensemble as this enhances the performance component of this course. The music curriculum is based around the 5 main musical components, requiring our students to learn about music through the development of two key areas - Making and Responding.
- Aural
- Theory
- Composition
- Music Literature
- Performance
The Music Learning Area offers a wide range of musical instruments, complimented by a variety of styles including classical, jazz and contemporary popular styles. Quality tuition is given by expert specialist teachers from the School of Instrumental Music, who make the music stimulating and exciting.
Tuition is offered on the following instruments:
Flute | Oboe | Bassoon | Saxophone | Trumpet | Trombone | French Horn | Tuba | Cello | Clarinet | Violin | Classical Guitar | Electric Guitar | Bass Guitar | Voice | Percussion | Double Bass
Tuition on a particular instrument at Ellenbrook Secondary College will be subject to the following two guidelines:
- Ongoing Music Specialist Students: These are ongoing music students who enter the College having met the criteria for Specialist Instrumental and Vocal tuition, and have already commenced their music studies either at Primary School or Secondary School level, be it local, interstate or overseas.
- Music Specialist Beginning Students (Year 7 and 8): These are auditioned students who enter the College having no prior formal instrumental training, and an interest in commencing instrumental tuition in one of the instruments listed above. In order to be successful in this application, students participate in a standardised aural test which measures musical aptitude. Once the testing is complete, the students are ranked according to final marks and 'Offers of Acceptance' are sent out. These places are available for local, cross-boundary, interstate and overseas students.
Playing in an ensemble is one of the most rewarding activities for a musician. The College encourages students to take their place in such groups when they have reached the required standard. With the exception of the College’s choirs and percussion, students participating in ensembles are required to be currently enrolled in Music Instrumental tuition. Junior Choir is compulsory for all Year 7 students.
Ellenbrook Secondary College offers a wide range of ensembles in which students are encouraged to participate. Instrumental and Vocal students are encouraged to belong to at least one ensemble. Students are expected to commit themselves to attendance to all rehearsals, concerts and events scheduled for the whole year.
Music Ensembles at Ellenbrook Secondary College include:
- Junior Concert Band
- Senior Concert Band
- Senior College Choir
- Junior College Choir - Compulsory for all music students in Year 7
- Junior Guitar Ensemble
- Senior Guitar Ensemble
- Contemporary Band Ensemble – Junior and Senior
- Jazz Band
- Junior String Ensemble
- Senior String Ensemble
- Specialist Vocal Choir (All Vocal Students Only)
- Flute Ensembles – Junior and Senior
Honours Program
In line with College policy for awarding honours in other areas, honour badges can be awarded to Year 11 and 12 students who have participated in school, community, local, national or international performances with a minimum of four years long service. Honours are shown by wearing of the honour badge on their jacket lapels.
Director of Music, Mr. Stuart Rhine-Davis leads students in practice to perform two high quality showcases per year, in addition to numerous performances around the local community and neighbouring primary schools. Music students have also competed both nationally and at international levels.
