NEW ENROLMENT

The Hamilton and Alexandra College offers a comprehensive music program, giving every student an opportunity to learn and experience the joy of music-making in a variety of ways. To complement and extend their core classroom Music lessons and Performance Arts program, students are offered private instrumental music tuition.

The benefits of studying a musical instrument are acknowledged by educationalists worldwide, often leading to enhanced academic performance and the development of self-discipline and self-confidence. It also allows students to flourish in social settings across year levels.

At the Junior Campus, the Instrumental Music program complements the work covered in the classroom Music program. It is advised that students initially learn only one instrument, and when accomplished in the upper levels of their primary schooling, they may wish to take on a second instrument. It is strongly recommended that a second instrument is scheduled outside of classroom time (e.g. recess) to minimise impact on their classroom learning.

A recommended starting age for each instrument is listed below to provide parents with guidance for their child. Each recommendation is based on the physical development required to play the instrument and, in some cases, the reading ability to recognise music notation. As these are recommendations, there may be exceptions for individuals, and parents are welcome to consult with the Junior Campus Music teacher or the Head of Junior School about their child’s individual development. Parents are asked to seek feedback from the classroom teacher to ensure that students can cope with missing key learning time, such as Literacy and Mathematics.

Recommended starting age for each instrument:
Piano: Year 1 and above. String Instruments: Year 2 and above.
Orchestral woodwind & brass instruments: Year 4 and above. Voice: Year 7 and above.

IN 2025, MUSIC LESSONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Piano	Oboe	Voice	Drum Kit
Violin	Flute	Trumpet	Percussion
Viola	Clarinet	Trombone	Music Theory
Cello	Saxophone Alto/Tenor	French Horn	Guitar
Double Bass	Bassoon	Tuba/Euphonium	Bass Guitar

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENROLMENT

1.    FEES:  

In 2025, the fee is $49.50 per half-hour individual lesson. The College aims to provide a maximum of thirty-two lessons per year within the school calendar. Students will also receive ensemble lessons and associated ensemble material at no extra cost. Any books or materials for individual lessons, including a Music Record Book, will incur extra cost, which will be billed to the student’s College account.

2.    ATTENDANCE:

Junior campus students will be collected by the Instrumental Teacher unless permission is otherwise given by parents or the class teacher for the student to come to lessons unaccompanied. The College is unable to make up a lesson if the student is absent. Where students are ill or have another College commitment which may clash with their lesson time, every attempt is made to reschedule the lesson. School camps and excursions are known in advance and such details are factored into the instrumental schedule. Instrumental timetables are emailed to parents at the start of each term and posted on the Music notice board.

 3.   MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES:

All students involved in the Instrumental Music program will be expected to join an ensemble at the appropriate level. They will be invited to participate in musical events within the school community. The preparation for the music on these occasions will mainly take place during school time but some extra rehearsals may be needed closer to events.

4.    MUSIC RECORD BOOK:

Students are required to bring their Music Record Book and College Record Book to each lesson. The books facilitate communication of practice requirements and progress of lessons between parents and teachers. Parents are asked to sign the Music Record Book each week.

5.   LESSON TIMETABLE:

The whole term’s lesson times should be transferred to the College Record Book as soon as the student receives their term’s schedule. Timetables are also posted on the music board. From time-to-time lessons will need to be rescheduled and students must keep track of updated details.

6.   DISCONTINUATION OF LESSONS:

If a student wishes to cease lessons, four weeks written notice to discontinue is required by the Director of Music, four weeks of school term, in advance of ceasing, otherwise, payment of four lessons will be required in lieu of appropriate notification.

7.   INSTRUMENT HIRE:

• Instrument hire is charged annually and is charged to student accounts at the end of Term One;

• All reasonable care must be taken against the lost, stolen or damaged instrument. Damage or loss of an instrument must be reported immediately.

• The hirer must pay for any damage repairs incurred. If an instrument requires repair, the music teacher must be notified;

• No person other than the hirer is permitted to play or handle the instrument.

• No student or any person should attempt repairs or adjustments to the instrument. Any damage or defects in the instrument must be brought to the attention of the instrumental music teacher;

• The student must practice regularly and attend weekly lessons, or the instrument hire may be forfeited;

• The student is expected to join College performing groups when the desired standard of performance has been achieved;

• For woodwind instruments, replacement reeds will be purchased through the Music Department and charged to your account;

• For string instruments, replacement strings will be purchased through the Music Department and charged to your account, and

• Once an instrument has made satisfactory progress for 12 months, parents are expected to consider purchasing it for their child.

INSTRUMENT HIRE CHARGES FOR 2025

Instrument	1st Year	2nd Year	3rd Year
Violin	$160	$185	$210
Viola	$160	$185	$210
Cello	$160	$185	$210
Double Bass	$160	$185	$210
Flute	$160	$185	$210
Clarinet	$160	$185	$210
Oboe	$160	$185	$210
Saxophone – Alto	$160	$185	$210
Saxophone – Tenor	$160	$185	$210
Bassoon	$160	$185	$210
Trumpet	$160	$185	$210
Trombone	$160	$185	$210
Tuba/Euphonium	$160	$185	$210

PLEASE RETAIN THIS INFORMATION SHEET FOR YOUR RECORDS

I acknowledge that I have read and accept the Terms & Conditions of Enrolment and give permission for my child to study a musical instrument at school.

Following the acceptance of the enrolment, the music department will forward this enrolment to the class teacher for approval and signature. 

The student will be allocated a teacher, and confirmation will be sent before the commencement of lessons.