WHS Instrumental Music Program

The study of music fosters intellectual, physical and emotional development. In addition to teaching students to play their instruments, playing music develops teamwork, commitment and study skills, and bestows upon students a unique musical experience from which they will benefit for the rest of their lives.

‘Music nurtures the soul…’

Williamstown High School provides students with an Instrumental Music Program that has been developed over many years. The program enables students to develop skills and expertise across a range of fields, providing a valuable co-curricular experience across both campuses.

Music Lessons:

Music students attend weekly lessons with our qualified and talented music staff in groups of up to 4 students. These lessons are held during class time on a rotating timetable. Regular home practice is expected to ensure maximum skill development.

Instruments Offered:

Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, french horn, euphonium, tuba, bass guitar, percussion (includes drum-kit), piano, voice, and guitar.

Bands and Ensembles:

To further develop skills, students undertaking instrumental music lessons are required to participate in an ensemble. Held weekly before or after school, these rehearsals are an essential and compulsory component of the program. These ensembles are also open to students who learn an instrument outside of school.

THE ENSEMBLES WE OFFER:

For brass, woodwind, bass guitarists and percussionists:
Junior, Intermediate, Bayview Senior, and Pasco Senior Concert Bands.
Bayview and Pasco Stage Bands (by audition).

For guitarists and bass guitarists:
Guitar Ensembles (Junior, Intermediate, Senior),
Bayview and Pasco Stage bands (by audition)

For vocalists:
Bayview and Pasco Choir

For pianists:
Piano Masterclasses, Stage Bands (by audition)

Performances:

Our students participate in regular performances. Musical items are often required for school assemblies, open days, local community events and special activities. Highlights include our annual Winter Concert, Jazz Night, Spring Concert, Spring Soiree and Warchild benefit concert. Other performance activities may include visits to local primary schools, local festival performances.

Music Camp:

The annual music camp is one of the big highlights of the year for the music program, giving students the opportunity to rehearse and practise intensively while taking part in camp activities and getting to know other music students from both campuses.

Fees:

The Instrumental Music Program is run on a non-profit basis and relies on the subscription of its participants. The lesson and hire fees are very reasonable when compared to private tuition and external suppliers.

Explanation of charges:

Full subscription $690

Wind instruments/bass guitar/percussion lessons and involvement in an ensemble

Ensemble only $340

Just involvement in an ensemble rehearsal (for those taking lessons outside of school)

Wind instruments and bass guitar hire $240

Saxophone Hire $285

Vocal Individual lessons (if available) and involvement in ensemble $1080 (per semester)

Vocal Group lessons and involvement in ensemble $540 (per semester)

Guitar Individual lessons (if available) and involvement in ensemble $1080 (per semester)

Guitar Group lessons $540 (per semester)

Piano Paired lessons and involvement in Piano masterclasses $800 (per semester)

Piano Individual lessons (at VCE level only if available) and involvement in masterclasses $1080 (per semester)

SEALP Program:

Year 7 SEALP students will be learning a brass or woodwind instrument as part of the SEAL Band Class Program during Semester 1. There is no need to fill in an application form for this unless they wish to also learn an additional instrument as part of the extra-curricular Instrumental Music Program.

How to decide which instrument to choose?

Our wonderful students have put together a short video to help you decide which instrument to play, please click here to view this presentation.

How to Apply:

If you and your child would like to be a part of our Instrumental Music Program, the link​ below will take you to the online application form:

Please click here to access the application form

If students are allocated a place in the program, you will be issued with an email confirmation.

We look forward to working with your children next year!

Further Information

If you have any queries please contact either of our two Music Directors: