i) Overview     ii) Personnel     iii) Ensembles     iv) Events     v) Resources     vi) Links     vii) Jokes

Upper Yarra Secondary College

Music Program

Overview

Objectives

The Upper Yarra Secondary College Music Faculty has a strong commitment towards delivering quality holistic music education.  It runs a very vibrant music program that has received many accolades.  It comprises three sections which work very closely with each other.  They are instrumental music, ensemble music and classroom music.

The Upper Yarra SC music program also reaches out to local primary school students from the following schools:

• Don Valley  Primary School
• Gladysdale  Primary School
• Launching Place  Primary School
• Millwarra  Primary School
• Seville  Primary School
• St Joseph’s  Primary School
• Warburton  Primary School
• Wesburn Primary School
• Woori Yallock Primary School
• Yarra Junction Primary School

Instrumental Music

Upper Yarra SC offers students the option to learn a specific woodwind, brass or percussion instrument.  Student receive tuition from a fully qualified music teacher who specialises on their instrument.  The following instruments are offered:

All students perform a solo at one of the Upper Yarra SC soirees that are held during the year.  Students undertake an internal (school run) examination at the end of each year and are encouraged to sit external AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) examinations once a suitable standard has been reached.

Ensemble Music

Upper Yarra SC has a very vibrant Ensemble Music program that involves 3 concert bands, 2 stage bands, a choir and numerous small ensembles.   Attendance of at least one large ensemble is compulsory for instrumental music students and additional participation in smaller ensembles is encouraged.

A major concert that features all of the Upper Yarra SC ensembles is held at the end of each semester.  The second semester concert has become one of the highlights of the Upper Yarra SC calendar and lately has been held at the wonderful facilities of the Careforce Church in Mount Evelyn .

Other concerts are also held during the year including the Middle Years Training Band Debut Concert and an evening dedicated to Jazz.

Upper Yarra SC has a strong tradition of performing at the Melbourne School Bands Festival in Robert Blackwood Hall, Monash University.  It forms a highlight of the ensemble calendar and students work very hard towards obtaining the wonderful results that have consistently been achieved.

The following ensembles are offered at Upper Yarra SC:

• Wind Symphony
• Concert Band
• Training Band
• Senior Stage Band
• Junior Stage Band
• Choir
• Woodwind Ensemble
• Brass Ensemble
• Percussion Ensemble

Classroom Music

Classroom music is compulsory for students in Years 7 and 8.  Students can choose to do music as an elective in Years 9 to 10.  In Years 11 and 12 students are offered VCE Music Performance (Group) Units 1-4.

Personnel    

Ensembles

Wind Symphony

The Wind Symphony has achieved a reputation as a very strong school concert bands in regional Victoria .  Over the years the band performed very well at the Melbourne School Bands’ Festival.  The Wind Symphony performs regularly in the Yarra Valley at various community events.  The band  tours regularly and destinations have included New Zealand and Queensland .

In 2006 the Wind Symphony is conducted by Mr Syd Jackson and rehearses on Monday afternoons from 3:15-4:45.

Concert Band

The Concert Band is the middle of Upper Yarra Secondary College ’s 3 concert bands.  It is predominantly made up of students who have been learning for 1-3 years and those who are studying a second instrument.  

In 2006 the Concert Band is conducted by Ms Karen Heath and rehearses on Wednesday afternoons from 3:15-4:30.  

Middle Years Training Band

The Middle Years (MY) Training Band comprises students who have been learning for less than a year.  Students from Grade 5 through to Year 7 come together to learn the art of ensemble playing.  Rehearsals start a month after the students’ first lesson.  A few weeks later students have their first ever performance where they not only perform as part of MY Training Band but they also present a short solo.

In 2006 the Middle Years Training Band is conducted by Mr Syd Jackson and rehearses on Tuesday afternoons from 3:15-4:30.  

Senior Jazz Ensemble

The Upper Yarra Secondary College Senior Jazz Ensemble is a highlight of the Music Program.  It performs a wide variety of works and is comprised of the school’s advanced music students.  The group also provides students with a wonderful opportunity to advance their improvisational skills.

In 2006 the Senior Jazz Ensemble is conducted by Ms Karen Heath and rehearses during Wednesday lunchtimes.

Junior Jazz Ensemble

The Junior Jazz Ensemble comprises students who have been learning for approximately 3 years.  It performs compositions from a wide range of genres that include swing, shuffle, funk, latin, blues and rock.

In 2006 the Junior Jazz Ensemble is conducted by Mr Syd Jackson and rehearses during Thursday lunchtimes.

Choir

The Choir is made up of very enthusiastic students.  All students are encouraged to participate in the choir with no formal music training being necessary.  This ensemble is lead with significant student input and it forms a highlight of school concerts and assemblies.  Repertoire is focused mainly on music of a wide variety of genres from the last 50 years.

The Choir is conducted by Mr Nick Tresize and Mr Syd Jackson and it rehearses during Friday lunchtimes.

Percussion Ensemble

The dynamic Upper Yarra SC Percussion Ensemble is comprised of percussion students from a wide range of year levels.  As well as performing established repertoire, it encourages students to compose their own pieces with the premiers of such compositions being very warmly received at performances.

The Upper Yarra SC Percussion Ensemble is conducted by Mr Rohan Anderson and rehearses on Wednesdays.

Resources

UYSC  Recruitment Handbook  2007  (Word Document)

Play for Life - Music Makes The Difference  -  Teaching\Advocacy  (Adobe Acrobat File)

Play for Life – Why Music Education is Important  -  Teaching\Advocacy  (Adobe Acrobat File)

Kids Who Study Music Do Better In School and In Life - Teaching\Advocacy  (Adobe Acrobat File)

12 Steps To Becoming a Better Musician - (Word Document)

How to Help Your Child Practise  -  Teaching\Instrumental  (Word Document)

Buying a Brass Instrument - Teaching\Instrumental  (Word Document)

Caring For a Brass Instrument  -  Teaching\Instrumental  (Word Document)

Cleaning a Valved Brass Instrument  -  Teaching\Instrumental  (Word Document)

Cleaning Your Trombone - Teaching\Instrumental  (Word Document)

Practical Tips for Productive Practice - Teaching\Instrumental  (Word Document)

Why Learn Music - (Word Document)

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