Music Scholarships – the opportunity to excel

MUSIC education enhances teamwork skills and discipline. For the orchestra to sound good, all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal, the performance, and must commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and practicing.

In the music classroom, students can also learn to better communicate and cooperate with one another, learning routines and managing equipment including musical instruments.

Establishing these secure foundations early on allows a student to flourish as an independent learner, one who can conquer fear, take risks and fully explore the possibilities for self-expression.

Thinking like a musician, regardless of experience, they can make well informed decisions about which sound to use, what rhythm or pitch pattern will be played or sung, how fast, how loud, etc. As questions about the arts do not have only one right answer, students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions. Self-esteem is a wonderful by-product of this self-expression.

The Geelong College music program is extensive and creative, and all students are offered the opportunity to learn and develop through music.

In the classroom, music begins at Early Learning where students sing, move and use simple percussion instruments to develop their love of music. From Prep to Year 3, students develop their skills through regular classes with specialist teachers, workshops and performances.

In Year 2 students learn a string instrument as part of the weekly Strings Program, performing in an ensemble and developing their music reading skills as well as their sense of pitch and rhythm.

From Years 4 to 8 the classroom music program includes practical, research and project activities which are accessible to all students.

Topics explored include music history, Mixcraft Music Software, popular music, singing and exposure to a variety of musical instruments.

In Year 5 all students participate in the yearlong ‘Allegro’ program and all Year 7 students participate in the semester-long ‘Instrument Discovery Program’ where they learn to play a brass or woodwind instrument of their choice and enjoy making music together in an ensemble.

Students who are already learning these instruments are also catered for in an advanced group.

As an elective subject from Year 9, students have the opportunity to study the historical, theoretical and technological aspects of music, as well as composition. Group performance is an important part of the class curriculum at all year levels. VCE and VET Music are offered for soloists and groups across a wide variety of instruments and styles.

College musicians are offered a range of ensemble performance opportunities through bands, orchestras, chamber groups and choirs with sequential progress from the beginning ensembles to the more advanced groups ensured with regular opportunities to perform.

Applications for Music Scholarships for entry into Years 7 to 11 in 2019 are now open.

Find out more at geelongcollege.vic.edu.au.