Classroom Music
At Freshwater State School, our specialist music teacher takes weekly music lessons with all classes from Prep to Year 6. Units of work align with the Australian Curriculum, with the developmental learning sequence of lessons informed by Kodaly and Orff-Schulwerk methodology. All students receive instruction in playing un-pitched percussion and mallet instruments (xylophone, glockenspiel) throughout their schooling with the addition of ukulele in Years 4, 5 and 6. Students are assessed on their ability to sing and play music, compose music and listen and respond to music for each semester of learning.
A weekly ukulele club program is offered to students in Years 3, 4, 5, 6 in the music room. Students can borrow a school instrument for practice sessions, but are encouraged to have their own instrument at home to practice. A weekly guitar club program is also offered to students in Years 4, 5, 6. Students need to supply their own instrument for practice sessions. During the year, students in the ukulele and guitar clubs learn for personal enjoyment as well as having the experience of performing to an audience of their peers and parents at school events.
The choral program at Freshwater State School consists of a junior school choir for Years 1,2 students and a senior school choir for Years 3, 4, 5, 6 students. All choir students attending rehearsals are encouraged to perform at school assemblies and school events with the addition of the Eisteddfod and Choral Fanfare competitions, as student's progress into our senior choral program.
Instrumental Music
The Freshwater State School Instrumental Music Program offers students the opportunity to learn a string, woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. At the end of Year 2, students are eligible to apply for a string instrument OR at the end of Year 3 for a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument. Students are not permitted to swap instruments or learn two, so it is important they consider what they would like to learn to ensure they nominate in the correct year.
If accepted, Instrumental Music students receive a weekly group lesson and when they have reached the appropriate level, the opportunity to join one of the school ensembles – String Ensemble, Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble. Students are able to hire an instrument from the school during their first year of learning subject to availability.