Music

Balwyn High School’s Music Program is one of the largest and best developed in Victoria. Over 500 students participate in our renowned instrumental and choral program. The school’s commitment to class music as part of the curriculum is second to none. With the addition of a large, dedicated music wing to an already impressive Music Centre, the school boasts the best music facilities of any government school in Victoria.

INSTRUMENTAL AND VOICE PROGRAM

There are two main aspects to this part of the Music Program:

Solo Performance
Ensembles and Choirs

SOLO PERFORMANCE

Instrumental lessons for all well-known instruments and for voice are taught by a team of outstanding instrumental and vocal teachers. Instrumental lessons are supported by an extensive program of soirées, concerts, competitions and master classes. Acceleration classroom programs, beginning at Year 8, cater for advanced instrumental students. Balwyn High School has a record as one of Victoria’s highest achieving providers of VCE Music Studies. The school also enters many students each year for examination with the Australian Music Examinations Board.

There is a strong emphasis on classic and jazz styles - Balwyn High School has excelled in these styles for many years. The best in contemporary music is integrated into the curriculum.

ENSEMBLES AND CHOIR

A great variety of ensembles which rehearse regularly and run for the whole year. They include:

four string orchestras (the Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Symphony orchestras)
five concert bands, each with a membership of 40-50 students
three stage bands (Junior, Intermediate and Senior)
four choirs (Concert Choir, Intermediate Choir, Resonance and Junior Choir)
• chamber and contemporary music groups which rehearse regularly, including string quartets, a percussion ensemble, contemporary jazz and vocal ensembles, brass and flute ensembles

A multitude of performing opportunities is available for all ensembles in the school. Ensembles, from junior to senior, perform in a wide variety of venues and may undertake interstate and overseas tours.

Balwyn High School participates fully in many competitive festivals. Results in recent years confirm Balwyn High School as one of Victoria’s leading music schools when compared to both government and private schools.

CLASSROOM MUSIC PROGRAM

Balwyn High School has one of the most extensive classroom programs in Victoria. The program focuses on singing, music technology, composition/arrangement and the understanding of music styles. The school’s skilled and energetic classroom music teachers deliver a stimulating and imaginative curriculum.

For VCE studies in music, students can select from:

Music Performance
Music Investigation
Music Styles

VCE Music teachers have great expertise and standing in the music education community.

All Years 7-8 students sing in the 900-voice choir that performs at the school’s end-of-year Presentation Night held at Hamer Hall at the Victorian Art Centre. Over recent years, Balwyn High School has gained a reputation for putting on the most spectacular and musically outstanding Presentation Night in town!

MUSICAL PRODUCTION

The Theatre Arts Department and the Music Department combine to stage regular musical productions, drawing talent from the whole school and providing memorable experiences for large numbers of students.

Music Handbook 2012

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