Instrumental Music Lessons
The Princes Hill Music Department employs specialist Instrumental Music Instructors (IMIs) and offers group and instrumental music lessons to all students as part of an ensemble based program. This includes voice and theory lessons.
To enrol, parents/carers must complete the online enrolment form each year on behalf of their student/s.
Ensemble Participation
As an ensemble based program we provide 17 different ensembles, with the expectation that students participate in at least one ensemble as part of their enrolment for instrumental music lessons. However, please note the following exceptions:
- Students who are new to their chosen instrument, or have less than 12-months experience should nominate a preferred ensemble, but do not have to join straight away. Their IMI will advise when they are ready to join.
- There are a limited number of positions available for piano students in ensembles. We do recommend students join an ensemble on another instrument where possible, such as a secondary instrument they perform on, voice (choir), or auxiliary percussion.
- Students enrolled in theory only do not have to join an ensemble.
- Students who learn an instrument privately may join an ensemble, however priority is given to students enrolled in school-based instrumental music lessons.
Fees for 2023
All lesson fees are for the entire year.
Group Lessons | $580 | Group lessons are scheduled with 2 – 3 students for a half period, or 4 – 5 students for a full period. Decisions on numbers and groupings are made by the relevant IMIs in consultation with the Head of Music. The decision depends on the instrument type and student ability/needs.
*Please note that group lessons are not available for Piano or Drum Kit.
Individual Half-Period Lessons | $1,100 | Half-period lessons are highly recommended for all students. This enables IMIs to provide the best personalised environment to best facilitate student development on their chosen instrument.
Individual Full-Period Lessons | $2,200 | Full-period lessons are recommended for students with 3 or more years of experience who are participating in external exams (AMEB/ABRSM Grade 4 + ), the middle school classroom music program, and strongly recommended for students studying music as part of their VCE Program. This includes VCE Music, VCE Music Contemporary, VCE Music Repertoire, VCE Music Inquiry.
Music Theory | $345 | Music Theory lessons provide students with the opportunity to focus on the development of their theoretical knowledge. Students work through the AMEB Theory Syllabus and/or the VCE Outcome 3 Music Language curriculum as required. Students are scheduled into groups of 3 – 5 based on their theory level, and all lessons run for a half period.
Music Theory: Advanced | $425 | Students completing higher level exams can request shared lessons (groups of 2 – 3). Where there may not be an option for shared lessons, students may be allocated an individual lesson (subject to availability) at no extra cost.
How to enrol for 2023
Enrolments for 2023 are now open!
Please contact the Music Office on 9389 0622, or via email at musicadmin@phsc.vic.edu.au if you have any questions about the enrolment process.
Payment Process
- Payments can be made in full or via instalments
- Instalments are split into four payments, with the first payment due as per the dates above
- The remaining three instalments will be scheduled in February, April, and June of 2023 on the 14th of each month.
- Full payment of fees or the first instalment are required before lessons commence to confirm your enrolment.
- All payments are managed through your school Compass account (parent/guardian login)
- Once payment is received, students’ lessons will appear in their Compass timetable at the beginning of Term 1
- Fees are non-refundable once payment has been made.
For all financial matters, please contact the PHSC Business Manage – Mich Westlake – via email at mich.westlake@education.vic.gov.au.
Lesson Scheduling/Timetabling
Students are offered a minimum of 32 lessons across the school calendar year. Lessons usually start in the first full week of Term 1 (Week 2), and conclude in the first week of December, Term 4. This equates to approximately 8 lessons per term and allows lessons not being scheduled during public holidays and school events (ie Sports Days, Curriculum Days, etc).
An audit is conducted at the end of each term to make sure that IMIs are on track to deliver the minimum number of lessons.
Where scheduled Curriculum Days prevent a lesson being offered that may impact on the minimum 32 lessons being offered, we may choose to still have instrumental lessons scheduled. In these instances, students will be permitted on site to attend their lessons, and families will be advised via email two weeks in advance.
Instrumental Music Lessons are scheduled using Compass and form part of the students weekly timetable. The following considerations are made in regards to the scheduling of lessons:
- Lessons are scheduled week to week at the beginning of Term 1 as enrolments are finalised. Lessons are then scheduled at least one month in advance; usually from the beginning of March.
- For Years 7 – 10, lessons are scheduled during class time on a rotating basis to avoid regularly missing the same class. This means that on average a student will only miss class time for the same subject once every six weeks, with a maximum rotation of once every three weeks.
- VCE students have a fixed lesson time during one of their study periods, lunch time, after school, or occasionally before school.
- No lessons are scheduled at recess.
- Year level camps and events are accounted for two weeks prior to the scheduled activity.
Student Absences
Students who are absent from school on the day of their scheduled lessons are not able to be offered a replacement lesson. If a student absence is expected to be longer than two weeks please contact the Music Administrator (Melanie Saunders – musicadmin@phsc.vic.edu.au ) ASAP to discuss potential timetabling options.
Student Responsibility
Students are responsible for attending their lessons in a timely manner and bringing all resources required for their lessons. This may include their personal instrument (which can be left in the Music Storeroom), sheet music/charts, and/or workbooks.
All students are asked to check their lesson schedule on Compass at least one week in advance, and then the morning of their scheduled lesson in case there have been any changes. If an issue is ever detected, students should notify both their IMI and the Music Administrator either via email, or in person at the Music Office.
During Term 1 only, IMIs will go and collect students if they do not arrive in the first few minutes of their scheduled lesson time in order to help them build a rountine.
Students should be mindful of the following events that may interfere with their ability to attend lessons:
- Scheduled assessments by classroom teachers: All students are generally provided with at least two weeks notice for upcoming assessments, as well as having set dates in their Compass Learning Tasks. Classroom teachers are aware of student commitments to instrumental lessons and allow flexibility for the rescheduling of assessments. However, there will be some instances where the assessment does need to take priority.
- Off-site sports activities: Some students will be off-site for sports classes, events, and/or other activities. Any off-site attendance will usually generate an “event” on Compass. However, due to the large volume of sports-based events, the changing enrolments/participation rates, and events often relying on the success of the team/individual student, it is recommended that students notify both their IMI and the Music Administrator ASAP once an event date is confirmed.
- Duty Students: Students in Years 7 and 8 will be allocated a duty day that will appear on their Compass Schedule. If students are scheduled for an instrumental lesson on the same day as duty, they should advise the relevant staff member from the Front Office who is supervising and still attend their lesson.