Conservatorium Study Options
- Individual Tuition
- Ensembles
- Early Childhood Music Program
- Junior Instrument Program
- Music Craft
- Conducting
- Composition
- Examinations
Individual Tuition
The Conservatorium offers individual tuition in the following areas:
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Orchestral Strings |
Brass
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Woodwind
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Keyboard
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Percussion
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Voice
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Plucked Strings |
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Violin |
Trumpet |
Flute |
Piano |
Drum Kit |
Classical Voice |
Guitar |
See here for information on term dates and Fees and Enrolments.
Ensembles
To view the Ensemble study options click here
Early Childhood Music Program
The Early Childhood music program provides children with opportunities to discover and develop a love and understanding of music. Children develop vocal, instrumental, aural and musical discrimination skills, through the use of enjoyable games, songs, moving, creating, listening and playing activities. Participation in a developmental music program during a child's early years enhances listening skills, concentration and academic ability, as well as social skills and self confidence.
The Conservatorium's music for children program provides a series of enjoyable, age appropriate musical experiences, from birth through to the age of nine years. Elements of Kodaly, Orff and Dalcroze are included. Classes are offered both in Newcastle and in Maitland.
Pre-School Course: for children from the age of 6 months
Younger children enjoy a variety of musical activities including songs, rhymes, bounces, finger plays, musical games and playing percussion instruments. Activities are repeated to develop familiarity with actions, words and melodies. This is a great opportunity to enjoy quality time with your child.
Older pre-schoolers begin developing abilities to distinguish and perform musical elements such as beat, pitch, dynamics and tone colour, through singing, listening, movement and instrument activities. Opportunities for individual creativity are explored in a supportive class environment.
School Age Course: for infants to school age children
The school age course contains four sequentially arranged levels for infant and lower primary school children. Level 1 is an ideal follow-on for children who have attended the pre-school course, as well as being suitable for children with no previous musical experience. The course includes singing in solfa, music reading and writing activities, and playing instruments such as the xylophone and glockenspiel. In the later levels, students build on the foundations established in Level 1, and commence studying instruments such as recorder, violin, keyboard, guitar and clarinet.
See here for information on the Early Childhood Music program term dates and Fees and Enrolments.
Junior Instrument Program (JIP)
The Junior Instrumental Program is a 2 year program designed to cater for young students (from age 6 and up) with little or no previous musical experience.
Tuition will be offered in a one hour class (length may be shorter depending on class numbers) in the Keyboard Laboratory for keyboard. Following the 2 year course, students will then be encouraged to continue their tuition in a half-hour private lesson.
During the first year of the JIP keyboard course children learn to listen, read, write and play music using the keyboard. Thorough training is given in the basics of music reading, rhythm and written musicianship skills. During the second year the course offers the children the opportunity to continue to build on the skills learnt in the first year of the Junior Instrumental Program. The children continue with more advanced reading and musicianship skills, technical competency at the instrument, improvisation, transposition and aural training.
For further information contact Janina Adomski (contact).
Music Craft
In 2008 The Conservatorium introduced the new and exciting AMEB course in Music Craft. This new course has proved to be a highly stimulating process for students to gain important music theory skills and knowledge. Students will also acquire their prerequisite "theory exam" for the higher grade AMEB practical exams.
Music Craft, starting now at Preliminary Grade, proceeds through to Grade 4. One of the many inspiring changes that the AMEB have initiated through this new course is the introduction of an "aural" component commencing from Preliminary Grade. Through this process, students will also gain vital skills and be tested from a listening perspective which will facilitate many benefits towards their written work and overall musical development and understanding.
The Conservatorium will be providing half-hour to three-quarter hour classes for each Music Craft grade. In addition, the Conservatorium will also provide a separate combined one-hour class for students who still wish to or are required to study Musicianship.
It is also possible for prospective students to enrol for individual lessons especially for higher grades of musicianship, theory or simply general music theory/ aural tuition. However, there are only limited spaces for this type of tuition and will be subject to the teacher's assessment and availability.
With the music craft course, it is important that students be correctly allocatd to the appropriate class by prior consultation with Andrew Chubb (contact).
Students who intend to study at the Maitland branch of the Conservatorium may contact the branch teacher, Janina Adomski (contact).
Conducting
Limited places in the study of conducting may be available from time to time. Please contact the Conservatorium office for further information.
Composition
Individual lessons are offered subject to availability. Please contact the Conservatorium office for further information.
Examinations
Students are able to present themselves for AMEB Examinations in individual instrumental and vocal subjects and for musicianship. Further information is available in the AMEB syllabus or from your teacher.
Practical examination periods for Newcastle in 2010:
- TBA from AMEB website
(These dates should be confirmed with the AMEB by the student.)