Enrichment Activities for Students

Ensemble Participation

In primary school full participation in an ensemble is an activity additional to the limited ensemble experience of duets, trios, etc. which is provided within the group during instrumental class time. As soon as the students are judged able to keep up with the demands of a mixed ensemble such as a string ensemble or a band, without causing undue stress, their instrumental music teacher will arrange for them to participate in such an ensemble.

• Strings: This will usually be at their base school or at a neighbouring school.
• Woodwind, brass, percussion and guitar: The ensemble will generally be based at the area high school, although there are a number of primary schools which have their own band scheme negotiated through SIM.

Primary students across all schools also have access to a number of specially organised workshops which are run by SIM staff each year. The School of Instrumental Music is happy to support and cooperate where possible with any school or district-based initiatives to extend the opportunities for primary ensemble experience.

Festivals

The School of Instrumental Music supports a number of festivals:

• Jazz Band Festival
• Concert Band Festival
• Orchestra Festival
• Government Secondary Schools Choral Festival
• Ensemble Festival
• Classic Guitar Festival

These festivals are run by professional associations in the field, and advertising is done by those groups. They provide a valuable opportunity for both primary and secondary school ensembles to perform for their peers, to receive feedback from expert adjudicators, and to hear ensembles from other schools perform.

For details, please consult the annual Calendar of Events or contact Paul Duhig at the School of Instrumental Music.

Showcase Performance Opportunities

The SIM Showcase Concert ('Opus')

The annual Opus concert features performances of outstanding instrumental and choral music from government schools at the Perth Concert Hall. The concert can feature both primary and secondary music students. Variety and excellence are key criteria in planning the program. The date for each year’s concert is shown in the Calendar of Events.

If you have groups in your school that you feel would be suitable for the Opus Concert, please contact Bruce Herriman.

Other Showcase Performances

The School of Instrumental Music is approached from time to time with requests for student performing groups of varying sizes and types to play at open days, official occasions and public events. These requests can come from the Office of Government Schools, other government departments and the community. They are generally requests more appropriate to secondary performance groups.

If you have groups in your school that you feel would be suitable and available for such events, please contact Paul Duhig at the School of Instrumental Music.