Provision of Instruments

Which instruments at what stage?

Following are two tables showing the instruments offered to primary schools and secondary schools, with class sizes and lesson durations. Please note that not all instruments are available to all schools, and some are extremely limited in their availability. The allocation of beginner classes will be reviewed if less than a full class of students is available.

Choice of instruments

Instrumental music classes are designed to lead to the development of performing groups such as a concert band or orchestra at the secondary level. The number and types of instruments offered at any stage depends on this overall plan. Starting too many students on one type of instrument can lead to frustration in student performers who might then be unable to fully participate in performance groups. It can also result in unsatisfactory ensembles. However, wherever possible, individual student preferences in the choice of instruments will be accommodated.

The student's physical suitability for a particular instrument is also a factor.

Starting age

Most instruments are offered at Year 6 level, but strings commence earlier. Some instruments are not made available until Year 8 because of health and safety concerns relating to the physical readiness of young students to handle awkward and/or weighty instruments.

Changing instruments

Once students have chosen their instrument, they are expected to continue on that instrument for the entire period of learning. However, in some special instances, particularly where a student's progress will be enhanced, or where the balance of a performance ensemble can be improved, a change of instrument may be negotiated.

Note: In Years 6 or 7 some violin students will be offered the opportunity to transfer to viola, if deemed appropriate.

Instrumental classes available to secondary schools

Year	Instrument	Class Size	Teaching Time in Minutes
8, 9 & 10	Oboe and bassoon French horn and saxophone Percussion Voice All other instruments (Beginner classes in violin, viola and cello are not available)	2 3 2 4-6 As for primary	All groups : 40
11	Music in Society & TEE Music	2	All groups : 40
12	Music in Society TEE Music	2 1	40 30
11-12	Endorsed Programs	As for years 8, 9 & 10

Note:

Instrument Loans

Parents are encouraged to obtain an instrument for their child at the commencement of instruction. Where necessary instruments owned by the Department of Education can be made available for loan during the first year of learning. For the second year of learning most students must provide their own instruments.

• Classical guitar, piano and percussion: Students are expected to provide these instruments for themselves from the beginning.
• Cello and viola: Students studying these may borrow a SIM instrument for a maximum of two years.
• Oboe, bassoon, double bass, harp, euphonium, tuba and French horn: Students studying these may use a SIM instrument for the entire period of learning.
• Instruments provided to students in the Music Gifted & Talented Program: Provision of a quality instrument, if required, is an integral part of this program.

Schools that are allocated percussion classes are required to provide at least an orchestral xylophone or glockenspiel, a snare drum, a bass drum and two timpani.

Instruments such as bass clarinets, tenor and baritone saxophones and piccolos can be issued to schools on an annual basis for use in ensembles. There is limited availability of these instruments, and they do not become the principal instrument of study for any student.

Opening hours at the Instrumental Store

The Instrumental Store is open from 8.15 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. It is closed on public holidays, the first week of each term holiday and for a short advertised period over Christmas and New Year

Loan agreements and their operation

The School of Instrumental Music negotiates with schools to supply instruments required as part of the annual service agreement. Schools then become the custodians of these musical instruments and accept responsibility for them.

Parents or guardians of selected students are asked to enter into an agreement with the school. They are required to complete a loan agreement form in which they indicate their acceptance of responsibility for the instrument their child is using. This agreement is retained by the school. It is recommended that parents consider insurance cover for the instrument while it is allocated to their child.

Loans terminate on the final day of each school year. However, at the school's discretion, the loan may be extended over the summer vacation, allowing instruments to be returned in the first week of Term 1.

Keeping track of loan instruments

Schools are required to keep adequate records of the allocation of instruments to students and to account for their whereabouts.

Collection of instrument charge

Musical instruments are lent to students through schools at a fixed annual charge per instrument, regardless of size or cost. Schools have the right, through their school council, to set any additional charge for associated expenses incurred for the instrumental program.

In cases of financial hardship, schools may use their discretion to waive their charge for an individual student.

Schools may also choose to purchase instruments for use by students within the school.

Specific dates for each year are notified in the annual Calendar of Events.

Schools are responsible for:

• Collecting payment from parents/guardians
• Forwarding amounts due to Financial Policy & Services within 14 days of receiving a tax invoice

The instrumental charge for each year will be notified to schools towards the end of Term 3 the preceding year. For 2009 the charge to parents is $100. Schools will pay $100 plus $10 GST (reclaimable).

Privately owned instruments

Students who provide their own instruments are not required to pay the instrument charge.

Maintenance and repairs to privately owned instruments must also be organised privately.

Issue of Instruments

Instruments are issued in accordance with the negotiated service agreement. Most instruments are issued early in Term 1. Issue vouchers are produced for each transaction (one or more instruments may be issued in a transaction) and forwarded to the school for verification.

Where program requirements do not change from year to year, instruments are retained at schools and 're-issued' each year (see also Return of Instruments, below).

Return of Instruments

Instruments are returned when they are no longer required by the school's program or by students within the program. Return vouchers are produced for each transaction and forwarded to the school for verification.

To this end, there is a period of some weeks at the start of the new school year during which schools can return instruments without incurring a charge (see table). This gives schools time to select beginning students and to determine their instrument needs. Invoices will be sent in the second half of Term 1.

Exchange of Instruments

• The instruments is no longer suitable for the students, for example, when the student has outgrown the instrument (strings), or when the instrument has become unserviceable.
• An instrument in need of repair is required urgently (e.g. for a performance the same day).

An exchange is processed by the system as a return of the original instrument and an issue of the replacement. As a result, return and issue vouchers are produced and forwarded to the school for verification.

Transfer of Instruments

As requirements of programs change, instruments may be transferred from one school to another. Students who are transferring to another school but are continuing in the instrumental music program may be eligible to take an instrument with them.

Schools and instrumental music teachers may transfer instruments, provided the School of Instrumental Music is advised of details of the transfer prior to the move. Until notification is received, the transferred instrument is held to be the responsibility of the school to which it was originally issued.

Schools should keep a copy of the transfer notice on file. Transfers are processed as a return of the instrument from the original school and an issue to the new school. As a result, return and issue vouchers are produced and forwarded to the relevant schools for verification.

Click here to download a transfer notification form.

Maintenance of SIM instruments

SIM instruments are repaired at the School of Instrumental Music. Routine repairs usually take less than one hour, so replacement instruments are not normally provided.

To arrange for the repair of a SIM instrument, schools must notify the School of Instrumental Music using an Instrument Repair Form.

Instruments brought in for repair and not collected within one month will be returned to stock and taken off the school stocklist.

Repairs to private or school-owned instruments cannot be carried out by these repairers.

Woodwind

In the case of woodwind instruments, students must provide their own reeds and accessories. Ligatures and reed caps which are damaged or lost should be replaced by parents.

Brass

Mouthpieces are an integral part of the brass instrument. Students may be charged for a replacement if their mouthpiece is lost or stolen.

Strings

The replacement of broken or worn cello strings is the responsibility of the student. Students can generally expect to replace strings once during the year. Double bass strings will be replaced by the School of Instrumental Music.

Percussion

Repairs to percussion instruments are the responsibility of the school.

Transport of SIM instruments

In the metropolitan area, collecting and returning instruments is the responsibility of the school or the parents, not of the instrumental teacher.

Instrumental music teachers are generally willing to assist by transporting instruments should they be making a trip to the School of Instrumental Music. However, it should be noted that teachers normally visit the School of Instrumental Music once a month for full staff meetings. It is generally quicker and easier for the school or parents to arrange delivery and pick up.

For country schools, the Departmental mail service or courier is used.