Music

The Friends’ School offers an extensive and varied co-curricular music program, catering equally for students with significant experience and those participating in an ensemble for the first time. Please see below for information about the available ensembles and the scheduled rehearsal times. 

There is no formal registration process for joining an ensemble. Students simply need to attend a rehearsal to be included. However, if in doubt about the suitability of a group, please talk to the relevant member of the Music Staff – see below. 

Minimum numbers are required before ensembles become viable and in some instances there are prerequisites for group membership. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in more than one ensemble.

Music Rehearsal Schedule 2024 & Instrument Hire

You can view the rehearsal schedule for 2024 here.

You can view the Instrument Hire form here

Instrument Hire

The Music Department has a number of musical instruments for hire for students requiring an instrument for one-to-one tuition or to participate in an ensemble. The hire price is $85 per term.

For more information, including accessing the hire application form, please read these guidelines.

Performance Uniform

Unless otherwise indicated, students will be required to wear formal uniform when performing. This is comprised of:

  • Formal shirt
  • Grey trousers with grey socks or tartan skirt with tights
  • Blazer
  • Tie (with blue shirt)
  • Black leather lace-up shoes
  • Navy or red hair accessories

Additional information about School uniform may be found in the School uniform booklet, which is available on the School’s website at www.friends.tas.edu.au/uniform.

Amnesty Battle of the Bands

The annual Amnesty Battle of the Bands is an opportunity for rock and other contemporary-styled bands to perform, supported by a fully equipped sound and lighting system. 

Rock and contemporary musicians are also encouraged to participate in other performance events as they occur. Additional information will be provided when available.

Music at Friends'

This senior string chamber ensemble is for experienced players of violin, viola, cello and double bass in Years 11 and 12. The focus will be on performing challenging chamber repertoire, either as a larger chamber ensemble or in smaller groups. 

More advanced High School string players, and players of wind and percussion instruments, will be invited to join this ensemble as required by the chosen repertoire.

Occasionally the Friends’ Camerata may prepare material to perform in conjunction with students in the High School Chamber Strings program. This will depend on repertoire and concert requirements. 

This string chamber ensemble is for players of violin, viola, cello and double bass in Years 7 & 8. The focus of the ensemble will be on performing in both chamber groups and as a whole ensemble, depending on performance requirements and the chosen repertoire. It is also likely that there will be occasions for this ensemble to prepare repertoire to perform with the Friends’ Camerata. 

Players of wind and percussion instruments will be invited to join this ensemble as required by the chosen repertoire. 

The Wind Ensemble is available to players of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, bass and orchestral percussion. The ensemble consists of students in Years 7 to 12 with at least 2 years’ experience on their instrument. 

Intermediate Band is a group to cater for students with 6 months to 2 years experience on their respective instrument. The focus of this group will be to develop students’ ensemble skills through a variety of repertoire. This band is available to players of: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, bass and orchestral percussion. All students from Years 7 – 12 are welcome. 

The Jazz Band is available to players of: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, guitar, keyboard, drum kit, auxiliary percussion and occasionally voice. 

It is anticipated that in Jazz Band one player on each part will be required as a minimum. Repertoire will vary from traditional swing charts through to Latin and rock. 

Bella Voce Choir (Female Vocal Ensemble)

This ensemble is open to female students in Years 9 to 12. The choir explores choral repertoire from a variety of styles including traditional, contemporary, world music and show choir repertoire, and performs in various concerts both within school and the wider community, including eisteddfods. 

Music at Friends'

This ensemble is available to all students in Years 7. The choir explores repertoire from a variety of styles including traditional, contemporary, world music and show choir repertoire, and performs in various concerts both within school and the wider community, and eisteddfods. 

This choir combines occasionally with other School choirs for certain performances throughout the year.

This ensemble is available to male students in Years 9 to 12. The choir explores choral repertoire from a variety of styles including traditional, contemporary, world music and show choir repertoire, and performs in various concerts both within school and the wider community, including eisteddfods. 

Marimba ensembles are very popular at The Friends’ School, so much so that there is an ensemble for every year group from Years 3 to 12. An informal approach is taken to learning repertoire; there is less of a reliance on conventional music notation, and greater use of practices such as playing by ear and improvising. For these reasons the ensembles cater for a variety of levels of musical skill and experience. In fact, no previous musical experience is necessary. 

This group provides Years 7 to 12 students the opportunity to nurture their knowledge of language and culture as well as hone their musical skills. 

The following instruments will be available: Guzheng (Chinese zither), Pipa (Chinese guitar), Erhu (a string instrument), Dizi, Hulusi and Xiao (Chinese flutes), and the Yangqin (Chinese dulcimer). No experience on these instruments is required and local Chinese musicians will work with students to impart the necessary skills. 

This ensemble is open to all students with existing skills on guitar from Years 7-12. There will be the opportunity to improvise and play music in a range of contemporary styles, whilst also looking at basic technique. 

Students wishing to further their music theory skills and knowledge are welcome to join the theory group. The group will cover a range of theory topics and the work will relate directly to various AMEB theory grades.