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.
Students who participate in Year 2 Strings, Year 3 Strings and Year 5 Band in 2024 will be given instruments free of charge as part of these programs. Any students wishing to be involved in another co-curricular ensemble, or commence tuition, will need to hire an instrument from the School or provide their own.
For more information, including accessing the hire application form, please read these guidelines.
This beginner concert band is for Year 5 students who are interested in playing a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. Students commence band sessions in small instrumental groups as they start learning to play their instrument, forming a balanced concert band in Term 2.
Rehearsals: Monday afternoons 3.00pm – 4.00pm
Venue: The Farrall Centre
Staff: Hilary Morgan, Suzi Gillespie, Estelle Levy, Tracey Patten, Esther Colbourn and Jed Adams, with additional tutors in Term 1.
This concert band is for students who play a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument and have at least a year’s experience playing their instrument.
Rehearsals: Friday mornings 7.40am – 8.40am
Venue: The Farrall Centre Auditorium
Staff: Suzi Gillespie, Hilary Morgan and Tracey Patten
This is a fun singing group comprising of all students in Year 2, who will rehearse and perform a mini-musical to be performed in Term 4.
Rehearsals: Friday afternoons 2.15pm – 3.15pm (Terms 3 and 4 only)
Venue: The Farrall Centre Auditorium
Staff: Suzi Gillespie and Kathy Fazackerley
These are non-auditioned choirs comprising of any students who wish to be involved. The choirs sing both unison and part-songs in a range of styles. The choirs perform regularly at events, including assemblies, eisteddfods and other School and community events. They often collaborate with groups visiting Tasmania from the mainland or overseas.
Year 3/4 Choir Rehearsals: Tuesday mornings 8.00am – 8.45am
Venue: The Farrall Centre Green Room
Staff: Estelle Levy and Kathy Fazackerley
Year 5/6 Choir Rehearsals: Wednesday mornings 8.00am – 8.45am
Venue: Morris Music Room
Staff: Estelle Levy and Kathy Fazackerley
These groups play energetic and fun music on tuned percussion instruments. No experience is necessary as music and playing technique are taught from the first rehearsal. The Year 5 and 6 Marimba Ensembles join schools from around the Hobart area each year to participate in the spectacular “Marimba Mania” event.
Year 3 Rehearsals: Mondays 11.00am – 11.30am
Venue: Morris Music Room
Staff: Suzi Gillespie
Year 4 Rehearsals: Tuesdays 11.00am – 11.30am
Venue: Morris Music Room
Staff: Christine Akerman
Year 5 Rehearsals: Monday mornings 8.00am – 8.45am
Venue: Morris Music Room
Staff: Estelle Levy
Year 6 Rehearsals: Tuesday morning 8.00am – 8.45am
Venue: Morris Music Room
Staff: Suzi Gillespie
Tuition is offered to all Year 2 students beginning to play on the violin, viola or cello. The two Year 2 Classes combine to receive tuition from specialist teachers as they start learning to play their instrument, with group performance becoming a focus as skills and techniques are learned.
Rehearsals: Wednesday afternoons 2.10pm – 3.00pm
Venue: The Farrall Centre Auditorium
Staff: Christine Akerman, Stephanie Perry and James Anderson
This group is for students who took part in the Year 2 string program and would like to continue playing through group lessons.
Rehearsals: Wednesday afternoons 3.15pm – 4.00pm
Venue: The Farrall Centre Auditorium
Staff: Christine Akerman, Stephanie Perry and James Anderson
This ensemble is for students learning violin, viola, cello or double bass, who already have some skill on their instrument. Students who can proficiently read and play a D major scale and recognise simple rhythms are encouraged to join.
Rehearsals: Thursday morning 7.45am – 8.45am
Venue: The Farrall Centre Auditorium
Staff: Christine Akerman, Stephanie Perry and Kathy Fazackerly
These groups extend string players who are ready for an extra challenge. Memberships of these groups are small and may rotate throughout the year at the discretion of staff.
Rehearsals: Thursday lunchtimes 11.00am – 11.40am
Venue: Morris Music Room
Staff: Christine Akerman
This group is for students interested in learning guitar skills. Experience is not necessary, as our tutor will run lessons during the group time. Students who have their own guitars are encouraged to use them, however school instruments are available for students to use at no cost.
Rehearsals: Wednesday lunchtimes 11.00am – 11.30am
Venue: Morris Music Room
Staff: Devon Robson & Fiona Lewis
These ensembles perform at various School functions, along with performances in the wider community. Participation in music ensembles is a fun, social activity. Once students have committed to an ensemble it is expected that they honour that commitment throughout the year by attending rehearsals and performances regularly and on time. Students should be present at rehearsal and ready to start at the listed time.
Information about upcoming events can be found on the Friends’ Primary School What’s On page.
Performance Uniforms Years 3 and 4:
Years 5 and 6:
Optional individual instrumental and vocal tuition is offered from Year 3 onwards to support student participation in ensembles. These are provided on a user-pay basis by experienced, specialist tutors in the areas of woodwind, brass, string or percussion instruments as well as piano and voice. Applications for individual lessons are reviewed by the Head of the Primary School, classroom teachers and the Head of Instrumental and Vocal Tuition as students are placed with tutors and lesson times scheduled. For further information visit this link.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Estelle Levy.
