At our School, music is life. It fills our hearts, lifts our spirits, raises our voices. Music moves us.
Our music program is unrivalled. From Kindergarten through to Year 12, our students receive the highest standard of music tutelage by first-class specialist music teachers in purpose-built music facilities.
Music is medicine for the mind and playing and listening to music can enhance learning, cognition and memory. It also makes you feel really good!
A love of music, in all its forms, has become somewhat characteristic of the HVGS experience due entirely to the number of students who engage with music out of sheer love, and who value it as an important component of a terrific school experience.
Junior Music
Early Learning Centre
The ELC is where HVGS students first find their beat. Discovering patterns, rhythm, beat and rhyme are a focus of the preschool music program.
Kindergarten – Year 2
Learning through exploration is the key focus in the infant’s music program, and enjoyment is fostered through a range of singing, moving and playing activities.
The recorder is introduced in Year 2, and students work towards reading and performing simple 3-note melodies by the time they transition to Year 3.
Individual music lessons in piano, violin and vocal are available for students K- 2.
Years 3 – 4
New pathways to engage with our co-curricular Instrumental Program open up to students from Year 3 onward. Greater connections are made between co-curricular and classroom music, as students are encouraged to use their instruments in practical and compositional-based activities.
Individual music lessons in singing, piano, strings, guitar, woodwind, brass, percussion also become available from Year 3.
Years 5 – 6
All students in Years 5 – 6 are introduced to the keyboard, ukulele and guitar. Solo class performances encourage students to develop their self-confidence in a nurturing environment.
Junior School Music Ensembles
There’s a myriad of music ensembles available to Junior musicians, including:
- The K-2 choir and 3-6 choir with performance opportunities available at HVGS events and showcases.
- Stringendo (Beginner String Ensemble) is for brand new string players from Years 3-7.
- Marstringbo (String Ensemble) is for those a little more experienced players.
- Chamber Ensembles are available for selected students.
- The Guitar Ensemble is an energetic group for students in Years 3 – 6.
- Swing Band (by invitation).
- Le Petite Toot (beginner concert band) is for students Years 3 – 7 who are brand new instrumentalists participating in group or individual lessons.
- Junior Concert Band is open for students in Years 4 – 6.
- The HVGS Symphony Orchestra is available for selected students.
- Thump Junior Percussion Ensemble is an option for students in Years 2 – 3 who learn piano or percussion.
- Upbeat Junior Percussion Ensemble is a lively choice for percussion students in Years 4 – 6.
Senior Music
In Senior School students really find their tempo.
Music is compulsory in Years 7 and 8 and is offered as elective from Year 9. Music 1 and Music 2 are available for students who choose to study music for the HSC. We’re proud of our HSC musicians who consistently achieve some of the state’s very best results.
Beyond the classroom:
- Chamber music program (includes String Quartets, Piano Trios, Woodwind Ensemble) attracts senior students who excel in their instrument and have the passion and commitment to perform musical masterpieces.
- The HVGS rock band is for students who are currently studying Elective Music. They perform at school events, lunchtime concerts and community events.
- Senior Concert Band, ‘Symphonic Wind Ensemble’ is for students from Years 7 – 12. The group performs at school events and community events
- Senior Guitar Ensemble is offered for all guitar students. They are regulars at school events.
- P-Crush Senior Percussion Ensemble is open to students in Years 7 – 12.
- The Senior String Ensemble is available for students in Years 6 – 12.
- Senior Vocal Ensemble for students in Years 7-12.
- The HVGS Stage Band is for selected students from Years 7 – 12. The group performs at school events lunchtime concerts and community events; including, Lizottes and Morpeth Chapel Jazz.
- Swing Band is available to selected Senior and Junior students – a stepping stone to the HVGS Stage Band. The group performs at various school events like the Leo’s Changeover Dinner, Morpeth Chapel Jazz and HVGS Rowing Regatta.
- The Symphony Orchestra is open to talented senior musicians by invitation. The Orchestra showcases their talent at the annual HVGS Symphony Orchestra Concert at Harold Lobb Concert Hall in Newcastle.
Music Snapshot
Music Facilities
Our Music Centre is a joyous, bustling creative hub for students interested in playing, composing or practising music. The Centre includes twelve music studio’s for instrumental lessons, a fully-equipped recording studio, an orchestra room, a percussion studio, a keyboard and computer lab and one Junior and three Senior music classrooms.
Music Curriculum
Music is for everyone, so all students at HVGS learn music from Kindergarten – Year 8. Music is offered as an elective from Year 9 which incorporates lessons in theory, oral, performance musicology and technology for composition. Talented musicians can choose to study Music in Years 11 and 12. Our HSC course extends to include Music Extension 2.
Music Ensembles
The academic music courses are only part of our story. Our music ensembles are an important inclusion in our music program and enrich the cultural fabric of our School and our region. Ensemble groups for students K – 12 promote a mutual love and enjoyment of music.
Music Tuition
Instrumental, vocal and music craft/ theory/ musicianship lessons are provided on-site five days a week. The inclusion of ‘endangered instrument’ tuition (such as the oboe, bassoon, French horn, tuba, euphonium and double bass) add a point of difference and a unique tone and colour to our program. For students still to discover their musical talents, there are also opportunities for beginner group lessons.
Performance
Performing to an audience is an important aspect of learning and enjoying music, so we keep a busy diary of performance dates, including the annual HRIS and HICES Cultural Festival, the Morpeth Jazz Festival, Inspired Art Exhibition, Vibrant Voices, cocurricular music concerts and the acclaimed HVGS Symphony Orchestra Concert … to name but a few!
Specialist Music Teachers
Six classroom music teachers across K – 12, and twelve specialist music teachers nurture students’ talent and love of music to the highest level. With our own band of specialist instrumental teachers encompassing all ensemble groups and instruments, music at HVGS is a complete experience.
Music Scholarships
HVGS offers music scholarships for talented musicians from Years 7 – 11. Find out how a music scholarship at HVGS can take your child’s talent to the next level.
“When I arrived here in Year 4, I had no real interest in anything. After starting group drum lessons, I suddenly had goals and opportunity – like the school band, music trips and performances that fostered friendships at school and beyond.”
Jack Holmes – Class of 2019
