Friday, July 21, 2023 by Joanne Trewick | Newsletter

Hello music parents 

We have hit the ground running for term 3, lots happening in our classes and in preparation for ensembles, exams and other performances.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and stay informed and involved. I appreciate it. 

The First draft of the 2024 home studio (afterschool) schedule will be emailed quite soon, please respond promptly with your intentions or interests for 2024. We have more students than we have places and I want to make it work for as many families as possible. I realise that most families still have much to work out before the new year starts with many other activities, but a response with your confirmation or concerns will help me make a schedule that is as helpful to you as we can make it. 

Also on the subject of thinking ahead….

If your child would like to consider applying for a music scholarship/music extension program or any other audition associated with entering high school - it is never too early to let me know so that we can make plans to give you the best options possible. There is also a bursary available to hard working music students in year 7, year 6 students should be preparing now if they intend auditioning. And - another bursary is offered to year 12 students who intend to study tertiary music. If any of things might be on your radar for your child, please be in touch to chat about your options and what is required.

A note about invoices - you will notice the term 3 resource fee was not charged to your July invoice, I thought I would help spread costs out by putting it in September when there are less lessons because of holidays, and because July had the recital levy and August is a long month with no holidays to reduce lesson numbers. The term 4 resource fee will be charged in October, so they will feel like they are very close together but hoping it is actually easier that way.

Hope that makes sense for you :)

TERM 3 SHOWCASE (requires action now)

This is an optional and informal event for all students and their families. We would love to have your family join us! It was sad that we had to cancel this for term 2, so that makes this one the last of these events before recital. I’d love to see all students involved. Please don’t miss out on registering, and the sooner the better so that we can make sure your child is organised with something they feel confident and excited to perform.

Brand new students encouraged to jump in and be a part of this as it really help get the bigger picture of learning and progressing with your instrument.

Sunday Aug 27

Mossman Shire Hall

3pm

$6 registration through the student portal (appears on your account) plus gold coin at the door to offset hall hire costs. 

Registrations firmly close on Friday Aug 11 -  please register now so you don’t miss out. 

How?

Log into student portal>calendar> aug 27>register your student. After Aug 11 you will then receive an email with the program, so you know what your child will be playing. 

2023 ANNUAL RECITAL AND AWARDS NIGHT SATURDAY NOV 4

This is our big and very special event for the year. Unlike term showcases where families can register if the date suits them, the recital is the one event of the year when we have absolutely all students participate. The end of May was the deadline for letting me now that your student would not be able to attend, and levies have now been charged and paid with the July invoice - thank you! 

Our evening event is shaping up to be amazing with students already working on ensemble pieces with their class groups. The program has been organised, hire of equipment sorted and much of the work to organise this huge event is well underway. 

Please block out the whole day in your calendar and consider that your young ones especially will need to be well rested for the big day. We can’t hire the hall and sound equipment for more than one day, so we rehearse in the morning, have solo sessions in the afternoon and finish with a big gala concert of group items and ensembles in the evening. It is a very exciting event for our families and a hugely important part of the learning program. 

For brand new students just starting this term, provision has been made for you in this event, and your levy will be charged to your upcoming invoice. Please confirm if you are available to participate on this date. 

Also for your diary: SUNDAY NOV 5 will be a celebration lunch for families who have been part of our music family for five years or more.

OTHER UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Saint Augustines Grandparents Day Concert: We have a full 30 min concert planned for this Wednesday at Saint Augustines showcasing all of our school music and choir kids. 1:30pm start. There are also 3 music assemblies planned for this term and we are still working on getting to include an aged care concert into our program as well.

Cairns Classical Concert: October 14 we have King, Nikita and Gemma performing at this professional event in Cairns. If you wish to purchase tickets, again please contact me for details. 

Con Brio Exams: We have had many fantastic results with our video instrumental exams already this year. Many more students are on track to complete exams during this term. 

Trinity Theory Exams: These will be early Saturday morning on Nov 4 - the same day as recital - exam students will be scheduled later in the rehearsal schedule to accomodate this important event. 

AWARDS and EVENTS since last newsletter

QMTA Concert: Congratulations to Matilda, Rebecca, Gemma, King and Ching who represented our studio at this event in Cairns on June 4. Their performances were excellent.

MFactor: the Miallo students involved in this did a great job and took out awards for the music sections. Congratulations to all who performed.

Cairns and District Junior Eisteddfod: It was a small team this year but everyone placed in their instrumental sections and much was learned by those who participated. I’m hopeful of organising a larger number of students to be involved in this event next year. 

Well done to all of these student on their achievements since last newsletter!

Aadidev Padnakad - 10 guitar pieces

Charlie Moffat - 40 and 50 piano pieces

Elena Rodriguez - 40 guitar pieces

Estella Spence - 40 drum pieces

Mario Molinari - 30 piano pieces

Ching Dang - 10 grade 3 piano pieces

Jimmy Scott - 50 guitar pieces

Jasper Keech - 50 guitar pieces

Nova Hilton - 10 Grade 1 piano pieces

Alex Wearne - 100 piano pieces

Quinn Kelleher - 30 piano pieces

Bailee Weier - 30 piano pieces

Ryder Melchert - 50 piano pieces

Otillie Wells - 20 piano pieces

Erik Pese - 20 Grade 1 piano pieces

Aelita Moss - 50 piano pieces

Zoe Wilson - Distinction Grade 3 piano exam

Lucy Andrews - Distinction Preliminary grade violin exam

Ching Dang - Credit Grade 3 piano exam

Jack Archer - Distinction Grade 1 piano exam

King Dang - Distinction Grade 5 piano exam

Amanda Yeo - High Distinction Grade 5 piano exam

Aelita Moss - Distinction Grade 2 piano exam

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I have been working through some online musicology units on how the study of music affects our everyday life from a music psychology point of view.

That’s it for now, more details to follow on various events throughout the year. Thanks for your continued support in everything we do to make learning music successful for your child. Don’t hesitate to be in touch with any concerns or joys or questions about your child’s progress.

Thank you

Ms Joanne