Music exists distinctively in every culture and is a basic expression of human experience. Students' active participation in Music fosters understanding of other times, places, cultures and contexts. Through continuous and sequential music learning, students listen to, compose and perform with increasing depth and complexity. Through performing, composing and listening with intent to music, students have access to knowledge, skills and understanding which can be gained in no other way. Learning in Music is aurally based and can be understood without any recourse to notation. Learning to read and write music in traditional and graphic forms enables students to access a wide range of music as independent learners.
At Eight Mile Plains, all students receive a weekly music lesson as a whole class, delivered by a trained and experienced specialist music teacher.
There has been significant investment in instruments including quality ukuleles (concert and soprano), a range of tuned and untuned percussion and a full set of diatonic Marimbas commissioned by the P & C. Students use their understanding of pitch, rhythm, dynamics, texture, timbre and form to collaborate ad make creative choices when writing songs, composing music, performing and discussing the music they hear, perform and compose. Units run for a Semester and formal assessment tasks contribute to their Semester Academic Report.
Instrumental Music Band Program
The Queensland State Schools Instrumental Music Program is a unique ensemble and tuition program in which students learn band instruments. Only Concert Band, not Strings, is available at Eight Mile Plains. The Band Program provides an extra dimension to a school classroom music program- the opportunity for musical development of students through instrumental instruction on a group basis and ensemble experience so that students develop ensemble performance skills as an integral part of their music education. Instruments available are Flute, Clarinet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Baritone and Euphonium, Trombone, Trumpet and Percussion.
All instrumental music students are required to attend a group lesson during school time, and, when musically ready, an ensemble rehearsal in the Concert Band each week, before school. Recruitment begins in Year 3, with prospective students assessed and ranked on a range of learner, family and musical attributes, beginning tuition in Year 4. Ten to twelve beginner places are available each year with the aim of a balanced range of instruments in the band. Instruments can be loaned for up to 3 years at an additional cost of $65 on top of the Resource Fee of $35.
Eight Mile Plains is allocated a qualified instructor for two hours a week plus the morning rehearsal time, to teach up to 25 students.