Music is an engaging, practical subject in which knowledge and understanding is developed through singing, listening, moving, playing instruments, creating, practising, performing, reflecting and responding. All students from Prep to Year 6 participate in weekly class music lessons delivered by a specialist music teacher.
In addition to the overarching aims of the Australian Curriculum: The Arts, students develop music knowledge, understanding and skills. We also ensure that, individually and collaboratively, students develop:
- the confidence to be creative, innovative, thoughtful, skilful and informed musicians
- skills to compose, perform, improvise, respond and listen with intent and purpose
- aesthetic knowledge and respect for music and music practices across global communities, cultures and musical traditions
- an understanding of music as an aural art form as they acquire skills to become independent music learners.
Students from Prep to Year 2 develop their understanding of music concepts through a variety of singing and movement games, which also enhance children’s social and emotional development. P-2 students are also introduced to basic music notation using tuned and untuned percussion instruments.
Students in Years 3 and 4 further develop the skills of reading and writing music staff notation through learning the recorder and exploring composition.
Students in Year 5 and 6 continue to develop their musical skills through learning the fundamentals of ukulele.
Additionally, students from Years 1 to 6 have the opportunity to participate in our school choir, which performs regularly at assemblies and special school and community events throughout the year such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.
Instrumental music
The Instrumental Music program at Mapleton State School is a vibrant and comprehensive Concert Band based tuition program. It follows the Education Queensland Instrumental Music curriculum guidelines. The instructor is an experienced qualified music teacher and is an employee of Education Queensland. Tuition is offered from Year 4.
Mapleton School runs a Concert Band music program and tuition is delivered in group classes.
The instruments taught include: flute, clarinet, saxophone, bass clarinet, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tenor horn, tuba and percussion.
Weekly instruction includes one 30 minute small group lesson and one Concert Band rehearsal which takes place at 8:00am on a Monday morning. Beginning students are invited to join the concert band in term three, or earlier if they are considered ready.
There is no charge for instrumental music lessons and rehearsals. There is however, a yearly Instrumental Music student resource scheme charged to support equipment replacement and servicing costs for larger instruments, as well as the purchase of music including concert band scores and tuition books.
Mapleton School also has a range of good quality musical instruments, which are available for loan for the first year of tuition. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase their own instruments after the first 12 months of instruction if they wish to continue in the program. Larger and more expensive instruments can be borrowed for the duration of the individual student’s time at the school. The use of a school instrument attracts an extra music resource cost, as these instruments need to be serviced and maintained each year.
Our school concert band performs for school parades and for special events. We participate in the bi-annual Fanfare competition where possible and appropriate. Our more advanced students have participated in the Regional Advanced Music Camp and many of our students also are members of the Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra program.
