Instrumental Music
Education Queensland's
Instrumental Music program was established by the Department of Education in Queensland state schools in 1971. The Instrumental Music program is a comprehensive tuition program in which students learn orchestral or band instruments. It provides an extra dimension to a school music program ensuring that educational outcomes are maximised for all students taking full account of individual circumstances such as their location, gender, socioeconomic situation, language, cultural background, and any impairment or special talents they may have. It provides 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.
Curriculum and policy
Instrumental teachers implement the department's
Instrumental Music curriculum (PDF, 476KB). The curriculum organises content for each instrument into 10 levels in the 3 dimensions of literacy, technique and performance.
The
Instrumental program policy information is available on the Education website.
Student recruitment and selection
Instrumental Music programs in schools should select students according to the needs of an ensemble based program. Schools should ensure that instrumentation is appropriately balanced. Schools may add their own resources to accommodate students learning more than one instrument if this is necessary for the balance of the program.
Schools are required to manage recruitment for the Instrumental program. The program should be balanced with instrumentation appropriate for a symphonic ensemble program. Students are selected for the Instrumental Music program so that they have the best opportunity to succeed on an instrument.
Factors for selection include:
- spaces available in the program
- instrumentation necessary for balanced ensembles
- likely success for the student on the instrument
- best match of instrument to the student
- musical aptitude
- student's work habits, and behaviour
- impact on academic success.
The final decision on enrolment into the Instrumental program is made by the principal.
Reporting
Schools implement (teach, assess and report on) the Queensland Instrumental Music curriculum. Instrumental Music is included on One School reports.
Classroom Music
Learning Music in Prep to Year 6
Music has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich all students, exciting the imagination and encouraging students to reach their creative and expressive potential. Participation in music learning allow students to express and share sound as listeners, composers and performers.
All Queensland state school students are provided the
Australian Curriculum: The Arts in Prep to Year 6. Music is one of the 5 Arts subjects that is to be provided. Schools consider their access to resources when determining how Music is provided.
Learning Music in Years 7 to 10
In Years 7–8 schools determine how they will provide the
Australian Curriculum: Music across the band of years and in Years 9 and 10 school provide the Australian Curriculum: Music as an elective for students to choose.
Further information about providing Music in Prep to Year 10 is found in the
P–12 curriculum, assessment and reporting framework and supporting documents.
Learning Music in Years 11 and 12
In the senior years students may study the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA)
General Music Senior Syllabus or the
Music in Practice Applied Senior Syllabus.
Students studying the Music General Senior Syllabus also have the option of studying one of the 3 general Music Extension subjects available on the QCAA website:
Students may also undertake
Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications in music, and music
Recognised studies.