What guitar tuition options are available at St Mark's and St John XXIII?
- Individual lessons (K-12) charged at a rate of $50 per half hour lesson including GST
- Small group lessons (years 3-6) charged at a rate of $200 per term including GST
- Guitar ensemble (years 3-12) charged at a rate of $12 per one hour rehearsal including GST
When do lessons take place?
Students in K-2 may take individual lessons outside of class time (before school, after school or at lunchtime).
Students in years 3-6 may take individual or small group lessons. There is limited availability for year 4-6 students to attend lessons during class time.
Students in years 7-12 may take individual lessons during class time and these are scheduled on a rotating timetable so students do not miss the same class each week.
Lessons currently take place on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Guitar ensemble takes place on Mondays 3:05-4:05pm.
Where are lessons held?
Lessons are held in a demountable classroom near the primary school entrance.
Can students store their guitar somewhere during the day of their lesson?
High school students are able to leave their guitar at the front office on the day of their lessons. Primary school students take their guitars into their classroom (it is important not to leave the guitar outside as heat causes damage to the instrument).
Do students need to inform their subject teachers when they have a lesson scheduled so they can be excused?
Teachers are aware that students come out of class for lessons, so students just need to let their teacher know they need to leave to attend their lesson.
Which guitar should I buy for my child?
For beginning guitarists, I recommend Valencia brand classical nylon string guitars as these are inexpensive, good quality instruments and are readily available at music stores. Depending on your child's size, a 1/2 or 3/4 size guitar may be more suitable than a full-size instrument.
How can I import lesson times to my calendar or my child's calendar (iPhone, iPad, Google calendar, Outlook)?
When you log in to the student portal, scroll down to ‘upcoming events’ and click ‘view all’. In the top right-hand corner is ‘setup sync’ with a pair of purple arrows in a circle. Click on this and select which calendar you want to sync to.
How can I support my child's home practice?
- Take an interest in your child’s practice. Ask them to play you what they worked on in their lesson this week.
- Encourage your child to keep a record of his or her practice on the student portal (naomicooper.mymusicstaff.com). Some children are really motivated by visual, quantifiable accounts of their work.
- It is better for children to start their musical studies with a small amount of practice on a regular basis. Young children should start with 10 minutes per day. Short practice sessions most days are much more effective than a long practice session once a week.
- Have a set time for practice (e.g. in the morning before school, straight after getting home in the afternoon, after dinner etc.) If this becomes a routine, children will be able to remember when to do their practice. Children may need you to remind them until it becomes a habit; they need your guidance to establish a practice routine.
- Very young children cannot be expected to practice properly on their own. They require supervision from a parent.
- Find a place in the house for your child to practice. It is best if this is a quiet area set up with a chair, music stand and footstool.
- Your child should know what they need to practice but you can always refer to the lesson notes on the online portal if they are unsure.
- Reward your child after practice sessions. This may be as simple as a high-five or a hug.