The Manly West Band program is available to all students from Years 3 -6. Our bands perform at school assemblies, external events and also enter a number of competitions each year.  

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Our bands are  highly regarded and are regularly win gold at competitions

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There's also the annual band camp to attend too.

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How do I join?

Band membership is open to any interested student in Years 3–6.  No prior musical experience is needed to join the Training Band.

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Our band program leaders

The School community is very fortunate to have Penny Coucill B.Mus.Ed as our Band Director.  Penny has been with Manly West since 2004, and has led our bands to a proud record of achievement in competitions and local performances, as well as providing our students with wonderful opportunities for individual development.

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Our bands

We have four bands at Manly West:

• Training Band (mainly year 3 students)

• Intermediate Band (mainly year 4 students)

• Concert Band (a mix of some Year 4 and 5 students)

• Performance Band (a mix of some Year 5 and Year 6 students)

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Progress through the bands is by audition in late November/early December each year.  New students to the school are invited to audition at any time.

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Instruments played include:

• Clarinet

• Bass clarinet

• Flute

• Percussion

• Piccolo

• Trumpet

• Trombone

• Alto saxophone

• Tenor saxophone

• Euphonium

• Bass guitar

• French horn

• Keyboard

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Instrument Selection

In late November, Year 2 students wanting to join the Training Band in the following year will try out various instruments (a ‘blow test’) and put forward their first preferences.  

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Do I need my own instrument?

Training Band members and some larger instrument players from higher bands, will hire an instrument through the School. 

 

Beyond Training Band, most band members will need to buy their own instrument, new or second hand.

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The Commitment - lessons and more. . .

Each week:

• 2 full band rehearsals (one morning and one afternoon)

• a sectional tutorial (not for Training Band)

• a half-hour private lesson/week

 

Through the year there are performances within and outside the School, annual band competitions and Band Camp.  All Band members must attend the band competitions and Band Camp.

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Private tuition 

Private lessons are organised outside school hours and paid for independently.  The Band Coordinator has a list of tutors hold lessons at school before and after school hours.

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Band Rehearsal schedule

Morning Session - 8:00am

Monday         Concert

Tuesday          Intermediate

Wednesday   Training

Thursday        Performance

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Afternoon Session - 3:30pm

Monday         Training

Tuesday         Performance

Wednesday   Intermediate

Thursday       Concert

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Sectional Tutorials

All members of Intermediate, Concert and Performance Bands attend a weekly half hour tutorial for their section (eg. trumpets, percussion) in addition to full band rehearsals.  Details are sent via email.

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Band Camp

All band members attend a two-day musical camp at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation at Narrabeen in Term 2. The camp is the highlight of the school year for many. Training Band members only attend one day of the camp.  Other band members stay overnight.

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Band Fees

Band participation is an extra-curricular activity and as such is not funded by the school or the NSW Department of Education.

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Band fees directly cover the costs of paying the Band Director and the sectional tutors.  They also cover competition entry fees and music charts (sheet music). 

 

Band fees are issued on a Semester basis which means that the fees cover 2 terms. 

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Band Uniform

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• White long-sleeved shirt

• Long black pants (no jeans, track pants or jazz pants)

• Blue Manly West Band tie

• Black socks

• Royal blue hair ribbons

 

The band uniform is available through the Manly West Uniform Shop.  Manly West library bags are recommended for carrying music books and folders.

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Band Performances

Every year Manly West bands perform at events such as the Yamaha Band Festival, NSW School Band Festival, the Northern Beaches Instrumental Festival and the local Battle of the Bands. Before Christmas, two of bands perform for the children at the Arranounbai School at Frenchs Forest.  Manly West Performance Band has also been selected to play at the Opera House as part of the Department of Education and Communities’ State-wide combined schools music festivals.

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For more information, please contact:

Alison Gracia

Band Coodinator

phone: 0407 951 465

email: band@manlywestpandc.org.au

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