Tuition Procedures
Lesson Times
Students come out of regular classes to attend their lessons, for either 30, 45 or 60 minutes. The lesson will be rotated through a different time each week so that students do not repeatedly miss the same class. The only exceptions to this are:
- students with a diagnosed learning difficulty, who have an individual education plan which stipulates a fixed lesson time requirement
- students in Year 12 studying in the ATAR or IB Diploma pathway, who will be allocated a fixed lesson time during a scheduled study period or outside of regular class time
Music lesson times are set and published well in advance. We expect that all boys (and parents, for Junior School students) will monitor their timetables (available through SEQTA Learn or SEQTA Engage) and be prepared for lessons accordingly. Changes to lesson times may be requested by students in advance, in the following cases:
- when a lesson time clashes with an academic course assessment
- when a student is off campus as a College representative at a sanctioned event
Note: changes must be requested no later than one week (seven days) in advance. Note that changes are requests only and may or may not be approved.
To request a lesson time change, students (or parents) must email the Administration Assistant for Music & Events.
Attendance
It is vital to every student’s ongoing progress and development in music that they attend lessons as scheduled. Boys in Year 5 and above are encouraged to make their own way to their lesson to make the most of their allocated time. Failure to do so will result in lost lesson time. Parents will be informed if their son has repeatedly not attended scheduled music lessons or ensemble rehearsals.
Music Tuition OneNote | Music Tuition Journal
For boys in Years 4 through 12
The College uses OneNote to provide the usual functionality of a Music Practice Journal. All boys have access to their Music Tuition OneNote pages through their school issued device, whether that be a MacBook or iPad.
The Music Tuition OneNote provides boys with
- all of their music tuition curriculum documentation
- resources provided by the tutor, including PDF’s, recordings and web links to essential content
- an electronic space to record their practise and progress and reflections on this
- a space to record audio and video of practise for feedback from their tutor
For boys in Years PreK to 3
As boys of these age groups are too young to access the functionality of OneNote and because at these ages the primary communication for music tuition related learning is through parents, the College will provide each boy with a Music Practise Journal.
The Music Practice Journal is
- a primary communication tool between parent and music tutor
- a daily visual record of their practise habits
- a written record of practice and work requirements made clear to the parents or guardians
- a space where boys can be reflective and evaluate their own progress through providing written or pictorial representations of their development
Notification of Absence
As much as possible, we try our best to ensure boys receive regular music lessons, on a weekly basis throughout the academic year.
In the first instance, parents or boys must direct all communications concerning planned or unplanned absence to their Music Tutor, a minimum of seven days in advance, as timetable adjustments may be possible to accommodate the absence. Absence notified less than seven days in advance is not guaranteed to be catered for.
Unfortunately, the College is unable to provide credit or rescheduled lessons in the following circumstances:
- when the student is absent due to short term unforeseen illness
- when the student does not attend their lesson because they did not notify their tutor of a planned absence (due to a test or assessment)
- when the student chooses to attend an optional activity as opposed to their scheduled music lesson
- when a student misses their lesson because they forgot about it
Where a student sustains a long term injury, parents must make contact with the Administration Assistant for Music & Events. who will advise on an appropriate course of action for music tuition. This may involve the student continuing to participate through aural and theory tuition, or alternatively holding their place in the programme with no lessons scheduled while recovering.
Withdrawal from Music Tuition
- To conclude lessons at the end of 2023: by 4.00pm – Friday 10 November
- To conclude lessons at the end of Summer term 2024: by 4.00pm – Monday 5 February
- To conclude lessons at the end of Autumn term 2024: by 4.00pm – Monday 29 April
- To conclude lessons at the end of Winter term 2024: by 4.00pm – Monday 29 July
- To conclude lessons at the end of 2024: by 4.00pm – Friday 8 November
It’s important to note that there are no other withdrawal points during the year. In default of withdrawal notification being submitted, a full term’s fees will be charged.