Classroom Music
We have two classroom Music teachers at Mansfield State School. All students attend one 30-minute lesson per week. Students from P-6 participate in moving, playing and singing to music. Learning opportunities include learning how to make music (composing and performing) and responding to their own and others’ music. Instruments are used to enhance and compliment their learning experiences. The focus instruments are:
Prep: Tuned and Untuned Percussion
Year 1-2: Xylophones
Year 3-4: Recorders
Year 5-6: Ukuleles
School Choirs
Students in Years 1-6 are encouraged to be part of the Choral Program.
Students participating in the Choral Program will learn the skills of vocal control and expression, performance discipline, the responsibility for memorising their part and being a team member. Once students sign up for choir, they are expected to honour their commitment to the group for the whole year. All choir groups perform at school and community events throughout the year.
The Choirs at Mansfield are as follows:
- One-Ders (Year 1 Choir)
- Junior Choir (Years 2-3)
- Senior Choir (Years 4-6)
Students in the Senior Choir are expected to purchase and wear the formal music uniform for their performances (see Instrumental Music Policy Handbook for details). The purchasing of the performance uniform is arranged through the Uniform Shop.
Students in the One-Ders and Junior Choir dress in their formal school uniform for all performances.
The Arts
Students in Prep – Year 4 participate in Dance and Drama with a specialist teacher. These lessons are for 1 hour a week and cover both subject areas in a semester. Depending on the year level, students will have a 13-week Dance or Drama unit which is the assessed subject for the semester. In the remaining 7 weeks of the semester, students will have learning and experiences in the other subject, but will not be formally assessed.
Example Semesters:
Semester 1 - Year 1 & Year 3 – 13 Week Dance Unit, 7 week Drama unit.
Semester 2 – Year 2 & Year 4 – 13 Week Drama Unit, 7 week Dance unit.
Prep units are based on terms, one term for Dance and one term for Drama. The Drama unit is the only assessed subject for Prep students.
Dance Troupe
The Dance Troupe consists of a senior dance group with Year 6 students who meet to learn a routine during a lunch time break with the Dance and Drama teacher.
Instrumental Music
Mansfield State School has a large instrumental music program including three string orchestras, two concert bands, a stage band, a percussion ensemble and other small ensembles.
Students in the Instrumental Music program will have two sessions with an Instrumental Music teacher each week. Once in a small group lesson, and then in an ensemble rehearsal.
All Mansfield Sate School Instrumental Music members wear a performance uniform which has been developed and endorsed by the Music Support Group and the P&C Association. All students are required to wear this uniform at performances and the music shirt is available for purchase at the uniform shop. Students must wear black shoes and black socks with the uniform. Long hair is required to be tied back and tied with a maroon ribbon, also available from the uniform shop.
All music groups perform twice a year at Music Extravaganzas as well as other events in the wider school community. Students have the opportunity to participate in district workshops, combining with other schools and teachers in the area.
Please refer to the Instrumental Music Policy Handbook, for further information on how the program runs and costs involved.