Music Time School

Welcome to Music Time School

Hello and welcome to Music Time School, Dandenong. this is just a brief introduction to the Music School.

When you enrol at Music Time School, you are charged a one-off $30.00 enrollment fee (per family). $25.00 of this fee is a bond. The payment of this bond guarantees the same time slot and studio each week. It acts as a holding deposit and is fully refundable once lessons have been terminated with the required 4 weeks minimum notice of cancellation being given. The remaining $5.00 of the enrollment fee covers administration costs.

Accounts are given to students every ten weeks to cover lessons for the next term of lessons. Payment is always required in advance of each term commencing, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed upon. The school does have the right to cancel lessons if term fees have not been received by the fourth week of the term. Should students have difficulty with payments under this policy, they should discuss the problem with the Principal where alternative arrangements may be made to assist.

It is the strict policy of Music Time School that all missed lessons with no sufficient prior notification are automatically forfeited. Lessons missed through illness (with presentation of a medical certificate) will be credited or made-up. Lessons missed for School Educational Camps will also be made up (proof of camp via school newsletter or school letter will be required). In extraordinary circumstances and at the discretion of the Principal, lessons missed for other extenuating circumstances may possibly be made-up again only if sufficient notice has been received.

Students may be asked by their teacher to purchase music from time to time. This music can be purchased through the school at retail prices. Similarly, the school has a range of music accessories available for purchase. Such items include metronomes, drum sticks, guitar strings, reeds, etc.

Music Time School does not close for Education Department School Holidays except for the Christmas Break (approximately 5 weeks). Lessons missed will be forefeited.

The school does close on Public Holidays and lessons scheduled on these days will be made up.

Music Time School is a recommended examination centre for the Australian Music Examination Board (A.M.E.B.), the Australian Guild of Music and Speech (A.G.M.S.) and the Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts (A.N.Z.C.A.). Students may be recommended to sit a music exam with one of these examination bodies. Examinations are certainly not compulsory and the decision to enter into an examination is entirely up to the student in consulation with the teacher and if necessary the parents of the student. Piano and keyboard examinations are generally held at Music Time School with students sitting examinations in other instruments examined externally.

Mini-concerts are held at Music Time School every second month usually on a Saturday afternoon commencing at 2:30 pm. Again, concerts are not compulsory but are a great opportunity for students to perform in a very informal setting to parents, family and friends.

Many local areas and municipalities (including Dandenong) run Music and Arts Eistedfords or festivals. These are again a terrific opportunity for students of all ages to experience performing to an audience. Performances in these festivals are judged and critiqued with a performance score given. Prizes are then awarded in each category for high achievements.

As well as practical music lessons, students may wish to commence Music Theory lessons with the opportunity to sit for Music Theory Examinations. Music Theroy gives students a grounding of the writing and theoretical aspect to assist them in their music reading and ultimately their music playing. Group Music theory classes are run at Music Time for students studying Music Theory Grade Two and above. Students who wish to attempt practical examinations in Grade Five must have at least achieved Music Theory Grade Three, students who wish to attempt practical examinations in Grade Six must have at least achieved Music Theory Grade Four and so on.

A new facility now offered at the school is Music Aural and Musicianship training via computer software. We have a computer terminal set-up and available for students for this purpose. The programs offer students the opportunity to test themselves and to record their individual scores. Aural training is again a necessity for students undertaking practical examinations. But whether a student is taking an examination or not these computer programs are a great deal of fun and a great way to learn this very important aspect of music.

We hope that you enjoy your time with us and remember that learning a musical instrument is like learning a new language, it may seem difficult and unattainable at first but with a little persistance, patience and positive attidue in time you will begin to see the results.