West Ryde Public School Music : Band Programme

Training Band for 2019

Registration is open for the Training Band try-out. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65GL7BT

At the try-out, instrument tutors will let the children try different instrument types, and then recommend the best instrument for each child.

Registration is due by Wednesday 14th November. The try-out will be held at 9am in the school hall on Friday 16th November.

Band and Wind Ensemble Information

The band and wind ensemble is generally open to children learning various wind instruments (Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Clarinet and Flute) or percussion. At times there is also the possibility for other instruments to join, and in the past we have included a piano player, guitar, cello and violin.

During each year, we have various band and wind ensemble groups, depending on numbers and skill level.

Each child takes individual lessons with music tutors - either at the school or outside of school hours.

The school does not currently have a hire program for brass and woodwind instruments, but we can suggest some music shops that hire or sell instruments. From time to time the school obtains instruments for hire - currently there is one trumpet and one flute available. If you have a suitable instrument that the school could use, please let us know!

If you are interested in the band programme, or finding out more information about instrument hire/purchase and tuition, please contact the orchestra committee on wrpsorchestra@gmail.com.

2018 Training Band

In Term 2, the new training band formed, and now in Term 4, they graduated to join the senior band!

Photo of the training band at their "graduation concert" for parents.

2018 North Shore Primary School Band Festival

On Sunday 10th September, the WRPS Senior Band played in the North Shore Primary School Concert Band Festival.

The odds were stacked against them. They were up against schools that have huge band programmes - with more than 40 members each! Compared to that, WRPS had only 8. The other schools had participated in many of these events, but this was a first for all the members of our band, and the first for a WRPS band (in recent times).

But despite these challenges, the band rose to the occasion and played the best they have ever played! Comments from the judges included :

“This is an intimate sized group. That means we don't have any passengers. When we have one or two per part, everybody is exposed. You can even hear everybody breathe!”

“You have displayed enormous courage. You have done a remarkable job today. Full credit to each and everyone one of you.”

Well done Eric, Alex, Fiona, Ivy, Aanshi, Sean, Colin and Jake, and a big thank you to their conductor Michael Slater!

2017 Photos

In Term 4, the beginner band joined the senior and year 6 band members to form the combined WRPS band.

In Term 2, our new beginner band started:

For half the year, there was a special year 6 band formed, focusing mainly on jazz.

2016 Photos

2016 Wind (and Jazz) Ensemble

In 2016, the wind ensemble rehearsed at school from 8:00am to 8:45am on Tuesday mornings, and had grown to include piano, guitar, violin and cello players. Some members of this group are also members of the school orchestra.