Newington College has a very strong instrumental music program at Lindfield.

The String program is run in Years 2 and 3. The choice of instruments are violin, viola, cello and double bass. These are the instruments found in an orchestra. The boys try all the instruments before making a choice. The insstruments they choose in Year 2 they then continue with in Year 3. In Year 2 they learn in small groups to consolidate the skills that they need to play their chosen instrument. In Year 3 the boys play as a group, starting to learn to play more ensemble pieces. Those boys who have private lessons also eventually are invited to play in the School String Ensemble.

In Years 4 and 5 the boys play Wind instruments. At the beginning of Year 4 all the boys try a flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, euphonium, and trombone. Some of these instruments take a while to conquer – the flute in particular can take a few weeks to get out a good sound. Training the mouth and in particular the muscles around the mouth needs constant work. Lots of little practices work best at the start.

Again at, beginning of Year 4, the boys are divided into instrument groups to learn particular skills. As the year progresses the boys are combined to form a Junior Band.

In Year 5, the new boys who come to Newington and have not already learnt an instrument are given the opportunity to choose an instrument. They are then given help in learning the basic skills. The boys who have been learning, as part of the Year 4 program and those who have been learning before they came to Newington, create a Year 5 Band.

These programs are the basis for our School Ensembles, not just in the Prep School but also as the boys move into the senior school.

Vanessa South – Music Teacher