Creative Arts
Music
The music program at Balgowlah Boys Campus ranges from years 7-12 with elective music beginning in Year 9. All aspects of music are studied and catered for although there is predominantly a focus on contemporary music and music technology.
Years 7/8 is a non-elective subject, but is a very practically based course with all students studying drums, guitar, keyboard and vocals, in conjunction with the principles and instruments of sound and music, and the basic maintenance and repair of everyday musical/stereo/audio equipment.
For those students who elect to continue with music through years 9-10 and 11-12, they are expected to have chosen one principal instrument of study with a private instrumental tutor and in class will have topics of study which include:
Music in Advertising
Stage sound and lighting – set up and operation
Rock and Popular music
The History of Western Art Music
Jazz
Music of other Cultures
Music in Film
Audio Engineering – studio set-up and recording techniques
Bands
Continuing with the contemporary music focus there are currently 10 bands regularly rehearsing each week. These include:
Year 7 Rock band
Year 8 Rock band
Year 9 Punk band
Island Pride – Reggae/Ska
The Committed Brothers – Blues Brothers/Commitments style band
Illegal Airplay – Punk/hard rock
Jazz 1
Jazz 2
The Real Covers Band – popular contemporary covers
Unplugged – acoustic cover band
These bands will be featured on a Bally compilation CD, recorded and produced by students in our own digital recording studio later this year.
Instrumental Tuition
Balgowlah Boys has a strong instrumental tuition program that has been successfully running for many years. Several professional musicians come into the school each week and tutor students privately during school time in our rehearsal facilities. Tuition and hire of the following instruments is available to all students:
Guitar
Drums
Bass Guitar
Saxophone
Brass – trumpet/trombone
Keyboard/piano
Vocal
Facilities
Keyboard Lab/Rehearsal Room – 20 keyboards, some with computer/midi capabilities for composition and a full band rehearsal
Theory Room – general music discussions and theory work set-up.
Guitar Lab – 20 acoustic guitars and semi-acoustic guitar and bass
Studio – Complete digital recording studio with main rehearsal room, isolation booth and engineering booth that uses “PRO TOOLS” (industry standard recording software)
