Instrumental Music.

Internationally renowned music program.

The Music Program at Eltham High School is internationally renowned for its excellence and is recognised as one of the finest school Instrumental Music programs in Australia.

The program provides Instrumental lessons for all orchestral instruments: Strings, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion. Our Ensemble Program includes four Wind Ensembles, three String Ensembles, three Big Bands, a choir, and various chamber ensembles, giving our students the opportunity to be involved in a variety of musical experiences.

The Instrumental Music Program provides expert instruction in a wide variety of instruments, as well as outstanding opportunities for skill development in an extensive ensemble program. Every student has a weekly instrumental lesson and is involved in at least one core ensemble. The Instrumental Music Program is a very important part of the school curriculum and is considered an integral part of a student’s educational development.

The students are provided with Classroom Music lessons as part of their school curriculum. Music theory, song writing, arranging, composition, technology, and solo performance make up the various components of the curriculum that is taught from years 7-12.

Each year approximately 120 Year 7 students have the opportunity to learn an Orchestral Instrument for the first time in their schooling lives. The vast array of instruments that the students can choose from is unique to Eltham High School, as we pride ourselves on providing these opportunities for students in our community.

Instruments Available:

Woodwind Instruments: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, and Tenor Saxophone.
Brass Instruments: Trumpet, French Horn, Euphonium, Trombone, and Tuba.
Percussion: Orchestral Mallet Percussion and Snare Drum
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass.

Being a member of the Instrumental Music Program involves:

Learning a woodwind, brass, percussion, or string instrument
Playing in one of our ‘core ensembles’

Our ensemble program is based on choosing repertoire that provides our students with the opportunity to study a balance of works that are core masterworks, and the best repertoire produced by current day composers. With this repertoire at the core of our curriculum, it allows us to develop the associated musical concepts required to continually improve as individuals and as an ensemble.

Each year Eltham High School commissions various composers to write for our ensembles to help add to the depth of Australian repertoire. The thought-provoking themes of the repertoire that these gifted composers have provided our ensembles ensure that their musical journey is rich and connected to the young musicians’ lives.

To find out more about the instruments and ensembles involved in our Instrumental Music Program, please go to this YouTube playlist where you will find many recordings of our annual concerts: Eltham High School Music Department YouTube Channel

Core Ensembles: Training Band

Training Strings

Wind Ensemble

String Orchestra

Concert Band

Chamber Strings

Symphonic Band
Additional Ensembles: Choir

Stage Band

Jazz Band

Big Band

Extra-Curricular Activities.

Music Camp

Every year each core ensemble attends its own two day music camp in Healesville allows the students to be able to spend time working in specialist instrumental sections and ensemble rehearsals with some of the best guest conductors and tutors from around Australia and overseas.

Ensemble Tours

Our ensembles participate in regular regional, interstate, and overseas tours. Previous destinations include the United States of America, China, Japan, Sydney, Queensland, Adelaide, Hobart, and various Victorian regional towns.

Eltham High School Symphonic Band

Over many years the Eltham High School Symphonic Band has built a prestigious reputation both locally and internationally. Highlights include performing at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago in 1997 and presenting two Education Clinics in 2014.

In 2014 they toured the USA. As part of this tour they had the opportunity to work with some great composers, conductors, and educators; including Prof. Mark Camphouse, Dr. Dennis Layendecker, Michael Markowski, Dr. Noa Kageyama, Jeff W. Ball, and Maria Schneider, and performed in concerts with the United States Air Force Band and the Brooklyn Wind Symphony. The Band also presented at the Midwest Clinic assisting Dr. Ingrid Martin and Jodie Blackshaw with their repertoire and education clinics.

In December 2017 they toured Japan. As part of this tour they had the opportunity to work with some great ensembles, composers, and educators; including members of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, The Osaka University of Music, Shinonoi High School, Hirokazu Fukushima, and Mr Manabu Inoue.

The Symphonic Band has been fortunate to work with many great Conductors and Composers over the years, including Frank Ticheli, Prof. Mark Camphouse, Dr. John Lynch, Dr. Steven Davis, Dr. Stephen Peterson, Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams, and Dr. Dale Lonis just to name a few.