BAND NEWS

Band parents, in addition to email communications, we encourage you to regularly check Newsflash for upcoming events and important band updates. We will publish advance dates as soon as we know them to help you plan the year!

2021 Calendar Dates:

More detailed communications will be sent out about these events in the coming weeks once details have been confirmed.  

Easter Band Breakfast – Parents we need your Help!

With the Easter Band breakfast just around the corner, we need some parent volunteers to help organise this event.

We need a parent volunteer to be our Easter Band Breakfast Coordinator. If you are interested in volunteering, please email band@artarmonpandc.org.au as soon as possible.

Band Rehearsals

This week, due to some year 6 students attending OC exams, there will be a combined Concert Band and Senior Concert Band rehearsal on Thursday (11^th March) during lunchtime (12.50 – 1.40pm).

If your child is sick and/or unable to attend a rehearsal, please notify your Band Coordinator.

Following is a list of all Band & Orchestra rehearsal times:

• Training Band: Fridays 8am to 8.50am
• Junior Concert Band: Mondays 12.50pm to 1.40pm & Thursdays 8am to 8.50am
• Concert Band: Mondays 8am to 8.50am & Thursdays 12.50pm to 1.40pm
• Senior Concert Band: Tuesdays 8am to 8.50am & Thursdays 2pm to 2.55pm
• Orchestra: Wednesdays from 8am to 8.50am
• Jazz Band: Thursdays from 3pm to 4pm

All band and orchestra rehearsals are held in the school music room. For rehearsals before school, students should arrive at school promptly at 7.50am so that band rehearsals can start by 8am.

Band Committee – Appointment of Roles

The Band held the AGM and first committee meeting for the year last week via Zoom. Thanks to those parents who were able to attend.

The following band committee roles have been filled for 2021:

A big thank you to all these parents who have volunteered to help with band this year. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

We still need to fill the following volunteer roles to assist with Band in 2021/2022:

• Easter Band Breakfast Coordinator
• Training Band Coordinator
• Orchestra Coordinator
• Festivals Coordinator
• Music Intensive Coordinator(s)
• Music Camp Coordinator(s)
• Music librarian(s)
• Secretary
• Assistant Instrument Coordinator 2021 (Instrument Coordinator 2022)
• Band Co-convenor 2021 (Band Convenor 2022)

By volunteering you will be making a valuable contribution to the running of the Band program and your child(ren) will love to see you get involved.

If you are interested in volunteering for one of these roles or would like more information, please email band@artarmonpandc.org.au attention Serena.

Creative Kids Voucher – Reminder to Apply Now

As you may be aware, the NSW Government will continue to contribute a $100 Creative Kids rebate this year for NSW residents.  It is the same as last year and similar to the Active Kids rebate in that you can claim it against the cost of your child's activities from a registered provider and you can only claim it once from one provider for the year.

The Artarmon P&C is registered as a Creative Kids provider for the band and strings programs. We have set up a form on the Myschoolmusic parent portal for you to provide your Creative Kids voucher number to us.

If you would like to use a Creative Kids voucher to reduce your 2021 band fees by $100, then please follow these 3 steps by 22 March 2021:

• Apply for a voucher for your childon the Service NSW website:  go to https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher. You should do this now.
• As soon as you receive your voucher (it will be emailed to you by Service NSW), log in to the Myschoolmusic parent portal Music Portal Login, answer YES to the question on the Creative Kids form andenter your Creative Kids voucher number  and the other details.
• When you receive an invoice by email from the band treasurer for your ensemble fees and instrument hire,pay $100 less than the total amount on your invoice as soon as you receive it.  Please note that this discount may already be included on the invoice.

If you have more than one child please follow the process for each child individually.

If you have a child who is in both band AND strings, you can only reduce your band OR strings invoice by $100.

Note that instrument tuition fees which are paid direct to your tutor are a separate fee which must be paid in full unless your tutor advises you that they are a Creative Kids provider. In that case you can choose to use the voucher for your tutorial fees instead of (but NOT as well as) your band/strings fees.

Please note that due to the number of children in the band and strings programs, we are unable to process refunds on the band or strings fees if you pay the full amount and decide later to apply for a Creative Kids voucher. You must pay $100 less on your band or strings invoice and tell us your Creative Kids voucher number by Monday 22 Mar 2021. Thank you for your understanding.

If you do not intend to claim the Creative Kids rebate as part of your 2021 band or strings fees (eg. because you are not eligible or have already used it with another provider), then:

• Please pay the full amount of your band or strings invoice as soon as you receive it.
• Log in to the Myschoolmusic parent portal Music Portal Loginand respond NO to the question on the Creative Kids form. You can do this now.

Any questions please email band@artarmonpandc.org.au

Instrument Hire

If you have hired an instrument, this is a reminder to read, complete and return the pink slip asap. Pink slips can be found inside the hired instrument case and should be returned to the Band mailbox near the school main office.

If you have a question regarding instrument hire and maintenance please contact Kirsteen, Instrument Coordinator, at apsbandinstruments@gmail.com

Tutorials:

Small group tutorials and individual in-school tutorials have started.  Parents have been emailed tutorial details (including tutor name, tutorial time, tutorial day and location).

If you have a question regarding your child’s tutorial, please email your Tutor in the first instance. Alternatively, email tutorband@artarmonpandc.org.au.

Important note – All Students participating in the Band program are expected to take lessons (at school or externally) in their band instrument. If you were going to arrange an external music tutor but now need in-school tuition, please email Jane/Rebecca, our Tutor Coordinators.

Parent Portal – Update Class Details

If your child is enrolled in Band, please log into the Parent Music Portal and update your child’s class details asap. This is important information we need for scheduling & communication purposes with the school.  

https://portal.msmusic.com.au/artarmonmusic

THANK YOU!