Assessment Day Schedule - Friday 30 January

ACTION - RSVP REQUIRED - Please see below Strings students - please direct enquiries to bhpsstrings@gmail.com

Dear Parents/Carers
 
Assessments for our continuing band students (woodwind, brass, keyboard, bass and percussion) will be held on Friday 30 January in the Hall.
 
Around 70 children are being assessed on this day - it's busy day so we ask for your cooperation with observing the timing in the schedule so wait times are kept to a minimum. The schedule ensures that each child is given adequate time for their assessment.  We appreciate your cooperation and patience.

​Please note that siblings are welcome to their assessment at the same time if that is convenient for you.
 
Assessment Criteria
If you have misplaced the criteria or need a reminder, you can find the assessment criteria here - assessment criteria.  Other factors such as feedback from tutors, attendance at rehearsals/camps/performances, commitment to team and behaviour expectations as set out in the BHPS PBEL will also be taken into account.
 
Assessment Process - what happens on the day?  It is a very informal and relaxed.
Band Music Director, Mr Ray Hampton and Senior Band Conductor, Mrs Emma Clain, will carry out the assessments with each student. The assessments are very informal and relaxed and take around 5 minutes to complete in most cases. Students will be greeted and assisted with their warm up and supervised until they are collected by parents. Please plan to leave your child at the assessment and collect them later.
  
Assessment Times
Students/sections have been allocated a time frame, please find the schedule below. It is important that the students attend at their allocated timeslot to help the process run smoothly for all involved. We would prefer that students attend at their allocated time, however there is some flexibility if we know prior to assessment day. Please let us know via the assessment RSVP form.  Siblings may attend together so it is more convenient for the parents.
 
Students will be placed in the next spot in the queue as they arrive.  A message will be posted on the What's App group if assessments are running more than 45 minutes late or if we are running earlier.
 
If you have any questions about the assessment process please e-mail bhpsconcertband@optusnet.com.au.

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Returning to Band

At this time of year, some children are unsure if they want to re-join band as they are enjoying having a break from routine during the holidays. We hope all students are keen to come back to band however if your child isn't sure if they want to join band this year, please encourage your child to come along to assessments where they will see other students re-joining band and they can chat to the band conductors about their concerns.  

Please note: if your child has successfully auditioned for Arts Alive Concert Band, Arts Unit Ensembles or NSSWE ensembles or other external enesmbles, is a requirement of those ensembles that the students are also members of their school band.
 
RSVP REQUIRED PLEASE - access the online RSVP form here
Your RSVP will help us to manage the flow of students on assessment day therefore we need to know numbers. Thank you.
Please RSVP so we know you have read and understood this email and we can confirm numbers of students attending the assessments.  Use this form to let us know the following:
 
- Your child is attending the assessment
- Your child is in Arabanoo on and Arabanoo excursion - these students will be schedule prior to the excursion departure.
- You need to arrange another time on the assessment day
- Your child is leaving the school/band
- Anything else you would like to raise or we need to know/consider

We can be flexible with the audition time however we are also required to manage numbers in the Hall so would appreciate your cooperation with following the schedule.  If you need another time please indicate it on the RSVP form (link below).  Thank you.

Assessment Schedule - Friday 30 January.  Please read the schedule carefully noting your allocated time.  RSVP please
Times may be adjusted once RSVPS are received.

* Year is the school year the child is going into in 2026.

8.00am - Year 6 2026  students - all instruments (flute, French Horn, Tenor Sax, Trombone, percussion)
8.30am - Year 4 - clarinets, flutes and oboe
9.30am - Year 5 - clarinets and  flutes
10.30am -  Year 4 and 5 - Saxophones and French Horn
11.00am -  Year 4 and 5 - Trumpets
12.00pm - Year 4 and 5 - Trombones and Euphoniums
1.00pm - Lunch break
1.45pm - Year 4, 5 & 6 Percussion, keyboard and bass
2.15pm - New Students to BHPS including OC students.

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REMINDER - Please confirm your attendance at the assessment - RSVP via the online form.
 
What to bring
- Instrument
- Essential Elements (if you have it) for students trying out for Senior Band. Junior Band 2024 students will have Essential Elements book.
- A piece of music your child is comfortable playing - it could be a piece your child has been working on with their tutor.
- A quiet activity such as a book to read or colouring in etc
- Drink bottle
- 2025 Band members - please bring your music folder to return music if you haven't done so already.
 
Contact on the day: Caroline Fechner 0403 579 130. Please message/text.
  

Notification of Band Placement

Plan is to notify everyone of their band placement by Monday 10 February.  Your patience is appreciated.

Every student will be placed in a band.  You will be notified (via e-mail) letting you know which band your child will be a member of this year. Please be patient with this process as we like to make sure we get it right and ensure that the majority of students have been assessed prior to notification.

Rehearsals Start Dates - First Rehearsals for 2026

Concert Band - Thursday 5 February lunchtime and then Tuesday 10 February 7.45am

Senior Band - Friday 6 February 7.45am and then Wednesday 11 February 7.45am

Junior Band - Thursday 5 February - 3.05pm - 4.00pm. Then Wednesday 11 February at lunchtime

 
Questions?  

Please contact us on bhpsconcertband@optusnet.com.au to get in touch.  Please allow a few days for a response.

In the meantime please encourage your child to play their instrument for 10 minutes a few times between now and the assessments to ensure they maintain their technique and feel prepared for the assessments.

We are looking forward to working with the band students this year.

Enjoy the last few days of your holiday break.