Broome North Primary School introduced classroom Music to its weekly curriculum in 2021. Students receive 1 hour of Music each week from Ms Hannah Trewartha from Pre-primary to Year 6. Our school quickly discovered the beauty of singing and is proud to boast our school as a singing school. The class curriculum is a well-rounded mix of Kodaly and Orff methodologies. This allows students to build a thorough understanding and practical skills in music playing, composing, and listening.
Students can learn the following instruments at BNPS – Djembe, Ukulele, Bucket Drumming, Hand Percussion and Xylophones.
Each year the program has run, the program has expanded. We now offer Ryu Choir (Years 2 & 3), Senior Choir (Years 4, 5 & 6), and Bucket Drumming (Years 3 & 4) in the lead-up to Shinju and end-of-year concert and is a proud supporter of the IMSS program. Our choirs are involved with multiple community events throughout the year, including NAIDOC week, combined school activities, and performances at local community homes.
Instrumental Music School Services (IMMS)
One of the unique and highly regarded programs for students in public schools is the instrumental music program run in schools through Instrumental Music School Services. With more than 400 primary and secondary public schools across Western Australia, teaching students from Years 3 to 12. Broome North Primary School and Roebuck Primary School joined the IMSS program in 2022, and in 2023 Cable Beach Primary School and Broome Primary School joined the fold.
The program is based on musical aptitude testing taken by all Year 4 students across each school. Places are then offered based on the appropriateness of the student to the instrument.
Lessons are held in small groups weekly and are provided for free by the Department of Education of Western Australia, and instruments are hired for the first year of the program for a minimal fee.
The band is the best part of the program, and we here in Broome are running 2 bands – a Senior and Junior Band. The Brass Band program is guided by 2 highly educated and experienced teachers – Ms Hannah Trewartha and Mr Peter Murnane. Each has a wealth of knowledge of music and brass as they have successfully played in Australia’s A-Grade brass bands.
Our students have the opportunity to develop skills beyond the classroom when they step into the IMSS program. For example, playing a musical instrument engages every part of the brain at once and helps develop perseverance, fine motor skills, executive function, and many other skills.
For further information: https://www.education.wa.edu.au/instrumental-music