The school Band is continually on the lookout for students from Narara Valley High School, and those in Year 6 at Primary School, who are intending to attend Narara Valley High the following year (see Year 6 Transition Program). Students are welcome with or without experience to join our School Band.

The aims and objectives of the Band are to have fun, learn music, perform, and make friends. Students who play in bands are usually interested in playing in a group for pleasure, both for themselves and for the school community at large.

The Band caters for students at all levels. Your student may never have played an instrument or be able to read music, this is not a problem, or your student may be playing at a far higher grade, all levels are catered for.

Learning Through Music and the benefits of playing in a Band and gaining a Music Education from K to Year 12

One of our strongest focuses is the application of teaching music through performance, including some aspects of the board of studies syllabus.

• Instrumental practise enhances co-ordination, concentration and memory. In turn this improves eyesight and hearing.

• Musical training develops brain areas involved in language and reasoning. Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops part of the left side of the brain involved with language processing. Linking familiar songs to new ideas can help imprint information on the brain.

• Students who study music generally are more successful in standardized tests such as the Basic Skills test. Many also achieve higher grades in the Higher School Certificate.

• A study of the arts provides students with insight into other cultures and taches them empathy towards different cultures. The development of compassion and empathy, as opposed to a me first attitude provides a bridge across cultural differences and leads to respect across the board. This is the reason for overseas tours and tours to country areas.

• In music, a mistake is a mistake, the instrument is in tune or not, the notes are played well or not, the entry is made or not. It is only by much hard work that a successful performance is possible. Through music study, students learn the value of consistent effort to achieve excellence and rewards of hard work.

• Band enhances team skills and discipline. In order for a band to sound good all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal (the performance) and must commit to learning, attending rehearsals and practising.

• Music provides an avenue of self expression. The biggest challenge in life is to develop ones self esteem. Music is fantastic for this.

• Music study develops skills that are necessary in the work force. It focuses on “doing” as opposed to observing and teaches students how to perform literally anywhere in the world. Employers are looking for multi skilled workers with the sort of flexible intellect that music education helps to create. Students learn the art of communicating and co-operating with one another.

• As a parent we pay for tutors for various subjects in school. Most of the time the cost for this is $40.00 for half and hour. The music programme offered at NVHS provides every student with 1 and half to two hours per week tuition for much less than half the cost of a half hour lesson.

• Teachers in elective music and band tutors are both hampered by lack of time for personal tuition for every student. Band compliments elective music and elective music compliments band.

• Elective music can be daunting with practical pieces having to be performed in front of ones piers. It is possible to use other band members to accompany students and tutors are always happy to accompany students.

• Music performances teach students to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety and “butterflies in the tummy” is a good thing and something that will occur later in life. Risk taking is essential if a student is to achieve his or her potential.

• Music in years 9, 10, 11 and 12, when expectations are high and stress on students is high, music can become a way of stress relief. It is somewhere a student can spend a couple of hours away from study. If they are doing elective music what a better way to be studying.

• One of the most important aspects of learning music in band and elective music is that it is FUN. Many new friends are made and students learn the skills necessary to play all types of music – whatever his or her favourite style may be.

For further information in joining our school band, please click the following link to send an email:

An information pack including registration forms may be downloaded by clicking here.