Class work is the cornerstone of the music programme at Trinity. This begins in the Preparatory School with two half hour lessons each week in which Mr Southwood ably combines elements of the Kodaly and Orff methods to develop basic aural, vocal and percussion skills. A complementary programme is offered at the Junior School under the direction of Mrs Geraldine Campbell.

The Middle and Senior School academic programme, under the guidance of Mr Prero, has general experience and elective strands. The general experience course in Years 7 is designed to make music exciting. In Year 7, all boys learn basic keyboard and Music computing skills in our state-of-the-art electronic Music Laboratory, as well as singing, theory and listening work.

The elective programme, which is available from Year 8, pursues the study of music in greater depth. Its aim is to develop, to the maximum of each boys’ ability, an understanding and enjoyment of music through listening, performance and composition. Special emphasis is placed on individual creativity through composition, performance and improvisation. Music is available as a subject for HSC and we have students in Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension courses.

All boys studying music as an elective subject are required to attend concerts of the School’s Society of the Arts. These concerts are free to boys of the School who attend them in School uniform.

EXAMINATIONS
Trinity Grammar School is renowned for its encouragement of music. The Music Department has one of the most dynamic and impressive Performance programmes both in New South Wales and Australia and, in terms of student participation, is one of the most comprehensive.

Students have the opportunity to assessed by external examining bodies throughout their time as an instrumentalist at Trinity Grammar School. Entry for both practical as well as theory and musicianship exams is encouraged by the School. Although we do not consider it essential for students to enter annually for examinations, we try to encourage students to take exams at key points in their musical development in order to affirm their progress through internationally recognised graded examinations. This provides teachers, parents and students a real benchmark to work towards.

Entry for all the bodies listed below are through the School and usually the School will have enough candidates entered to be able to host them in the Roderick West School of Music. In addition to this graded system, each instrumental area is developing their own internal testing system, where the development of every student is assessed at fixed points during the year. These two internal tests, held annually will cover repertoire and technique.

EXAMINING BODIES