Intermediate Band

Children will move from Training Band to Intermediate Band after their first year of playing. In this band children will consolidate the ensemble and technical skills learned in Training Band, and move on to more challenging repertoire.

CONDUCTOR

Our Intermediate Band Conductor for 2023 is Kirrily Swatton.

Kirrily has been surrounded by music her whole life. She played a variety of instruments such as Violin, Piano and French Horn throughout primary school however Flute was the instrument that stuck. She attended the Conservatorium High School specialising in Flute and continued her studies at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music where she completed her Bachelor in Music Performance which gave her fantastic opportunities such as touring to Singapore and Shanghai.

Kirrily has been Flute tutor across the Northern Beaches and Sydney for the past 10 years and on her move back to Sydney was given the opportunity to start her career in conducting. She has been the conductor of Forestville Public School Training band since 2020 and Intermediate Band in 2022. She enjoys watching the children’s growth as they start to become tiny musicians and get to indulge in the great joys of music making. 

Kirrily continues to play in local community wind ensembles and orchestras and extends her love of music and watching young musicians form by being ensemble manager for The Arts Unit.

REHEARSALS

Intermediate Band rehearsals take place in the school hall on:

• Monday mornings 7:30am – 8:45am

• Wednesday afternoons 3:15pm – 4:15pm

Students are expected to arrive on time so they can set up the hall ready for rehearsal. Every rehearsal requires a parent/ carer volunteer to supervise. Their role is to assist in the running of the rehearsal under the direction of the conductor.

COST

Invoices for Intermediate Band are sent out per semester via email. The cost is:

• Band Fee - $270 per semester ($540 annual)

• Instrument Hire & Repair Levy - $180 per semester ($360 annual)

• Percussionist/ Base Guitar - $60 (annual levy)

(this covers the maintenance and use of the school’s percussion instruments)

We accept the NSW Creative Kids Voucher.

TUTORS

Students are required to continue tutoring each week with a teacher specific to their instrument. Our list of tutors can be found here or you can source your own tutor:

https://bit.ly/3Vst6rY

WHAT TO BRING TO REHEARSAL

• Instrument and accessories

(drip cloth, lip cream, cork grease, spare reeds, valve oil, amps, leads etc)

• Music Folder

• Sharp pencil

INTERMEDIATE BAND PARENT CO-ORDINATOR

We need one parent to volunteer as the Intermediate Band Parent Co-ordinator. This parent will:

• Liaise with the conductor, committee and teachers.

• Communicate with parents about upcoming events and general information as well as organise a roster for parent/carer helpers during rehearsals.

This is not an intensive role and the amount of work is mainly focussed around setting up a roster at the beginning of each term.

COMMUNICATION

TeamApp is our main form of contact and is downloadable via app on your phone. All essential and timely information will be sent through here.

Email - In addition to TeamApp you may receive emails from your parent coordinator. Please ensure your email address is always up to date.

Newsletter - We also have a section in the school newsletter.

Please feel free to contact fpsbands@gmail.com should you have any other questions.