Instrumental Lessons: Terms and Conditions 2023 - 2024

Thank you for encouraging your child to learn a musical instrument at JIS. Here at JIS we believe that a successful instrumental programme is essential to our school’s holistic outlook, encourages excellence, nurtures child development, supports our academic music programme and enriches the school experience for all our students.

We offer tuition in a wide range of instruments as well as voice. Our teachers are highly qualified and experienced both as performers as well as teachers.

Lesson Structure

The students will attend their instrument lessons as part of the normal school day. For Year 1 and Year 2 students, the first preference would be to take them out of their Music class for a 30 minute lesson where this is possible. Students in Junior School, Years 3 to 6 will usually come out of curriculum music or drama, on a rotation, for a 30 minute lesson. Due to demands some students will be on a rotation out of Library, PE, Humanities, etc.. Year 7 to 13 students have 55 minute music lessons. Most students in Years 7 to 13 will come out of class on a rotation basis so as to minimise the impact on their subject lessons. We shall aim to timetable all sixth form students to have their instrumental lessons during their study periods where possible.

To maximise entry to the programme, Junior School students may initially be placed in small group classes (not more than 2) before moving on to individual lessons once the basics have been learned.

Student Expectations

Learning a musical instrument is a privilege and demand for lessons is high. It is important for students to practise regularly according to their teacher’s instructions and parents have an important role to play in encouraging this. Students are expected to be punctual and well prepared for each lesson. Students are also expected to take good care of their instruments. To assist students maintain a regular practice regime, teachers may issue practice diaries or publish practice requirements as a homework task on Firefly.

Instrumental Tutors’ Expectations

Our instrumental tutors are continually monitoring the progress of their students. If any student’s approach to learning has not changed, there will be a discussion with the parents on the plan of action.

The instrumental tutor has the right to terminate a student’s lessons following a 6 week’s monitoring on the improvement/approach to learning which are unsatisfactory in the best interest of the student.

Absenteeism

In the event of illness or other valid reason for absence (non-emergency circumstances), the music teacher and the Senior Music administration officer (Helen Yap) must be informed 48 hours before the scheduled lesson time. This allows us to rearrange the timetable accordingly. Failure to inform the Music administration officer of absence, whatever the reason, will result in the missed lesson being charged. Where timetables allow, teachers will reschedule missing lessons but this is not always possible and any shortfall in lessons will be adjusted in the billing for Term 3. In the event of lessons being rescheduled for any reason, students will be notified by email. The Music Office can be reached on extension 5220/5221 or by emailing helen.yap@jis.edu.bn

Billing

Parents will be billed in advance at the beginning of each term. Payment can be made in a single payment or in monthly instalments. Any discrepancies will be made up in Term 3.

Term 1 - 14 lessons

Term 2 - 11 lessons

Term 3 - 10 lessons. Any adjustment in the number of lessons will be calculated in Term 3. Students in Year 11 and Year 13 will not be billed for Term 3 on assumption that they will be taking study leave and stop instrumental lessons, unless parents write in to inform otherwise.

Current charges are:

$50 for each individual 55 minute lesson (to coincide with the length of a period)

$39 for each individual 45 minute lesson (applicable mainly to lunchtime & before/after school lessons)

$25 for each individual 30 minute lesson (mainly junior school students)

If parents wish the prescribed number of lessons to be exceeded then this must be agreed with the teacher and stated in an email to the teacher and the Music administration officer, helen.yap@jis.edu.bn .

Six weeks notice is required for cessation of lessons. If a student wishes to cease lessons with immediate effect six weeks fees will be liable. Any remaining fees for that term will be refunded.

Instrument Hire

Some instruments are available for hire from the school. These include most string, woodwind and brass instruments.

Hire rates per year:

Instrumental hire fees will be billed for the entire academic year in Term 1, or prorated for students who hire the instrument after Term 1.

It is the responsibility of the student to keep the instrument in good working order. It is the students’ responsibility to purchase the accessories and cleaning materials as necessary for keeping their instrument in good working order. These materials are available in the school shop.

Students studying piano, keyboard or drum kit are expected to have an instrument to practice on at home. As students progress and enter the elective courses of Years 10 - 13, we would encourage most students to purchase their own instruments. A refundable bond is taken at the outset of an instrument hire to be set against any potential repair costs incurred during the hire lease.

Instrumental bond:

Exams

JIS is a registered examination centre for ABRSM (The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and Rockschool (RSL).

ABRSM is the UK's largest music education body, one of its largest music publishers and the world's leading provider of music exams, holding over 650,000 assessments in more than 90 countries every year. ABRSM is also registered with the Brunei’s Ministry of Education.

ABRSM exams are optional at JIS and there is no requirement to take exams.

Entry for ABRSM exams is at the discretion of the teacher and JIS reserves the right to withhold a student from entry. There is a prerequisite requirement - Candidates for Grade 6, 7 or 8 exams must already have passed ABRSM Grade 5 (or above) in Music Theory, Practical Musicianship or a solo Jazz instrument. Higher grade ABRSM results also carry valuable UCAS points which count towards UK university entrance, for example, a distinction in Grade 8 is worth approximately half an A-level in UCAS points.

For the latest ABRSM exam fees please refer to: https://bn.abrsm.org/en/exam-booking/exam-dates-and-fees/

The exam fees will be converted from Sterling Pounds to Brunei Dollars using the exchange rate from our Accounts department. There will be a local charge of B$10 (Practical) and B$5 (Music Theory) by the Ministry of Education which will be collected in addition to the exam fees.

For instruments other than piano, a professional piano accompanist from JIS will be employed at a flat hourly rate of $40 to cover the rehearsal and the exam (whether face-to-face or exam recording).

We also have Rockschool practical examination sessions which take place in Apr/May and Nov/Dec each year for contemporary musicians studying Acoustic/Bass/Electric Guitar, Drums, Piano and Vocals.

RSL has been an independently regulated awarding organisation in the United Kingdom since 2002. RSL Awards currently operates in over 45 countries, certifying over 80,000 learners each year.

The fees for the practical exam session for year 2023 is as follows. These will increase for the year 2024.

Instrumental students may also access Trinity College London online music exams through JIS.

Reports

All instrumental students receive a written report as part of their school report in Term 3.

Ensembles Programme

We run a rich ensembles programme at JIS with three orchestras, windband, jazz band, choirs and other occasional groups. Students who have instrumental lessons are expected to join these ensembles free of charge once they have sufficient skills. It is obligatory for GCSE, A Level and IB Music students to attend at least one Music CCA.