The Mansfield Instrumental Music Program is a co-curricular state music program offered to interested students who have been in a school ensemble at their previous school or who have taken private lessons. This program does not cater to beginning students.
Placement in an ensemble is determined by audition, with lessons available in woodwind, brass, percussion and strings. Auditions are not required for the Choral Program, piano or guitar.
Students are required to have their own instrument. Larger instruments may be available for hire through the school depending on availability. Each student will receive one group lesson per week in the program. Students are grouped into lessons by ability, age and instrument. The timetable for lessons rotates weekly to minimise disruption to other school subjects. Lessons are half the length, ensuring that the student can attend part of their timetabled regular class.
Students placed in an ensemble are committing to the program for a minimum of one year unless enrolled in one of the Programs of Excellence. Students enrolled in the Program of Excellence, Classroom Music (Accelerando) are expected to remain in the Mansfield Music Program until the end of Year 9. Students enrolled in the Program of Excellence, Instrumental Music are expected to remain in the Mansfield Music Program for the duration of their enrolment at Mansfield State High School.
Mansfield Instrumental Music students are expected to regularly attend lessons and ensemble rehearsals, and to perform with their ensemble at school events. They receive a music grade recorded on their school report.