Instruments from the Brass family have been played in orchestras since the early 1700s. Today we see brass instruments being played solo as well as being an important element in all kinds of ensembles both large and small.

Learning and playing a brass instrument will allow you to play many types of musical styles from classical to jazz and even more contemporary music.

Instruments in the Brass Family include:

• Trumpet/Cornet
• Horn
• Trombone
• Euphonium/Tenor Horn
• Tuba

The Conservatorium has expert teachers for all the instruments listed above which can be learnt on campus in a 1 to 1 setting or within our Schools Program in a group setting.

Conservatorium Brass players/students can play in the following Conservatorium ensembles listed below:

• Central Coast Youth Orchestra (CCYO) – High School to Tertiary
• Central Coast Symphonic Wind Orchestra (CCSWO) – High School
• Central Coast Primary Wind Ensemble (CCPWE) – Primary School
• Schools Program Concert Bands
• Jazz Ensemble – Unlimited
• Central Coast Concert Band (CCCB) – Community
• Regional Youth Orchestra NSW (RYONSW)

Taking guitar lessons at the Con provides the opportunity to learn from the best guitar teachers on the Coast.

Students can learn a range of styles, from classical guitar all the way through to jazz and contemporary. Students undertaking one-to-one lessons can also join one of our guitar ensembles – including the Guitar Ensemble with Steve Smillie, Guitar Ensemble with Guy Strazz and the the Jazz Ensemble.

Just about everyone knows something about the piano but did you know that the piano is actually a percussion instrument?

In ancient times keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord, an ancestor of the modern day piano, had a mechanism that plucked the strings in the body of the instrument to create the sounds. Over time this changed to a mechanism of hammers that hit the strings to generate sound.

Today we often think of the piano as a solo or accompanying instrument but the piano/keyboard offers  much more than that, being found in all kinds of ensembles from symphony orchestras to rock bands and beyond.

Learning and playing piano will allow you to play many types of musical styles from classical to jazz and even more contemporary music. Having piano skills will also help you with music theory, composition and songwriting.

Instruments in the Piano/Keyboard Family include:

• Piano
• Keyboard
• Harpsichord

The Conservatorium has expert teachers for all the instruments listed above which can be learnt on campus in a one to one setting or within our Keyboard Club in a group setting.

Conservatorium piano students can participate in the following Conservatorium programs and activities:

• Musicianship
• Keyboard Club
• Solo and cross-department concerts
• Adult Soiree (Adult students only!)

Instruments from the Percussion family have been created and played in just about every corner of the world and are some of the oldest tools used for musical communication. Today we still see percussion instruments being played in the world music context as well as being an important element in all kinds of ensembles both large and small. Some of these instruments are tuned like the xylophone with others being untuned such as the drum kit or bongos.

Learning and playing percussion instruments will allow you to play many types of musical styles from world music to classical and jazz and even more contemporary music styles such as rock and pop.

Instruments in the Percussion Family has an almost endless list. Here are some that we specialise in at the Conservatorium:

• Drum Kit
• Congas
• Glockenspiel/Xylophone
• Marimba
• Timpani
• World instruments

The Conservatorium has expert teachers for all the instruments listed above which can be learnt on campus in a 1 to 1 setting or within our Schools Program in a group setting.

Conservatorium percussion players/students can play in the following Conservatorium ensembles listed below:

• Central Coast Youth Orchestra (CCYO) – High School to Tertiary
• Central Coast Symphonic Wind Orchestra (CCSWO) – High School
• Central Coast Primary Wind Ensemble (CCPWE) – Primary School
• Schools Program Concert Bands –
• Jazz Ensemble – Unlimited
• Central Coast Concert Band (CCCB) – Community
• Regional Youth Orchestra NSW (RYONSW)

The Violin is probably the most famous of the instruments that we associate with the String Family but other similarly important family members that we find in the orchestra include the Viola, Cello and Double Bass. Arguably the Harp and Guitar could also live within this family however to keep things simple those instruments can have their own page.

Learning and playing a string instrument will allow you to play many types of musical styles from classical to jazz and even more contemporary music such as musicals. The double bass is an integral member in jazz ensembles and the fiddle/violin is often seen taking centre stage in country and blue bands. Of course as a string player there are a multitude of ensembles that you can play in.

Instruments in the String Family include:

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Double Bass

The Conservatorium has expert teachers for all the instruments listed above which can be learnt on campus in a 1 to 1 setting. Additionally, being involved in our Saturday Strings Program is the best way to progress on your instrument as well as giving you the opportunity to make other string friends and move on to our Premier Ensembles such as the CCYO and the CCO.

Conservatorium String students can participate in the following Conservatorium ensembles and programs listed below:

• Central Coast Youth Orchestra (CCYO) – High School to Tertiary
• Central Coast Chamber Orchestra (CCCO) – High School to Tertiary
• Saturday strings Program – Primary to High School
• Saturday Strings Ensembles – Primary to High School
• Saturday Strings Chamber Music Program – High School
• Regional Youth Orchestra NSW (RYONSW) – High School to Tertiary

The Conservatorium currently has nine woodwind teachers, specialising in clarinet, flute, saxophone, recorder and oboe.

Students have the option of one-to-one lessons, or joining one of our school bands where our woodwind teachers lead tutorials.

Woodwind students have a choice of joining several ensembles.

The Conservatorium offers singing lessons for students of all levels and experience.

Developing your vocal skills through structured lessons sets the foundations for everything you will learn.

Learning to sing can sometimes be a little daunting. The Con’s expert teachers foster a positive and light-hearted environment, whilst at the same time teaching excellent technique.

As with all arts and disciplines, getting the most out of singing lessons requires practice, ambition and passion.

Whether you are looking for adult singing lessons or if they are for your children, the Con’s teachers are able to customise a program through which you can achieve excellent results.

Students can participate in one-to-one lessons, and are encouraged to participate in ensembles such as Central Coast Philharmonia Choir and Central Coast Opera productions.