Playford International College is one of four designated Special Interest Music Centres in South Australia, serving the Northern suburbs of Adelaide. Our Centre offers a wide range of high-quality music courses to cater for the diverse interests and needs of its student population. The Music Centre aims to foster the development of the musically talented, creating a clear line of sight in musical education encompassing music industry links, primary, secondary and tertiary music study, while maintaining students’ connection to mainstream secondary education.
The multifaceted music curriculum on offer includes development of choral, classical, jazz, orchestral, solo, composition/arranging, music history, analytical, music technology and small ensemble skills. The Music Centre functions in the spirit of dedication, cooperation, integrity and the pursuit of excellence under the core values of the wider school community.
Music performance skills and instrumental expertise are developed through strong involvement by students in ensembles both within the program and through extra-curricular activities.
Public performance is a major focus of the course, and students have the opportunity to take part in high-profile events throughout the year. Regular highlights of the performance calendar include high-profile National Events including Victorian Schools Music Festival (Melbourne), Big Band Blast Music Festival (Pt. Macquarie), Generations in Jazz (Mt. Gambier) and the Primary Schools Music Festival (Adelaide). Recent high-profile events we have performed for include the British Royal Visit, Carols By Candlelight and for the Prime Minister.
From 2018, our Music Centre has formed ‘Playford Music Pathways’, a strong and collaborative partnership with Musica Aviva, Carclew, Department of Education Instrumental Music, Playford Data Observatory and private music education philanthropists. Playford Music Pathways is creating authentic and targeted opportunities for students to participate, experience and develop their musical ability at every level of schooling from Junior Primary to Senior Secondary. Through this program, students have attended concerts with Australia’s music elite, including the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and attended a private Classical Guitar workshop with Tommy Emmanuel.
Our Music Centre, in collaboration with Playford Music Pathways, provide instrumental tuition to over 150 Primary School students, including weekly instrumental programs at Elizabeth East, Elizabeth Grove, Elizabeth Park, Elizabeth South and Elizabeth Vale Primary Schools. Our on-site Primary Music Hub (PIC PM) provides music instrumental and ensemble education to students from another 10 schools not in the PIC Zone and students that are home-schooled.
The Music Centre have a community-service mindset, regularly provide musical entertainment and networking with local and state community organisations including Elizabeth City Centre, Playford and Salisbury City Councils, Central Districts Football Club, Department of Education, Adelaide Youth and Wind Orchestras, and Northern Sound System.
Recent graduates from the Special Interest Music Program are currently studying at the Australian Institute of Music in Melbourne and Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide.
