“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” – Plato
For more than 30 years, Brisbane Boys’ College has brought this philosophy to life in the Junior School, where music is woven
into daily learning.
The Classroom Instrumental Music Program has given every student the chance to read, play, and understand music since 1995, making it as much a part of school life as Maths and English.
Mr Theo Kotzas, Head of Performance Music and Head of Strings, advocates for music education to be embedded within a boy’s education, just like any other core subject.
“Everyone has the right to be musically fit, not just physically fit,” Mr Kotzas says.
“Music is part of everything we do in life, and this program ensures every boy gets the opportunity to learn and appreciate it.”
More than music
What began in 1995 as a string program for Year 4 students quickly expanded into Years 5 and 6 under the leadership of Mr Kotzas. It’s now a cornerstone of the Junior School curriculum.
“Each boy in Year 4 is given an instrument – violin, viola, cello, or double bass – and learns by doing,” Mr Kotzas explains.
“Boys learn best through hands-on experience, and music is a powerful way to develop routine, motivation, and the habits that set them up for success in life.”
At BBC, every boy is provided with an instrument from Year 4 to Year 6. Lessons are built into the curriculum, reinforcing the school’s belief that music is essential to a young man’s education.
In Year 4, boys begin their musical journey with a fun quiz and listening test that helps uncover their natural strengths.
With guidance from teachers – and their own input – each boy is matched to an instrument that is the best fit given the collated information.
The teaching methodology builds knowledge progressively and naturally.
“You get taught this note is D, you add this finger, it then becomes E,” Mr Kotzas explains. “So you’re not replacing knowledge, you’re extending knowledge.”
For boys who are already learning an instrument at a high level, BBC offers leadership opportunities as ‘assistant tutors.’ The students are encouraged to demonstrate new skills by helping as peer tutors, sharing their skills and knowledge.
While boys may explore other instruments later, their first instrument lays the foundation. Boys enjoy weekly instrumental lessons, starting in single class groups in Year 4 and expanding to full-cohort sessions by Years 5 and 6, while continuing classroom music to grow as singers and musicians.
Year 8 student Braxton Bendzala discovered his passion for the viola through the Junior School’s Classroom Instrumental Program. “At first, I thought it was going to be really hard, but I was surprised at how quickly I picked it up. The teachers made it much easier and really helped me along,” he says.
“Being in the program has really changed how I think about music. I used to see it as something I’d never get or even want to learn. But the way the program teaches you makes it so much easier, and it’s even helped me in other subjects too by dealienating new concepts I may not have seen before.”
A full-body workout for the brain
For Mr Kotzas, hearing feedback from students like Braxton shows the real goal of the program.
“It’s not about producing virtuosos,” he explains. “It’s about letting boys enjoy music by making it. Along the way, they build fine motor skills, understanding, discipline, and a sense of routine.”
Research supports this view. Dr Anita Collins, a leading expert in neuromusical science, highlights in her popular TEDx Talk that learning music is like a full-body workout for the brain, engaging multiple regions at once and boosting memory, language, executive function, and brain plasticity.
“Over the years, I’ve seen boys start out barely able to make a sound and go on to pursue music at a tertiary level,” Mr Kotzas explains. “Others might not continue, but they carry with them a lifelong appreciation of music. That’s the goal; to instil confidence, joy and pride in what they can achieve.”
BBC’s music program shapes boys who are musically literate, confident, and ready to embrace challenges with joy.