Senior Performance Music: One of the new greatest hits!

With the curriculum review process of 2021, the HGHS Music Department recognised a new opportunity. A panel of students from a range of backgrounds and musical experiences were asked to identify the barriers to studying music at school, along with what areas of music they felt most connected. The response was that they enjoyed learning modern music styles and wanted to write songs and perform a range of musical styles.

“There are plenty of students out there who have been singing in choirs, playing in bands or writing songs in their bedroom for years, but haven’t been enrolled in curriculum music at HGHS. We were seeing senior students excelling in co-curricular music with no option to get NCEA credits because, despite their talent, they didn't have the theoretical knowledge to take Level 2 and 3 NCEA music”, explains Mr Hamish Berkers, the programme’s lead teacher.

The course aligns the Music Department at HGHS with future NCEA Level 2 and 3 changes, particularly the proposed subject of “Music Representation”. This NCEA subject will focus on presenting music, through performance and other contexts. It places an emphasis on group and individual performance skills and techniques, as well as looking into the technological elements of setting up and running sound systems. Additionally, it looks into understanding and applying tikanga and customs within music performance and representation.

“The Senior Performance Programme provides us with a safe environment to focus on our personal creativity. Already this year, we have been pushed outside our comfort zones, working in groups towards group performances, pushing each other to be better,” explains Emma Thien, Arts Council Captain and Level 3 music student.

The traditional Level 2 and 3 music options are still available. They will continue to serve those students who enjoy the established approach to music education and who need a more solid foundation in music theory to meet the requirements of future pathways.