Music Department News
It is great to be back to normal operations. Around Eighty whanau and students attended the Music information evening where tutors demonstrated instruments, chatted to parents and talked about how music has influenced their lives. We are very fortunate to have such an array of skilled professionals at our disposal.
Our team of instrument tutors are: Kirsten Clark-Voice; Paul Dredge-Bass guitar; Stuart Easton- Bagpipe; Sue Fletcher-Saxophone; Christy Hunter- Flute; Robert Ibell-Cello, Cody Kivell-Electric guitar; Hayden Lauridsen- Drums; Neville Lauridsen- Brass; Heather Selway-Violin; Jami Wallace- Clarinet/saxophone; Graeme Young- Guitar/ Voice.
There has been a fantastic uptake for instrument lessons with over 220 students having weekly lessons at school, which makes for some very full tutor timetables. For example, Mr. Lauridsen has 21 beginner trumpets to contend with - the biggest number we can recall. Awesome.
Our Year Nine Performance Music option started the Classroom Concert Band program with forty-two students starting on brass, woodwind or strings. For many it is their first time on an instrument. Here is the first class https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qOhWaQWDC1iKqmj0orn9-T8rTSMtyyYe/view?usp=sharing
Don’t worry; they will improve quickly. Wait until you see the progress they have made by the school concert in Term Three.
We were fortunate to have the Hot Potato Band from Sydney pay a visit. This very talented group of street performers gave a workshop to Nine Performance Music students and an inspirational performance to the whole of Year Nine which had the hall rockin’. They can come back anytime.
Another visitor to the school was professional singer and vocal tutor James Harrison who facilitated workshops for our Kapa haka group and MANifesto- which replaces OK Chorale as PNBHS’ top vocal group. James’ messages and skills at getting a great sound out of singers will be valuable as these groups develop throughout the year. We were lucky to be able to tap into his considerable skills.
As many school groups get underway, we look forward to a number of public performances that have not been able to run in the last few years. Stageband will be the first out of the blocks with performances at the Central Districts Field Days March 16 and 18, Relay for Life, March 25 and Kimbolton Sculpture Festival April 1. More details to follow.
So, the year has started very positively for the Music department. We look forward to your support throughout the year. We’ll keep you posted about upcoming events.