All children receive regular classroom music lessons in the spacious PAC and are involved each week in syndicate singing sessions to share and enjoy music as a whole school at syndicate and whole school assemblies. There are performance opportunities for music students at school assemblies and music recitals.

Children from Year 4 – 6 who learn an instrument or sing are encouraged to participate in a range of musical ensembles including Orchestra, Senior Choir, Middle Choir, Kākāriki & Whero Ukulele Band, Kākāriki & Whero Bucket Drummers and the PVS Rock Band. These groups perform within the school at whole school and syndicate assemblies, Grandparents Day, graduation and special assemblies, as well as performances in the community – the local Eastern music festivals throughout the school year. These public performances provide opportunities for the children to perform in groups for the school community and celebrate the skills and talents they are developing.

This develops a myriad of important skills in line with the New Zealand Curriculum; listening, singing, performing, composing and appraising as individuals and as groups, self-expression, self discipline, music awareness. Where possible, a cross-curricular approach is adopted and musical activities are planned so that all children may participate and enjoy them, irrespective of ability.

We are lucky to have a well-resourced Performing Arts Centre. The school music instruments are wide and varied: including tuned (marimbas, xylophones, bass xylophones, glockenspiels) and untuned percussion; drum kit; bass, electric and acoustic guitars; class set of ukuleles, upright pianos, portable grand electric piano and more recently a stack of electric keyboards. The PAC also has a full sound system, including projector/white board.

Itinerant music tuition is available out of school hours. More information is available from the school office.

Trina Clark – Music Specialist