Music

Curriculum Music Classes
All students at Westburn partake in curriculum music classes which are taught by a qualified music specialist teacher. Each class receives 12 weeks of lessons a year in our well resourced music room.

A variety of topics are covered, incorporating all music strands of the New Zealand Curriculum. High achieving students are given the opportunity to extend their knowledge during these classes and also work towards performing at the annual ‘Strum, Strike, Blow’ festival.

Team Singing
All teams have singing for 30 minutes each week. This develops their singing skills, music awareness, self-discipline and social skills.

Instrumental Lessons
Westburn has an extensive instrumental music programme. Students are able to learn a wide range of musical instruments during the school day, with individual and small group lessons available. Many instruments are available for hire through the school. Westburn is also supported by Burnside High School with a limited number of lessons and tutors available to selected Westburn students eventually transitioning to Burnside. Along with these subsidised lessons, we have a number of private music teachers available on site throughout the week. Currently, instrumental lessons are available for: piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, cello, guitar, ukulele, drums, brass, double bass, bagpipes and vocal lessons. The Suzuki method for violin and cello is also available. Students learning instruments at Westburn are strongly encouraged to be part of a school extracurricular ensemble.

Extracurricular Music Activities

Waiata Teina (Training Choir)
Waiata Teina is an all-comers choir for students in Years 4 and above. They rehearse once a week with Mrs Gill O’Donoghue and prepare for the annual other school events, including performances with the Westburn Senior Choir. 

Westburn Senior Choir
Westburn Senior Choir is an auditioned choir open to students in Years 6-8 and they rehearse once a week with Music Director, Madeleine Gillman and accompanist, Richard Oswin. Every year, the choir performs in the North West Music Festival, the Lions’ Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival, at community events including some with Burnside High School, and at important school occasions. The Westburn Senior Choir is a motivated group of students who pride themselves on performing to the best of their ability. They sing a range of music, usually in two or three part harmony.

Westburn Symphony Orchestra (WSO)
Students who play an orchestral instrument, can read music and have been learning for at least one year, are encouraged to audition for the Westburn Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra has between 30-40 musicians with strong players in each of the string, woodwind, brass and percussion sections. Weekly practices are conducted by Madeleine Gillman.

WSO play a variety of music to engage and stretch the student’s knowledge, appreciation and understanding of music. Dr Patrick Shepherd, from the University of Canterbury, assists with rehearsals and arranges pieces of music for the orchestra to perform. Burnside High School also provides practical and inspirational support. WSO performances are keenly anticipated by the school community and are of a very high standard. The orchestra performs annually at the ‘North West Music Festival’, the ‘Junior Showcase’ with Burnside High School, and at other school and community events.

Westburn Jazz Band
Students who play a jazz instrument are welcome to audition for the Westburn Jazz Band. The band is directed by Cameron Oswin from Burnside High School. Here they learn to improvise and to play in a range of genres. The Westburn Jazz Band takes part in the annual ‘Junior Jazz Jam’, which is an event for Christchurch primary and intermediate school jazz bands as part of the ‘Christchurch Big Band Festival’. For more information please contact Cameron via email at osc@burnside.school.nz

Ukulele Ensemble
Keen students in Years 4 and above with an interest in playing music in a group are encouraged to join the Ukulele Ensemble. This is an all-comers group who meet weekly on Tuesdays with Madeleine Gillman. They work towards an annual performance at the Strum, Strike, Blow Festival, held at the Wolfbrook Arena in August. More information about this festival can be found in the Useful Music Websites for parents link below. 

Extension Music Programmes

For information on SMP (Specialist Music Programme) click here

Useful Music Websites for parents

Institute of Registered Music Teachers NZ Ako Puoro click here

Christchurch School of Music click here

Strum, Strike, Blow Festival click here

Christchurch Schools' Music Festival click here