Music At Warkworth School
Warkworth School offers a wide range of musical activities to enhance and support learning opportunities for the students at our school. As well as the classroom music programmes, (which include a ukulele workshop in Year 3 and recorder lessons in Year 4), the syndicates take turns to put on musicals so that each child can experience the thrill of performance and success with the rest of their year group.
Music Lessons
Three itinerant teachers work at our school in our music room. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays children are able to learn piano, drums, flute, clarinet, saxophone and trumpet from the specialist teachers. Lessons are either individual lessons or small group lessons depending on the instrument and the level of the student. There is the opportunity to study for Trinity College exams if the students wish. Children have their lessons during the school day. Advanced musicians are invited to play in the APPA orchestra which performs in the Auckland Town Hall. It is a wonderful experience for these children to play with able musicians from the greater Auckland area.
Guitar lessons are given one night after school during terms 2 and 3. A huge group of children come to learn chords and sing and play together. An adult group follows this. It is a chance for parents and anyone in the community to 'have a go' or to build on skills they may have learnt many years ago.
Performing Groups
There are several performing groups open to the children in our senior school (Years 4-6).
CHOIR is always the most popular group and numbers may be from 120 - 160 each year! The choir practise weekly and sing regularly in the community and at public concerts. The yearly highlight is leading the Warkworth Carols by Candlelight with the Warkworth Brass Band and Lockwood Smith in Lucy Moore Park.
BAND is made up of our brass and woodwind players and an advanced drummer. They perform for their parents and the rest of the school at special performance concerts and at an end of year recital. Pianists and drummers have their own recital for parents and families at the end of term 3.
KAPA HAKA is another large group that practises weekly with Claire Winiana. The main group is in the senior school but Claire also takes a junior group. They perform at school and also in the local yearly festival for Maori and Pacific Island groups.
The CULTURAL GROUP is made up of our Kiribati and Tuvaluan children and practises weekly at school. They sing and dance in their native languages and have performed many times in public around town.
A CAMPANOLOGY GROUP operates during the second half of the year and uses hand bells to play tunes. They are particularly popular at Christmas functions and quite amazing to watch.
WARKWORTH IDOL has run for several years now during term one. The senior children can all enter and sing with a CD, play an instrument, dance or perform an original item. This is very popular and over 100 children enter each year.
The practices and actual Idol competition are done in the lunch hours and the judges are always impressed by the confidence and talent of the children. It is a fun event with guest judges from the local community and prizes.
We are proud of the opportunities we offer our students and I am always happy to discuss your child's needs and wishes with you to make the musical experience the best for your child.
" You don't have to be great to get started ... but you have to get started to be great!" Les Brown
Linda Gribble
Music Teacher