Every day of the week, the Chisnallwood music department is filled with the sound of students participating in music. Rock bands, jazz bands, choir, computer music, beatboxing and orchestra are a few of the opportunities students have to learn and participate in music.
The 10- to 13-year-old age is a vital time for learning and social development. Our students discover many things about themselves through music, and we give them the tools and experience to take them beyond their expectations. They get to serve the community through performance as well as form lifelong friendships.
We provide 16 specialist teachers, and 250 students are currently learning violin, flute, keyboard/piano, drums, guitar, bass guitar, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, vocals, beatboxing, bagpipes, Scottish drumming and cello.
Music groups include orchestra, jazz bands, Irish, choir, marimba, rock, Tangata Beats and ukulele bands plus computer music, sound technology and music theory club.
We started our year with the jazz band performing at Children’s Day and the wonderful Robert Koffie Fugah teaching the whole school African drumming in March.Â
2019 jazz band highlights included representing New Zealand in a music festival in Shanghai and achieving silver and bronze awards at JazzQuest. One rock band made Rockquest regional finals, and another placed third in Bandquest NZ national finals. Other highlights included playing in the opening weekend of the Town Hall re-opening, the extravaganza of Strum Strike Blow (1,400 ukulele, marimba and recorders all playing together), Christchurch Big Band Festival, Secondary Schools’ Orchestra Festival, Voices Christchurch Music Festival, St Patrick’s Day, NZ Music Month and Tūranga library performances.
Chisnallwood students have music opportunities that will prepare them well for high school and life-long learning. It’s a great age for our learners to discover what they can do with music, to give them the tools and experience to take it to levels that may even surprise themselves and to form long-lasting musical friendships.
Students get to participate in a high level of many different music groups, on a range of instruments, and playing different styles, to cater for a diverse community. They are exposed to a variety of genres, theory and computer technology.
We aim to remove barriers to learning, including cost and availability of instruments, and provide specialist teachers enabling students to learn whatever instruments they choose.
