Figure 1.--Many schools offer music courses as part of the basic curriculum. Students can also take individual lessons in instrumental music.
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Figure 1.--Many schools offer music courses as part of the basic curriculum. Students can also take individual lessons in instrumental music. |
Music plays an important part in the life of many New Zealand schools. As well, music is offered as an academic subject from years 9 to 13. Students may enter for all
external examinations and may participate in a range of local, regional, and national musical competions and festivals. Participation in all areas of music is encouraged
at most schools, including full school singing, choir, orchestra, rock band, brass band, barbershop quartets, and other special groups.
New Zealand schools vary substanially in the facilities they offer in music. In recent years the secondary schools in particular have substantially upgraded the facilities of the music department to offer a much more sophisticated program. Quite a few schools report a modern music suite with a large music room or rooms equipped with a range of facilities including computers and acoutical or recording equipment. The music suites include a varying number of smaller practice studios. These facilities can be used flecibly for individual/group instrumental tuition as well as choral music.
Music at the primary level is included in the classroom program. At the intermediate level the basic goal is to provide a range of different experiences. At secondary schools students can take music as an academic subject. The size of the school will affect the course offerings. The students can also take individual instrument tuition. This varies among schools. Generlly the rivate schools place more iemphasis on instrumental tuition.
Schools generally try to interest younger children in music with fun activities. Some children are ready in the mid-primary years to begin to work on instuments. Schools vary as to the opportunities provided the children. Generally speaking a greater emphasis is placed on indiviual instrumental tuition at private schools. This is primarily a financial consideration. The parents pay extra tition for this. Not all children at state schools can afford this. Another factor is school traditions. A sizeable proportion of the students at private schools at least give instrumental tition a try and many achieve considerable success.
The larger secondary schools are able to employ speciast teachers for choral and instrumental instructions. Smaller secondary, intermediate, and primary schools employ
itinerant music teachers to assist with the school's music program. Many students who learn instruments play in school musical groups. High schools might gave a school orchestra, concert band or smaller string and wind groups. Virtually all secondary schools have important music programs, in part because of the interests of the students. Often the private preparatory sdchools give more emphasis to music than the state elementary schools.
Many schools have their own, long established traditions. Ome preparatory school, for example, in 1922, Southwell commenced its tradition of producing an annual Gilbert and Sullivan Opera. For the next 45 years these operas were the school's major presentations. Although they were discontinued in 1968, major theatrical and musical productions have been continued each year, giving the students a wider variety of musical experience and continuing Southwell's high standard of performance in this field.
During the year visiting musicians give concerts in the hall and students are taken to performances of the various arts in the city.
Here are some of the courses that a New Zealnd secondary school might offer in music.
The basic courses will be offered at virtually any school. The more specialized courses
will vary greatly from school to school.
