The Music Programme
Classroom Music
Churchill Park School boasts a purpose-built music room, equipped with an excellent variety of instruments. Each class receives an hour of music per week with a specialist music teacher, enabling our ākonga the space and opportunities to listen, sing, play, move and create.
Marimba Band
The Marimba Band meet before school once a week. We have two marimbas and a variety of xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels and contrabass. Taking part in the annual Marimba Festival is a highlight, and we also perform at various assemblies and celebrations throughout the year. This group is offered to ākonga from Years 5 to 8.
Ukulele
We have two ukulele sessions a week at CPS - one for Years 5/6, the other for Years 7/8. These groups cater for beginners through to advanced learners and often perform at assemblies to accompany our school singing.
Later in the year, we take part in a UkeJam with other schools, performing a variety of fun songs with Suzy Cato as our MC.
Bands
Every year Churchill Park School enters Bandquest - a live music event for primary and intermediate-aged students. Entrants get to perform in a supportive and encouraging competition format, with a focus on inspiration and entertainment.
We have a band room permanently set up where our ākonga practice before school and during lunchtime, building their performance skills through teamwork and communication. This room has also been set up to do studio-quality recording.
Choir
The choir meets before school once a week. We work on voice production through posture, breathing techniques and enunciation.
We perform at various concerts throughout the year, including visiting our local retirement villages to share the joy of our collective voices. This group is offered to ākonga from Years 5 to 8.
Recorder
Recorder is offered to interested Year 4 students.
It is a great way to put into practice rhythm theory we learn in class music, and ākonga also learn the basics of reading music notation.
Itinerant Music Programme
CPS also offers private lessons in piano, drums and guitar, with teachers coming in during school hours.
Kapa haka
Kapa haka is offered to interested ākonga in Years 5-8. We learn waiata (songs), waiata-a-ringa (action songs), haka, poi and rākau. We perform at both formal and informal events, sharing our love of te ao Māori.
