Music 2021 was a year without many of the regular performance opportunities for the children. The pandemic saw the cancellation of many school concerts and performances. This meant the year took on a rather different focus. An important part of the Music curriculum programme is listening and viewing live performance. During the first term, the Preparatory School attended the opera Don Pasquale (Donizetti) performed by New Zealand Opera in the school Centennial Chapel. This was an adapted opera, but still retained the main structure of the storyline. Students were entertained by a small cast of opera soloists. The opera was presented in costume and with a set. The opportunity for our students to see and hear live opera is invaluable and helps build a secure musical appreciation foundation for the future. In June, the two Year 6 classes participated in the Strum Strike Blow Festival at the Christchurch Arena, alongside 1000 children from other Christchurch schools. This is an annual one-day festival with rehearsals during the day and culminating in an evening concert. Children are taught pieces on either the ukulele, recorder, or a mallet instrument (xylophone and marimba). The classes learnt five recorder pieces for the event, including a massed item piece Strumshine by composer, Michael Bell, that combined the three instruments. A feature of the chosen pieces of music is the provision of multi-level music parts, thus catering to the range of music abilities and extending children who are more musically able. 34
A highlight for the children was being part of 1000 children playing massed items of music together. This is always a popular event, and a positive way for the children to perform to a live audience. All our Preparatory School music groups perform frequently within our school community and Christchurch music community to audiences. In July, the Preparatory School Concert was presented in our Centennial Chapel. The concert
