Performance Music Programme
Students are able to participate in the Itinerant Music Programme and learn an instrument of their choice. Most lessons are free. The Tutors who are paid by the Ministry of Education are * below. A tutoring charge is made for Percussion and Guitar. A hire charge in the range of $65/$110 per instrument per year is made to help cover maintenance and replacement costs. The following are taught at OBHS.
GUITAR
Tutors - Mr Phil Lyons and Mr Matthew Thompson
Guitar Acoustic/Electric, Electric Bass
PERCUSSION
Tutors - Mr Tom Mepham and Mr Aaron Hendry
Percussion/Timpani/Drums
STRING
Tutors - Ms Pamela Seccombe* and Mr Alan Starrett*
Double/String Bass, Cello, Viola, Violin
BRASS
Tutor - Mr William Henderson*
Trombone, Trumpet/Cornet, French Horn, Tuba/Eb/Bb Bass, Euphonium
WOODWIND
Tutors - Mr Jim Mackay* and Mr Sinclair McLaren*
Saxophone Alto/Tenor/Baritone, Clarinet, Bassoon, Oboe, Flute, Recorder Soprano/ Descant/Treble/ Tenor/ Bass
BAGPIPES
Tutor - Senior students
KEYBOARD
Tutors - Mr Sinclair McLaren* and Mrs Denise Dore
Keyboard/Piano, Theory, Composition/Arrangements (Sibelius Technology)
CHORAL
Tutors - Ms Karen Knudson* and Mrs Patricia Scally-Richardson*
Choirs/Vocal Tuition/Barbershop Singing
MUSIC GROUP
Assembly - Ms Karen Knudson*, Senior Students
Music - Performance Opportunities
Boys have the chance to take part in and enjoy a wide variety of performance opportunities:
Orchestra Combined with OGHS (Friday)
Jazz Band (Wednesday)
Symphonic Band (Thursday)
School Choir (Monday and Wednesday)
Music Festival Choir (July - September )
Barbershop Quartet
Pipe Band
Brass/Woodwind /String Ensembles
Chamber Groups
Pop/Rock Bands, including Rockquest and the OBHS Battle of the Bands.
Backing Group for Assembly singing
Year 9 and 10 Option and Senior Music Programmes include an introduction to the basic elements and understandings of music through use of the Keyboard, an introduction to the basic skills of Guitar, Percussion and Composition, including the use of MIDI Keyboard/Guitar computer composition and score-writing, sequencing, sampling, looping and recording software; the language and appreciation of music; singing and individual and group performance.
The following aspects of our School Music Programme are available to all students at all levels, irrespective of their option choices -
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Theory Exams
Boys are encouraged to enter for, and can study in class, the Graded Theory Exams
Instrumental Tuition (Available to all students at all levels)
There are also opportunities for participating in our School Music Performance Groups, and learning to play a musical instrument through the Itinerant Music Teacher programme. Most instruments are available for hire through the School.
Performance Music Groups at OBHS Include Symphonic, Jazz, Pipe and Rock Bands, Orchestra, Cultural Groups, Choir, Barbershop Quartet, String, Woodwind and Guitar Ensembles.
PROGRAMMES OF WORK (1 hour periods)
Year 9 Music Module - 3 periods per week for one term.
Year 10 Practical/performance based Option Music- 3 periods per week (whole year)
Year 11 NCEA Music Level 1 - 4 periods per week
Year 12 NCEA Music Level 2 - 4 periods per week
Year 13 NCEA Music Level 3 - 4 periods per week
Extra Curricular Opportunities
Otago Boys’ High School prides itself on creating cultural opportunities for students to explore The Arts.
As well as curriculum based options students are invited to take part in the following extra curricula activities:
School Production
Performance
Lighting
Sound
Set design
Backstage and front of house
Pacific Island Cultural Group
Kapa Haka
Music/singing
Dance/performance
Rockquest
Band performances
Local and National competitions
O.B.H.S. Battle of the Bands
Debating/Public Speaking
Training/interschool and national competitions
Drama
Theatre Sports
Stage Challenge
Chess
Tuition
Social games
School competitions
National level competitions