A place to create and belong

Students are able to participate in the Itinerant Music Programme and learn an instrument of their choice. Most lessons are free. A tutoring charge is made for Piano, Percussion and Guitar. A hire charge in the range of $75/$150 per instrument per year is made to help cover maintenance and replacement costs. 

Instruments taught at OBHS

  • Guitar
  • Guitar Acoustic/Electric
  • Electric Bass
  • Percussion
  • Percussion/Timpani/Drums
  • String
  • Double/String Bass
  • Cello
  • Viola
  • Violin
  • Brass
  • Trombone
  • Trumpet/Cornet
  • French Horn
  • Tuba/Eb/Bb Bass
  • Euphonium
  • Woodwind
  • Saxophone Alto/Tenor/Baritone
  • Clarinet
  • Bassoon
  • Oboe
  • Flute
  • Recorder Soprano/Descant/Treble/Tenor/ Bass
  • Piano/Keyboard Theory
  • Composition/Arrangements (Sibelius Technology)
  • Choral
  • Choirs/Vocal Tuition/Barbershop Singing

Performance opportunities

  • Orchestra. Combined with OGHS
  • Jazz Band. Combined with OGHS
  • Symphonic Band. Combined with OGHS
  • School Choir. Combined with OGHS
  • Boys Choir
  • Music Festival Choir
  • Barbershop Quartet
  • Brass/Woodwind/String Ensembles
  • Chamber Groups
  • Pop/Rock 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 and 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.

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Theory Exams are available to all students at all levels, irrespective of their option choices.

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, Choral and 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 10 week term.
  • Year 10 Practical/performance based Option Music - 2 periods per week
  • 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

Itinerant Music Teachers

  • Sinclair McLaren LTCL Woodwind, Composition, MAC Technology
  • Ross Kane MusB.DipGrad ATCL Woodwind
  • William Henderson LTCL LRSM FTCL RMT ABM Brass, Symphonic Band/Orchestra Director
  • Ben Madden MusB BA Choir Director
  • Allan Starrett MusB(Violin & Composition) MusM(Viola) Strings
  • Che Long Guitar
  • Denise Dore DipMusNZMSM Piano/Keyboard
  • Brenda Stirling Piano
  • Johanna Brusse Cello, Double Bass
  • Dylan Walker Drums

Vocal Tutor

  • Patricia Scally Richardson BA, Dip Grad Arts, Dip Tchng, LTCL, NEWZATS reg. Vocal tutor NEWZATS Registered