Final Assembly Choir Rehearsals Week 10

The choir have a rehearsal with Ms Neill from 11.00 - 12.30 on Tuesday, 18 December in the Performing Arts room please.

Listen to 'Some Nights' on you tube to get to know where you will be required to sing.

See you there!

Final Assembly Band Rehearsals Week 10

We may need to add rehearsals depending on how things are going:

Tue 7.45am - 9.00am and 3.00 - 5.00   -- Some Nights
Wed 7.45am  - 9.00am and 5.00 - 6.30 -- Don't Forget Your Roots

Thanks folks

No BAND REHEARSALS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY

The year 8 students are on holiday this week so there will no Monday or Tuesday band rehearsals.

Cheers

NO BAND MONDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2012

Hi everyone,

I am in the Bay of Plenty for the weekend so there will not be a band rehearsal on Monday, 19 November as my flight does not get in until 9am.

Have a superb weekend!

WEDNESDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 2012 - NO BAND Z REHEARSAL

NO MONDAY, 15 OCTOBER MORNING REHEARSAL

Hi guys,

I hope everyone is having a fabulous holiday.  As it is the beginning of term we will ease everyone back into it by not having to get up too early so no band on Monday folks.

NO BAND REHEARSAL FOR BAND Z!

Jack Wilson and Lukas Campbell are unable to make band rehearsal tomorrow morning (Wed, 26 September) so there will not be a practice in the morning.

NO BAND REHEARSALS WEEK 8!

Ms Neill is attending the final section of her course in Auckland from Monday-Wednesday so she will not be available to take band sessions.

All band sessions will start next week.

NO BAND REHEARSAL IN THE MORNING!

Hi guys,

I am still trying to get over this flu so am just taking it easy for a couple of weeks.

There will not be any band rehearsal in the morning. Wednesday, 29 August 2012.

More Accidents!!

Unfortunately for Liam Spring, he had a terrible time during the weekend and was flown to Invercargill Hopsital due to a skiing accident.  Although he is back home today, there will not be any band rehearsal tomorrow. 

BandQuest Update and Morning Band Rehearsal!

It would seem there were not enough interested parties in Otago to have a live regional heat so the only option is to enter the video section.  I am not that keen as it is just not the same.

Band X seems to have unfortunately lost their drummer for a few weeks due to a broken bone in his hand SO we will not have a band rehearsal tomorrow morning until we can sort this matter out.

No Band Rehearsals Week 6!

Arrowtown/Fairfield Music Exchange 2012

Day 1 - We all gathered in the Performing Arts room and introduced ourselves to one another by stating our names, what we played and who are billets were.  Once the formalities were concluded, we all shifted the instruments into the hall and helped set everything up.  At 3.00pm it was time to go home with the billets (that's if you had one) and Band X had to be back in the hall for a sound check.

Day 2 - We all met in the hall at 8:55 am and played a few songs to each other just to get a feel of what it would be like performing in front of a crowd.  After that, we got a ride from the parents to the Skyline where we all gathered outside to check that everyone was there and boarded the gondolas in groups of 2-4.  It was a glorious day and the view was amazing!  Upon our arrival at the top, we picked the correct size helmets we needed.  Our choices were red(small), blue(medium), or green (big) and off we went.  Each student had 5 luge rides.  It was so much fun and most of us raced each other.  We had lunch or brought it from the cafeteria.  We got back to the hall about 1.00pm and tuned our instruments while we waited for the juniors to come into the hall and sit down. Sophie (from Arrowtown school) introduced Fairfield school and her band.  Each lead singer of a band had to introduce each song throughout the concert. Everyone played really well! After the concert for the juniors we all went home and got ready for the year 5-8 disco/concert. We all met up in the Performing Arts room at 6.15 pm and had a talk about the band sets, performing on stage and any other concerns.  The show kicked-off at 6.30pm.  The place was packed with people.  Everyone seemed like they were having a really good time and performed amazingly well.  We finished a little later than planned at 8.30 pm. 

Day 3 - Skiing up at Coronet Peak!  Fairfield billets had to be at school by 7.15am....ouch!  They were due up at Coronet Peak by 8.00am to get kitted out for their lesson at 9.00am.  Arrowtown students participated in their usual Friday programme.  There were a lot of tired rockers up the mountain.  Life as a rock star is certainly exciting but very tiring too.  

This is the second year I have been involved in this music exchange and I think it is a fantastic opportunity for music students to meet like-minded people out of our community.  It can be positively life changing for some of us.

Thanks Ms Neill!

                                                                            By Sofia Machray

Band Z Rehearsal in the Morning!

Band Z will have their usual band rehearsal tomorrow morning!

The Rock Concert / Disco Information!!!!

 

Arrowtown/Fairfield

Music Exchange Programme

Presents

 

DISCO / ROCK CONCERT
Date: Thursday, 16 August 2012

Time: 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Entry:  $2 per person

Year 5 – 8

Food and Drinks on Sale

A Message To Parents of Band X - Monday Morning

Could you please pop in and sign a form this morning to allow your child to enter a competition.

Thanks

Band Rehearsals!

Band reahearsals will be as per ususal next week.

There WILL NOT be any rehearsals during the weekend.

Thanks

ARROWTOWN/FAIRFIELD SCHEDULE 2012

 

Hi everyone,

This is the proposed schedule for the three days during the Arrwotown/Fairfield School Music Exchange from:

 Wednesday, 15 August – Friday, 17 August 2012.

Day	Time	Event
Wednesday, 15/8	2.00pm	Meet in the Performing Arts Room to greet and match Fairfield students with host families.
	3.00pm	Host families to take billets home with them for the night.  Your billets will need a packed lunch for Thursday and Friday please. (There will be a sound check for BAND X at 4.00pm)
Thursday, 16/8	8.55am	Meet in the hall with instruments and music to play a few songs to each other.  One or two songs only from each band,
The cost of this excursion will be $24.70 per student and adult. This MUST be paid THIS WEEK to the office.	10.15am	Depart for the Skyline (Gondola/Luge) .  Could the parents who have offered to take their vehicles, please be at the hall at 10.15am to take students to the Gondola.  We will be back in the Gondola carpark by 12.15pm to return to school.
	12.15pm	Leave Skyline to return to school.
	1.45 – 2.55pm	Rock Concert for years 1 – 4 in the hall
	3.00pm	Host families to take billets home
	6.15pm	All students to be in the Performing Arts room to prepare for the Rock Concert/Disco for years 5-8 students only.
$2 per person and food/drinks for sale Yr 5-8 only	6.30 – 8.00pm	Rock Concert / Disco (Parents of the band members are welcome to attend)
	8.10pm	Host families to take billets home with them for the night.
Friday, 17/8	7.15am	All Fairfield students to meet outside the hall with all their gear.  Please do not be late as they need to be up the mountain by 7.55am It will be a normal day up the mountain for Arrowtown students.
	3.00pm	Fairfield will depart for home.

By now, all of our host families should have made contact with your billet’s parents in Dunedin.  If you have not, please do so as soon as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact Karen Neill should you require further information concerning the exchange. karenn@arrowtown.school.nz

Thank you so much for opening your homes to our visitors.

Kind regards

Karen Neill

Performing Arts / Te Reo Maori Teacher

Well done and Thank you!

We have accommodated all of the students visiting from Fairfield school.

Thank you so much for your prompt attention to this matter.  Information will be coming home today about your billets.  Please contact their families as soon as possible to put their minds at ease.  When our students stay with their hosts in Dunedin, we like to know where they are going and who they are going to be staying with.

Once again thank you to all who have put their hands up.

A programme of the three days will be up on the blog by the end of the weekend.

Only 2 Visiting Students To Go!

Thank you so much to the families who have already responded to my posting last Friday evening.

We have two year seven girls to go. Please email me tonight should you have room to accomodate the girls. karenn@arrowtown.school.nz

Thank you

Our Fairfield Visitors Are Looking For Hosts!

We have 11 students from Fairfield School, Dunedin arriving on Wednesday, 15 August to take part in our annual Music Exchange.

They will be staying two nights(Wednesday and Thursday nights) with our hosting families and will require lunches for Thursday and Friday.  The visiting school will be travelling up the mountain on Friday morning to participate in our winter outdoor education programme.

If you are interested in having one of the visiting musicians stay with you, please let Ms Neill know via email as soon as possible. I know we wont have any problems accommodating them as there are 33 band members here at Arrowtown school.  karenn@arrowtown.school.nz

No band Rehearsal Monday, 16 July 2012

Your bass guitarist is still on holiday so no rehearsal before school.

No BAND Tuesday, 26 June 2012

No Band due to weather conditions!  School will start at 10.00am!

NO BAND REHEARSAL ON WED, 27 JUNE 2012

Hi folks,

Ms Neill will NOT be at school on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of the last week of term 2.

Thanks and have a great break! See you next term!

Week 9 -NO MORNING BAND REHEARSALS

Hi guys,

There will not be any morning band rehearsals during week 9 as I am away in Auckland for a course.

Most bands have had two rehearsals this week and they will also have lunchtime rehearsals  from Wed-Fri.

Have a great weekend all!

The Fairfield / Arrowtown School Music Exchange Is Coming!!

Well it is that time again! Fairfield School will be here in week 5 of next term. 

The scheduled dates are:   

Wednesday, 15 August - Friday, 17 August 2012

We realise these dates clash with the CO X-County date but it is the only week Fairfield school could come during our 6 week ski period.

We will be calling for families who might be able to host a student from Fairfield school during their two night stay closer to the end of the term.

Keep an eye on the blog for further information.  Our students are already getting very excited as it is a wonderful way for them to meet like-minded students out of our area.

No Band Rehearsals This Week!

There will not be any band rehearsals this week. 

NO BAND REHEARSAL TOMORROW MORNING!

There will not be a Wednesday morning band rehearsal 23/5/12.

Room 10 takes to the floor with the 'Progressive Movement' Waltz Step!!

Here are room 10 trying to get the hang of the 'rise and fall' while doing the 'box step' during their waltz lesson today.

The 'Progressive Movement' and 'Left Box Turn' - Waltz

Today both room 17 and 18 were introduced to the 'Progressive Movement' and the 'Left Box Turn' during their Performing Arts class.  

The 'Progressive Movement' is a variation on the 'Box Step' the students were taught during their last class.  The male lead keeps the dance pair moving forward in the same direction instead of stepping back.

The 'Left Box Turn' consists of 4 half boxes.  With each new half box, both partners pivot 1/4 turn to their left. Four half boxes put together constitute an entire 'Left Box Turn'.

As you will see below the students of room 18 are really coming along with their 'Left Box Turn'. 

No Monday Morning Band Rehearsal 14/5/2012

There will NOT be a band rehearsal on Monday morning due to the Leaders Day in Dunedin.

Room 18 Hits The Dance Floor!

Room 18 have begun their journey into the world of Ballroom Dancing!  

The students began by drawing the diagrams of the box step waltz and the instructions of how to do the steps into their books.  Once that was done, they rehearsed their gender steps on their own until they felt confident.  Each student then partnered up with the opposite gender where possible and the rest is history.

Well done room 18.  A fabulous effort for your first class.

Get Dancing Folks!!!

This term our junior and lower middle school students will be Jump Jamming while the upper middle and senior school will be Ballroom Dancing!

What is Jump Jam?

Undoubtedly, this program is successful because it is
so much FUN!  Our students just LOVE IT!

By enjoying and understanding the health and physicial
exercise benefits of aerobics, students eventually become
future role models by leading fellow students through the
routines and later instructing their communities.

Cultural movement concepts from NZ society are
included i.e. Haka, Polynesian, Latin, Indian,
South African, Spanish and even martial arts fitness.
Cardiovascular fitness is interwoven with dance,
drama and music to allow a creative self expression
for the students as they explore and identify a variety
of dance styles.
Students also relate with each other within the group
dynamic, sometimes working as one unit, other times
performing separate masculine and feminine cultural
movement patterns.

Please ensure your child knows which day their class has Jump Jam.
(Their classroom teacher will be able to tell them.)

The upper middle school and senior school will be learning a little history of a few dances and will hopefully share their new skills with their syndicates at the end of the term. 

ALL students are to be dressed appropriately for their dance classes.  Jeans are not to be worn for these classes.  Each student should bring a water bottle as they are working very hard and heat up very quickly.

Rock Bands Start Back This Week!

I hope everyone had a great break! We are back to the normal timetable this week!

No Morning Band Rehearsals For Last Week Of Term 1, 2012

Ms Neill will be attending a course in Auckland next Monday - Wednesday and will not be available to take band rehearsals in the mornings.

Band rehearsal times will change to their lunchtime schedules for next week.  I realise that means the Wednesday morning band will not have another rehearsal this term due to Good Friday but we will get back into it next term. 

Keep up the rehearsing at home and have a fabulous holiday.

Junior Ukelele Orchestra News!

I have finally made contact with a supplier in the north island so we are now able to put an order through.

If your child is in this lovely group and does not have access to a ukelele at home please send me an email so we can arrange the purchase of one for next term. (karenn@arrowtown.school.nz)

This very young team of 30 students turn up every Monday and they sacrifice their entire lunchtime to play in the ukelele orchestra....and the most amazing thing about this is that they are more than happy to do so.

The Bands Are Rehearsing!

Our bands are rehearsing in the early hours before school and I must say they are sounding very good.  Mr Winders was blown away by the sound of one of the bands reahearsing this week.

Band X are rehearsing a Bruno Mars song 'It Will Rain' with Tom Rose on lead vocals, Wade McTaggart and Conor Horn on the keyboards, Rafe Swan on drums, Sofia Machray and Tiarn Collins on the guitars, Joseph Swale on the bass guitar and our backing vocalists are Pauline Hardt, Lily Gamson and Josh McNamara. This band has had the first two rehearsals without any vocalists but Tom attended today's rehearsal at lunchtime along with Lily and Pauline and it is already just about there.

 Band Y are rehearsing a Pink Floyd song 'Another Brick In The Wall' and these are the guys Mr Winders heard rehearsing on Tuesday morning this week with Sophie Aitken on lead vocals, Lily Rodger and Elsie Anderson on keyboards, Ben Lockley-Ebsworth on drums, Jack 'Slash' Ryan and Zac Watts on guitars, Liam Spring on bass guitar and the backing vocalists will be Beatrice Onions, Lena True and Rosa Ellis-Cook.

 Band Z are new to the band scene but bring along with them a lot of enthusiasm.  These young students are working on another Bruno Mars song called 'Grenade' with Tomas Spring on lead vocals, Ava Greening on keyboards, Lukas Campbell on drums, Jason McCulloch and Jack Wilson on guitars, Jensen Forsyth on bass guitar and the backing vocalists will be Georgia Hill, Alex Hull and Luca Swale.

The Rock Bands for 2012!

As expected, the nerves were flowing this week during the auditions but I was very impressed with what I heard and witnessed.  Well done to those who participated in the auditions.

Band X – Tom Rose, , Sofia Machray, Tiarn Collins, Joseph Swale, Wade McTaggart,

                Conor Horn, Rafe Swan, Pauline Hardt, Lily Gamson and Beatrice Onions

Band Y – Sophie Aitken, Zac Watts, Jack Ryan, Liam Spring, Lily Rodger,

                 Ben Lockley-Ebsworth, Elsie Anderson, Josh McNamara, Lena True and

                 Rosa Ellis-Cook

Band Z -  Tomas Spring, Molly Glendining, Jason McCulloch, Jack Wilson, Ava Greening,

                 Winston Brinsley, Luca Campbell, Georgia Hill, Alex Hull, Hera Winders and
                 Luca Swale

Band rehearsals will be from 8.00am to 9.00am on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday each week and will start this week.  Vocalists will NOT be required for the first two rehearsals.

There may also be times when you will be required to rehearse during a lunchtime or weekend as we are preparing for a show or Music Exchange during the year.

Weekly Rehearsal Schedule for the Rock Bands:

BAND X:  Monday      8-9am    Studio, Performing Arts Room (Wednesday lunchtimes if 

                                                                                                    required)

BAND Y:  Tuesday      8-9am    Studio, Performing Arts Room (Thursday lunchtimes if 

                                                                                                    required)

BAND Z:  Wednesday  8-9am    Studio, Performing Arts Room (Thursday lunchtimes if 

                                                                                                      required)

Band Z will not have a rehearsal this week as I will not be at school for the day so your first rehearsal will be on Wednesday, 14 March 2012. 

See you at band practice!

ROCK BAND AUDITIONS THIS WEEK!

The Rock Band Audition Schedule:

Tuesday             8.00-9.00    Performing Arts Room - VOCALS
Wednesday       8.00-9.00    Performing Arts Room - GUITARISTS
Thursday            8.00-9.00    Performing Arts Room - DRUMMERS/BASS/KEYBOARDS

It is very important that you are organised when you attend your audition. Check that you have your:
- backing track music (if required)
- sheet music / lyrics
- instrument / drumsticks / pick
Get to bed early the night before, have a good breakfast the morning of the audition, warm-up and give yourself plenty of time to get there.


Good luck guys!