Arts & Culture

Kapa Haka

The school recognises the importance of offering Kapa Haka by including it as part of classroom programmes. We have an outside organisation that tutors groups with the support of our teachers. It is open to all students from Year 3 up and is currently separated into 2 groups – our junior group drawn from Year 3/4 and our senior group drawn from Year 5-8. Both groups are very well patronised, with a total of 137 Year 5-8 students and 55 Year 3-4 students participating. They take turns in performing powhiri or farewells for visiting groups of teachers and students from overseas, as a lead into our school assemblies, and both groups perform for parent evenings or in public performances when appropriate.

Performing Arts Programme

Every 2-3 weeks for half of the year, Yr 1-6 classes visit our performing arts specialist teacher for a fun programme of music, dance and drama. They have access to a wide range of musical instruments and their creativity is nurtured and encouraged. Yr 7/8 classes receive a Friday specialist music programme where they learn instrumental and compositional skills.

WAITAKERE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS

SCHOOL PRODUCTION

This is a biennial event and alternates between a whole school production (involving all students) and an auditioned musical production (a chance for our keen performers to shine).

SHOW QUEST/ DANCE NZ DANCE FESTIVAL

Also, a biennial event, this dance festival involves approx. 100 keen dancers. We have weekly lessons to learn a choreographed dance with a professional dance instructor, culminating in a very special evening performance at the Aotea Theatre or Bruce Mason Centre.

KIDS4KIDS CHOIR FESTIVAL

For our keen singers, we take part in the Kids4kids Choir Festival led by Jackie Clarke and Nathan King. We have weekly singing lessons with Meghan Carppe, a highly experienced, trained opera singer, learning up to 20 songs to perform at the Bruce Mason Centre in November. It is an incredible experience as we sing as part of a 500 strong massed choir.

KIWILELE MUSIC FESTIVAL

We offer fun, weekly lunchtime beginner and advanced ukulele lessons for those students who are interested. We participate in the annual Kiwilele Festival with 2,000+ other keen musicians from schools all over NZ. In the past, we have performed at the Trusts Stadium and Spark Arena (with SIX60!) and it is always a memorable experience!

ROCK BAND

Our rock band is very popular at assemblies and community events and play together once a week. The members range in age from Year 5-8 and change from year to year as members leave for High School. While it is fun being in the band, it also requires serious dedication, skill, effort and teamwork.

TRIPS TO THE THEATRE

Each year, Yr 3-8 students are given the opportunity to enjoy the delights of watching a popular musical performed on stage. We attend both professional productions and local High School and Primary School shows.

END OF YEAR ARTS CELEBRATION

This is a biennial event, taking place in even years. This is an evening event, where students are encouraged to perform for our wider school community. Whether it be a class item, instrumental or group performance, it is yet another special opportunity for our students to shine!

Instrumental Lessons

2023 KEYBOARD/GUITAR/DRUM/SINGING LESSONS

Waitakere Primary School offers children the opportunity to learn a range of instruments including the keyboard, piano, guitar, drums and singing. These lessons happen during the school day and are taken by our itinerant music teachers- Cherie Kaushal (keyboard/piano), Damian Hauwai (guitar-also beginner drums and keyboard), Georgi Dobrev (drums-also guitar and bass) and Meghan Carppe (singing). Cost of lessons is approx $30 for individual lessons and $18 for groups and lessons are generally 30mins during class time. Email Cherie, Damian, Georgi or Meghan for more information and to enrol your child in lessons.

Cherie - aucklandpianoteacher@gmail.com

Damian - dhauwai@gmail.com

Georgi - kkcapone@hotmail.co.nz

Meghan - singingstudionz@gmail.com

TUTOR PROFILES

CHERIE KAUSHAL - aucklandpianoteacher@gmail.com

Cherie has been playing the piano since she was 7yrs old. She attended school in Waiuku and sang in various choirs and played in school bands and orchestras. Cherie has been teaching privately since 1997 and with NZMSM since 1999. She has also been an examiner for NZMSM and has taught at Waitakere Primary since 2015. Cherie's main instrument is piano, but she also teaches keyboard and beginner guitar. Teaching is more than a job to Cherie, it is her love and passion and she loves nothing more than to see children experience the joy of learning an instrument.

DAMIAN HAUWAI - dhauwai@gmail.com

Damian has been playing music since he was 10yrs old. He is a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) graduate with 27yrs experience as a guitarist, and has performed both in NZ and internationally. Experienced in playing in many different bands from jazz funk to RnB, rock and pop, he has a strong background in teaching guitar and bass in Auckland for all ages in both primary and high schools. His main instruments are guitar and bass but he teaches piano and drums from beginner to intermediate level.

GEORGI DOBREV - kkcapone@hotmail.co.nz

Georgi has been teaching for five years both in primary schools, high schools and privately. He has earned qualifications in NCEA Level 3 Music as well as earning a Diploma in Contemporary Music in 2015. Georgi is able to teach Pop, Rock, Jazz, Metal and Blues and plays both in a pop band that gigs regularly and as a solo guitarist writing and recording music at home. Georgi has played drums and bass guitar since the age of 11 regularly writing and recording parts for these in his own music and at jam sessions with other musicians.

MEGHAN CARPPE - singingstudionz@gmail.com

Meghan is an accomplished singer, studying in London at the Royal Academy of Music and performing in many operas and operettas with the New Zealand Opera Chorus. She is a former Waitakere Primary School student and is well known in our school community.