The only constant is change.... and in a school growing as fast as ours is, we are all being challenged to keep up with that change.  The RVS Music Academy only has a total of nine hours (max. 3 lessons per hour) that we can operate individual and small group music lessons inside the school schedule - which clearly puts a limit on how many students we can serve.  Therefore, in conjunction with school staff, we have come up with a new plan moving forward which we believe will benefit the school students tremendously, bless the teachers, and allow the Music Academy to keep working at capacity with everyone who wants to have the opportunity to develop their musical talent. 

Our 2021 RVS Music Academy Program will revolve around 3 main ingredients:
(1) Giving every student coming up through the early years of the Junior School a basic introduction to the language of music that will set them up to explore and enjoy music more as they grow:  
Term 2 - All students in Room 2 will receive weekly Class lessons teaching Rhythm based on Body and Bucket drumming; All students in Room 4 will receive weekly class lessons teaching Rhythm and Note Reading based around either the Recorder or the Ukulele.
​Term 3 - Room 1 (as above for Room 2) and Room 3 (as above for Room 4).
Term 4 - All students in Transition Rooms will receive a minimum of 2 weeks introduction to Rhythm in song.

(2) Giving students from Year 4 - Year 10 the opportunity to develop their musical talent further in private or small group lessons:
Term 1 - Enrollment will open and individual/group lessons will be available for students from Year 4 through to Year 10* for the year.  Lessons will be available in Ukulele, Guitar, Keyboard, Clarinet, Saxophone, Drums, and Singing.

*An exception to the Year 4 starting age for individual/group lessons will only be made for those few younger students who were learning with us in Nov 2020 who wish to carry on learning the same instrument in 2021.  

(3) Giving students the opportunity to be part of musical groups with a focus on performance and outreach to the larger community: 
- Junior School Choir (Years 1 - 6) 
- Middle School Choir (Years 7 - 10)
- Orchestra (Years 4 - 10) 
These musical groups will start from mid Term 1 onwards, once Music Tutors have got their individual/group lessons underway smoothly.

We understand some parents of Junior school students may be disappointed the age limit for enrolled music lessons has been raised but we ask you to consider the benefits being offered to all students as we change to keep pace with the growth of our school.  

Your expression of interest in Music Lessons, Choirs, etc for 2021 can be made here by clicking on these links:

Junior School:  forms.gle/unkXyTj6oMRVVpBD6

​Middle School: forms.gle/sUSL5UpqGTzbBeYS8
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Filling in these quick online forms helps us plan our 2021 lesson program. Thank you.

We are so looking forward to having the Music Academy up and running again at school and engaging with our lovely students again!  If you haven't already heard from your tutors, they will be in touch with you very shortly.

Starting this week:
* Guitar and Ukulele lessons with Mrs Ham - Tues, Wed, Thurs
* Vocal lessons with Mrs Dight - Tues, Wed, Thurs
* Keyboard, Clarinet and Saxophone lessons with Charlotte - Wed

Starting next week:
* Drums with Mrs Harper - Tues, Wed, Thurs
* Junior School Choir with Mrs Pedersen - Tuesday lunchtime

Keyboard Lessons:
Unfortunately we have not been able to secure a replacement keyboard tutor for Laura's students for Term 3.  We are really sorry about this.

Orchestra and Middle School Choir:
Due to the major interruption of Covid this year, and the Middle School students working hard on their Production this term, Orchestra and Middle School Choir has been put on hold until next year.  

  

Laura is looking forward to starting up the Junior School Choir next week with students from Rooms 2 through to Library A & B.  Choir will be held on Tuesdays at lunchtime (1pm - 1:30pm). 
Please Sign up for Choir using the Link below.  We welcome new comers to choir to come and check out the Choir on a trial basis for the first 2 weeks before making a commitment.

Expectations of Choir Members: 
1. Eat all your lunch FIRST before attending Choir (you cannot eat & sing, and there will not be time to eat after when the bell goes for class).
2. Be on time for Roll Call at 1pm so Choir practice can start on time.
3. Honor your commitment to Choir by attending every week and participating fully.

SIGN UP FOR CHOIR HERE:  forms.gle/NNxGa9eCxA7grNJ88

We are working towards restarting the Music Academy in week one of Term 3.  An email has been sent out today to all parents of enrolled music students.  Please check your emails and respond to the enclosed survey re Confirming or Cancelling music lessons.  

Have you logged in to the Tonara app yet?

Regular focused practice at home is essential for progress in music lessons.  In particular, children in group lessons need to know exactly what they are to practice so that they don't start falling behind others in their group.  This is why RVS Music Academy uses the practice app Tonara.  Your child will receive their homework assignments through this app and use the app to practice with and communicate to their tutor.  

For a quick helpful explanation of how to download and login to the Tonara app please check out this short video here:  (Note - we are using Option One in the video)
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When:  Music lessons happen between 12 - 3pm, one day a week per class, with some after-school lessons on Wednesdays.  On their music day, classrooms will normally have scheduled PE, art, silent reading... subjects where the students will not miss vital basics in their education.  Once we've received your enrollment and scheduled out the lessons you will receive a confirmation email with the day and time your child's lesson will be on and where they are to go.  Tutors will pick up Year 2 and 3 students from class, but all other students are expected to be responsible for getting themselves to their lesson on time.  There will be a schedule of music lessons for each classroom on their wall.

Who:  Music lessons are available for students Year 2 - Year 10.  We start at Year 2 because music needs to be read, so students need to have their reading skills under their belt first.   We have five music tutors, four of whom are Mums of children at RVS.  You can see the tutors photos and read their profiles here: https://www.rvs.school.nz/music-academy.html   

What: Between the five of us we teach Clarinet, Saxophone, Drumming and Drumkit, Vocals, Keyboard, Ukulele and Guitar.  Once the school has finished it's building phase and we have more rooms available we hope to add other instruments.  Details about the individual instrument lessons are found in the information sheet that was sent home and in the post below.

Where: Keyboard, Clarinet & Saxophone lessons are taught in the Music pod behind the library; Guitar and Ukulele lessons are taught in the Senior Library Pod (next to the Music pod) behind the library; Drums are taught in the Den; Vocals are taught in the hall (or creche if hall is in use).

How:  You can contact Stephanie, or any of your tutors by emailing music@rvs.school.nz   
Accounts for music lessons will be emailed to you by Stephanie, and you pay your music tutor directly (details will be on your invoice).  Group lessons cost $60 per term, Private lessons $120 per term.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie at music@rvs.school.nz 

We are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead of making music with all our beautiful students at RVS!  All the info regarding the Music Academy lessons available and enrollment forms will be sent home on Wednesday of Week 1 - so check your children's school bags! 

In case forms are misplaced over the long weekend I have posted them below. 

​Please Note: 
- Music lessons are available from Year 2 - 10, and will start in Week 4.  You will receive a confirmation email with your child's lesson time and place between 20th - 24th Feb. 
- We plan to start Choir and Orchestra in Term 2, so will send home information/enrollment forms for those towards the end of Term 1.

Registrations are open for the one and only Recital Evening of the year!  This event is being held on Tuesday October 29th for students of the RVS Music Academy, to help them gain some experience and confidence in performing and to show their parents just how well they've been learning their instruments.  This event is completely optional but strongly encouraged for your child's musical development.  Further details are on the flyer below.

Parents if you would like your child to take part, please click on the link here to register your child:  docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduwQXk8S_NWiuiWhzkHFg7qgxMW9x_leRdUNEZ3gKCRXZ_4A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Hi Choir and Orchestra Members,
Our Outreach at the Baptist Church will be on Wednesday 27th November (Week 7).  The musical items we will be performing are listed below - Orchestra please organise your music folders in this order:
1. Themes from "The Water Music" (Orchestra only)
2. Peace Song (Senior Choir only)
3. When a Child is Born (Orchestra and Choir)
4. O Happy Day (Orchestra and Choir)
5. Lean on Me (Orchestra and Choir)
6. Benediction (Orchestra and Choir)
7. Brudenell Waltz (Orchestra only)

Choir Members, below are youtube clips or audio clips for you to practice with - please learn all your words of by heart!  Please note: We will have different music (more upbeat) for the Benediction song but I need you to learn it the way it is sung in this youtube clip - both in timing and harmonies.

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