Hook Line and Sing-a-long Celebrated by Hundreds of School Kids Across the Country!
On the 31st, the Hook Line and Sing-along event happened all over the country in a variety of schools and venues including Parliament.
Several thousand students in Invercargill had led the way in week 3 with daily concerts led by the SIT Rock School students. Many teachers learnt the song at the MENZA music education Professional development day on May11th, in 8 centres around the country. Schools used different keys; different instrumental parts (created by Ryan Youens) and the song took on many ‘remixes' during the month. On the 31st it was wonderful to know schools in smaller places like Eltham were creating a wonderful event for their students at the same time as bigger schools in the main centres were pulling out ‘all the stops'. Many schools sang together, with orchestras and bands playing along too. One large cluster at East Tamaki Primary featured 6 schools and the Sistema Aotearoa orchestra.
Bruce Taiapa, the year 13 songwriter, (who takes music classes with the amazing Jane Egan, at Gisborne Girls' High), led the way with a sing-along in Parliament. He was delighted to hear the St Mary's College version of his song, 21 Degrees and to see the tamariki from the VUW crèche joining in too. Youth minister, Paula Bennett enjoyed singing along too as one could see on the TV1 and TV 3 news that night... if you missed it try these links:
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/end-nz-music-month-marked-sing-along-video-4905500
The flash and dash of television and publicity is fun but some of the best emails we've to the office here had have simply said, "Our children are enjoying singing the NZ Music Month Song!" (Tahuna Int, Dunedin). How wonderful that for the 3rd year running it was written by our students and encouraged increased singing. The New Zealand Music Commission thanks the national music teachers association, MENZA for their part in promoting the song and getting it out to the schools.
PIX: Chisnallwood Intermediate (Christchurch) with Jeff Fulton from the CHART,
Bruce in Parliament, Henley, East Tamaki combined schools,
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