After-school music classes returning to Gore High

Gore's Out of School Music Programme is back in class for the 2009 year.

The popular classes, which are held at Gore High School, return on Tuesday, February 17 and enrolments are now being taken.

The classes are intended to give primary and secondary school pupils the opportunity to learn a musical instrument at minimal cost.

Sessions are held on Tuesday afternoons between 3.30pm and 7pm, 32 weeks of the year, roughly during term time and are about 30 minutes duration.

A music appreciation class is being held in terms two and three. It is a fun class where pupils can explore sound and movement through dance, and encourages musical creativity, imagination and expression. It is open to pupils aged five and upwards.

The recorder class, open to those aged seven and above, forms the basis for moving on to the flute, clarinet and saxophone and is helpful for keyboard, singing and percussion.

The theory class is an excellent class in which to learn the rudiments of music and is open to all school-age children.

Other exciting classes include junior singing and learning instruments such as the ukulele, percussion instruments, keyboard, violin, guitar, piano and many more.

A speech and drama class is also on the agenda for the over-sevens and is an informal introduction to speech, touching on many aspects such as improvisation, voice and vowels, poetry and drama excerpts and conversation.

A minimum of four pupils per hour is required to keep a class running for the year.

Supervision is provided between classes for all pupils if they attend lessons in more than one instrument class.

The cost for year 1 to 8 pupils is $60 for the first class and $40 for each class thereafter. For year 9 and above the charge is $120 for the first class and $40 for each additional class.

Instrument hire for the year is $60 for the saxophone, violin and bagpipes and $50 for flute, guitar and clarinet. - Contact Judy Gould on (03) 208-4385 for more information.