music
waiata
Opportunities
If your child is successful in joining any of the following groups, a one-off fee will be added to your school account. This amount contributes towards the operating costs for the year and enables us to be able to offer a superior music programme at Wairarapa Cobham. It will also cover any buses if required for Music performances. Please ensure this amount is paid promptly.
** ALL Auditions for Chorale/Choir/Orchestra/Band will be announced in the daily school notices. It is important to keep an eye on these notices for more information.
There is NO registration form required to audition for these.
Chorale & Choir
At the beginning of Term 1, students will have the opportunity to audition for a place in a choral group if they wish to. This will start on the second Tuesday of the term and continue on the following Tuesdays until everyone has been heard. Students will be asked to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and also to sing back some notes that are played on the piano. The most skilled singers will be selected for the Chorale, the next group of singers for the Choir and some singers will be unsuccessful.
Chorale runs for the full year and is joined by the Choir for the second half of the year.
Orchestra & Chamber Orchestra
At the beginning of Term 1, students will have the opportunity to audition for a place in the Wairarapa Cobham Orchestra. From the full School Orchestra, the Orchestra conductor will invite more experienced musicians to be in the Chamber Orchestra later in Term 1.
School Rock Band
(Subject to availability of staff)
Auditions will be held for a Rock Band. A certain degree of experience and skill will be required for these bands.
Rock Band: Vocalists, Drums, Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Lead Guitar.
Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival Representative Groups
- Representative Senior Choir
- Representative Orchestra
- Representative Concert Band
Please note: Students can audition for these groups if they have already been accepted into the Wairarapa Cobham Chorale (elite singing group) or the Wairarapa Cobham Orchestra. Students MUST CONTRIBUTE to these school groups to be eligible to audition and represent Wairarapa Cobham for the Christchurch Music Festival Representative Groups.
Register
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate Music Lessons
2025 Registration Form
The link above has all the information and registration information for the following music lessons: Violin, Flute, Clarinet/Saxophone.
We have ministry-funded lessons and private paid lessons available for students. Students are able to select up to 2 different musical instruments to learn, however, only ONE lesson can be a free Ministry funded lesson.
Ministry Funded Lessons include: Violin, Flute, Clarinet/Saxophone for the FIRST TWO YEARS OF LESSONS ONLY.
Wairarapa Cobham has a selection of violins, flutes and clarinets to hire for beginners (First and Second Year).
We expect students who have more than 2 years of experience must provide their own instrument and pay for lessons.
Auditions for Orchestra, Choir, and Chorale will start from week 2 or 3 of Term 1 after school commences. These will be held by Philippa Chilvers and Mark Hodgkinson.
There is no registration form for these groups – the information will be in the daily notices.
Music Lessons
Itinerant Lessons
Ministry Funded
Itinerant Music lessons are free and mostly group-based. They are designed for students who are in their first or second year of their instrument. Itinerant lessons offered this year include Flute, Violin, Clarinet/Saxophone.
The link to register for 2025 is now open and can be found here.
Instrument Rental Fee
Some instruments are available for hire through the school, otherwise, families will need to organise the hire or purchase of their own instrument.
Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate has a number of instruments (flutes, clarinets, violins and cellos) available for hire for the school year. These are offered to students who are in their first or second year of learning an instrument.
The tutors have details of other places that hire out musical instruments.
The cost to hire from Cobham is $160 per instrument per year. Instruments will not be issued until the hire fee is paid.
You can register your interest in hiring a school instrument when you sign up for lessons.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are offered for a number of instruments by a number of different tutors (including itinerant teachers) before, during, and after school. Both individual and group lessons are available depending on the tutor. Costs vary and are outlined on the registration form. Costs, Terms and Conditions are invoiced to you directly from the tutor.
