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Case study 1: Musical get-together at Naenae College

Musical get-together at Naenae College | Organisation | Concert programme | Evaluation | Nick's thoughts

by Merryn Dunmill, National Facilitator, Music – Primary, Ministry of Education.

In June of 2003, Naenae College and the Wellington Society for Music Therapy hosted a special 'musical get-together'.

What?
This concert involved over 50 special needs students and their teachers from six different schools in the Wellington region, who shared musical performances that they had spent quality time preparing in their own schools.

Students of all ages and with different abilities thrilled the audience with their newly developed musical skills, their clear enjoyment of music, and their concentration and application. The concert showed clearly the emotional, creative, intellectual, physical, and social benefits of music making for each and every participant.

Who?
The schools involved in this year's musical get-together were:

  • Kimi Ora School (special school)
  • Fernlea Primary School
  • Avalon Primary School
  • Naenae Primary School
  • Naenae College (secondary)
  • Hutt Valley High School.

Teachers with an interest or specialisation in music supported the students in their music learning before and throughout the performances. Itinerant teachers of music were also involved in the teaching, learning and performing process.

Why?
The purpose of the concert was to celebrate the music learning that is happening in these schools. The concert showcased students' special abilities and achievements in music. For many participants, this concert marked a significant learning advancement, as well as an important social development.

The participating schools value music education as a way to touch and reach their special students, and to tap the students' creative, intellectual, emotional, and physical potential. Through learning music, these students showed they could interpret and communicate their world, their realities, in ways that help all of us towards an understanding of humanity in all its forms. As a unique and powerful form of knowing, music speaks beyond language, beyond movement, beyond science.

Many participants and supporters were moved to tears during performances. The musical get-together was a wonderful celebration of humanity, and of all that music-making can do to improve life and learning.

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